|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:58 pm
Prolixity  Revei made his way down the stairs, slow and careful. It stung to have to limp along like an ancient mortal, but the illness and weakness that had torn through him on his return to the waking world still gripped him in its claws. Opal's patient care had seen him through the worst of it. The Aiode had preferred that Revei remain in his rooms, but being cooped up while things slowly failed grated on his nerves, made him irritable and guilty. Waiting to recover might mean that the entire business would be made pointless. If only, if only. Revei laughed bitterly at himself. If!
Silence and brooding dread hung in the rooms below. Revei moved slowly across the floor, the fringe of his wrap rustling with his steps. The throne room was dim and ominous. He entered anyway, wings hanging loose with the ache and twinge of his muscles. A single korat followed him silently. Only a few remained in his own rooms; the wave of darkness that had sent him spinning and lost within his own realm had scattered his creatures as well.
Syrie  Dream moved slowly into the throne room with his pet, both creatures making very little sound - but it was enough to p***k the ears of the God of Silence. Endiovar knelt beside the pod shell cocoon that housed what Xedre had referred to as "The End". God and grotesque egg were utterly quiet save for an eerily synchronized breathing.
Jade green eyes lifted to see who had come - ah, one he did not know, and a strange creature that had the same sort of touch on it that Whisp had though they were not the same at all.
'I would welcome you, but such would be sacrilege in these times.' His body, his eyes - they spoke while pale lips did not move; Revei received a familiar enough greeting despite the fact that they did not know each other.
Prolixity He hadn't seen the other at first, but the tremor of recognition alerted him that another god was here - where? yes, beside t he throne, beside something that loomed dark in the low light. The other was pale, his eyes green, transparent wings feathering out behind him. He did not speak, but his meaning came across as clearly as if he had.
"I will greet you, rather than expecting or extending welcome," he answered, stopping some ten feet away and studying the godling who knelt beside the pod. One he did not know. He felt weary. So many he didn't know. "I am Revei, Dreamer's Guide," he offered. He couldn't quite hide the tone of exhausted irritability in his voice.
Syrie There were a great many that he did not know either; Revei was in good company in that respect. Endiovar gracefully dipped his head - ever Harmodius' mute swan - and parted his lips to speak as every part of the Dreamer's Guide bespoke of a bone-deep weariness.
"I am Endiovar, Sachem Aphonic." He paused, the echo of hush and still-quiet caused by his spoken words reverberating through the throne room. "Have you come to see the travesty of our Lord?"
Prolixity "That ... ?" His Aiode had not told him that. Revei's feathers ruffled, his wings shifting on his back with his incredulity. But of course, now that Endiovar had spoken, Revei could see it, sense it, hear it in the silence that rippled out from this thin delicate god before him. He stared at the pod, horrified. What had he missed?
His eyes flicked back to Endiovar. "To say well met or any other such platitude would be ridiculous," he said tiredly. "I have been - ill. Can you tell me ... why?"
The korat at his feet clacked its beak and echoed, "Ridiculous, ridiculous."
Syrie Slowly the curly-haired godling rose to his feet, legs unwinding from under him in a strangely dance-like and fluid motion. Revei was standing. So too should he be, it was only right. He watched Revei's obvious surprise and dismay -- clearly he was no fool and understood who had once stood where the cocoon now breathed.
"Would you sit then, rest yourself?" 'The story is not long in it's telling, but I only know part...' He shook his his head a bit and glanced at the korat - it copied, like a myna. Interesting, but not for then.
Prolixity Revei nodded, breathing out on a long slow sigh, and sank down to rest. It was welcome enough. Just walking downstairs had tired him. How ridiculous. "Please, tell me what you know, then." A little pang of lonely guilt. Where and when and how?
Syrie Perhaps it had been a waste of effort to rise to his feet only to return to his previous kneeling position...but the godling did not find it so; standing with Revei had been a sign of respect -- and also a call-back to more genteel times.
"Of course." Though words were not the way he typically communicated with anyone, Endiovar used them with Revei; the god of Dream was far too weary for him to insist upon body language. "As far as I know, our Lord was injured previously...and someone came here, caused much damage..." Here he nodded past the statuary towards the gaping window and then at the stained flooring near them. "Now there is this cocoon holding what was once Harmodius--" The Elder god's name came with so much more attached to it, unspoken and unsaid, but definitely there. "--and it is changed and changing. An Aoide in our Lord's service told me that it is the End...and it's purpose is much different than Harmodius' had ever been."
Endiovar sighed and touched his throat; he was unused to speaking so much anymore. "The...disease, these spreading sicknesses of heart and mind and soul that have rocked this land are caused by this...and will only get worse if we do not find how to stop it." Here, the godling went on to explain that this aoide - Xedre - had gone to find the Dragon Kings for he had information that may aid them.
Prolixity Revei glanced to the window, but his eyes were drawn quickly and unerringly back to the pod. "Changed," he whispered. "My Lord. Where have you gone? Do you sleep?" He had seen Harmodius little, had dreaded and avoided Destruction. A mistake?
He listened to Endiovar's careful explanation, nodding and taking in the information. He heard, too, the hoarse edge of the other's voice. A weakness, or a strength. "Do not hurt your throat," he said, almost absently. "There is enough hurt."
His hands plucked at his wrap. "I wish to help," he said abruptly. Lethargy and weakness and weariness aside, he could not remain idle; perhaps he had been already idle too long. Where were the gods he knew? Were they, too, occupied in the frantic search for answers?
Syrie Endiovar shook his head a little bit. 'I have wondered that myself, Revei of Dream...I would know what is possible--' He brought the hand that had been at his throat up to push his hair back a little bit; eyes downcast. A body in mourning.
'Perhaps...if we knew if it dreamed.. could we reach Him there?' "It does not respond to touch nor words...but..." A glimmer of hope - even if he himself could not do it directly, Endiovar wanted to reach past the shell - possibilities existed there.
He was sure of it.
Prolixity Revei's eyes opened wide, and he turned to look at the pod again. That, at least, he could assist with. His tongue flicked nervously over his lips. It seemed a terrible presumption, to touch without being invited, to look without being invited - he was afraid, he admitted to himself. If he feared what might lie in the maybe-dreams of the End ... no. Useless. He could not and would not back down now, not when he had told this god in a stranger's body that he wanted to help. That he would help.
"I can answer that. As you perhaps hope."
Syrie Nervous and fearful - but very much filled with pride that would not let him take the coward's path. Good. Even as weary as Dream was, Endiovar could not help but want him to push for this, to try....and yes, he wanted desperately for Revei to succeed where he had not.
Endiovar gave the other godling a soft smile; for gratitude and reassurance. 'You may touch it, it will not harm you, Dream Guide.' As if to prove his point, the blond rose to his knees and leaned over so he could stroke the hardened cocoon much as one might touch the cheek of one's beloved.
Prolixity Revei watched the gentle touch, wondering at Endiovar's courage. Would he touch so freely if he never knew what he would hear or not-hear from it? He sighed and turned, kneeling up. "My Lord," he said, so softly that he could barely hear himself. "Forgive me - " for touching, for presuming, for not presuming enough, for being afraid -
- he reached out then and laid both palms on the surface of the pod, opening the place within himself where the static and hush and noise sounded, the place that was wired back into himSelf, who existed here and elsewhere and in sleep. A touch like a prayer.
Ivynian There was a presence, immediately, countless folded in itself like the facets of a hollowed diamond, odious and strange, that breathed a slow pestilence into the curious mind. It began with the thinnest of chimaera, indistinct, filtering darklings of shape and gape-mawed scream that whorled in the edges of dream space. Then eyes, unblinking, and drew imperceptibly in a lasso, no, a noose around the pale, dream throat. He was a small thing, driven smaller and defined painfully at his own edges to razor sharp clarity before the thing. No, he was someone, something else, and the spit of it smote the dream around him and wore it away like surf to rock. Walled, walled within a tomb, the beast was solitary and horrible. A monolith of strangeness that gleamed down and ravaged at the solidity that felt imposed. Eating, eaten into the threads and needle-holes of fate’s strings that bound him to being. He was being unraveled. (( Revei is heretofore held to the chrysalis and cannot, by his own will, remove his hand from it. )))
Prolixity Horror, helpless and raw. Drowning and choking in what WAS. Revei's eyes grew wide and unseeing as what was within the pod-cocoon-tomb imposed a greater reality on his sight. Dark and gleaming, infinite and infinitely folded. He tried to pull away, to slam shut the emptily vulnerable hollow of himself, being eroded slow and sure by the void pressing him smaller on all sides.
Unaware, he voiced a thin keening. It hurt, the shared strange empty pain of the chrysalid dreams. No and yes. Perhaps it would be better to surrender, to fall into the cold sharp embrace of nothing; but he struggled against it, a panicky moth caught in an incomprehensible web. He could not fall back and away.
Syrie It didn't take long before Endiovar realized something was horribly wrong with the Dreamer's Guide -- he felt it a scant few seconds before his eyes confirmed it: every line of Revei's being screamed with fear and hurt. As much as he wanted to know, he could not allow another to come to harm like that; it was one thing to be willing to give yourself, quite another to have unknowingly offered another for such a fate.
Green eyes went wide and near-imperceptible feathers poofed and fluttered out to the ground; the dark-haired godling struggled but could not pull away on his own - Silence reached for his wrists, to help pull him away if he could.
Ivynian Time had somehow slowed to a pace where the drop of a pin drug out into the length of an elaborate, if painful, symphony. Hands on wrists and pulling, and blessedly given the frame of a dancer. Not enormous as a brute sportsman, but wired as lean steel and springs. The Dreamer's hands came free, whisps of black Unstuff following the motion like tongues of fire spit from a solar flare. Revei's hands were void-burned, and the damage only slowed and stopped eating having ravaged through pads all the way to bone. ( The dream is connected within Revei, within his mind and being, and between the Eating and the sheer alien vastness of the mind/beingof Gehenna, much like Lovecraft's Old Gods, Prox should now choose a mental derrangement for Revei. Anything will do, have fun with it. )
Prolixity Manacles binding his wrists, pulling and trapping him - Revei struggled, voice dead in his throat. He fell heavily to the floor, curling in on himself. His hands were numbed and crumpled, feeling cold, not yet pain. That would come. He tucked his injured hands instinctively to his chest to keep them safe and hidden.
Endiovar loomed over him. Around the pale silent godling flickered black flame, void and fire and shadow. There were holes torn in the world, drooling long and sticky threads of nothing. Trapped he thought, and for an instant saw the walls rearing icily around him, as clear as day, shutting out ll else. The walls dusted, turned to ash, flowed over him in a suffocating avalanche.
Where the ash touched his hands, they began to burn in impossible agony. Revei heard a thin high sound, and realized after only moments that it was his own voice. The korat attending him sat back on its haunches to listen; then it began to wail in eerie harmony and counterpoint.
No, he told it, quiet, but the words could not break through the sound, and the korat kept up its noise.((Hallucinations! They will be fairly constant from this point onwards, interweaving with reality.))
Syrie Endiovar blessed his host for having left him with a body that was stronger than it appeared -- Revei's hands came away from the cocoon with a soft sound and trails of Void and Void-unmade flesh streaming away. 'Ohgodohgod - what have I done?' Silence's expression was one of utter horror; he had not expected that the dark-haired Dream Guide would be so injured.
Physical wounds he had noticed, but he hadn't noticed the difference yet: the change wrought by the insanity that bit and plucked at Revei's mind. He was too busy dropping to his knees to see if he could do anything for his injured comrade.
And then the creature started in -- Endiovar unfurled his wings in agitation; that thing was not helping -- he would silence it, send a rolling sort of not-sound out at the creature so that it's beak opened and closed but made no audible cry.
"Revei! Revei!" Voice, loud - too loud and blending in with the thin keening cry of pain from Revei. How to help? How--Colin's memories, yes! First aid, yes...not adequate but something. He would tear strips from his shirt and try to at least bind the other's hands -- a healer, but no...there were none left here. Unless...Priya! The salve she had given him for his back! That might work...if he could get it or get Revei to it.
The question was - would the other allow himself to be hauled around? Could he manage that? Leaving the Dreamer's Guide to writhe in pain before the broken altar of Gehenna was not something Silence felt he could stomach- try he would to move Revei to his rooms.
Prolixity His hands were being bound, hands reaching through the searing ash to wrap something over the pain, to hold it in. There was enough lucidity left - barely - to comprehend that this was for the best. Perhaps the pain would go scattering and spilling across the floor if it were not wrapped up, for anyone to stumble into. That would not be good. Revei uncurled slightly, letting Endiovar wrap his hands, though that was the most help that he could give to the process.
The silencing of the korat helped. If he tried, he thought he could see the smoky, cottony drift of quiet around its head. If only it would help him quiet. He bit down on the sound he was making, choked it into a sputtering silence. If he bit into his lip, he could focus on the point of bright sharpness there, hold off the looming immensity of panic and pain that were overhwlming him. A small pain to control the massive weight of it. Speaking was out of the question.
Endiovar was pulling him up, obscured in the fluttering wingbeats of worry that surrounded him. Revei flinched from the rapid motion, the insectile vibrating that he could see swirling around them both. His own wings unfolded, beating in an attempt to chase the swarm away. He wanted away from the pod, but the thought of the little skitters of motion touching him made his skin crawl; painfully, with help, he lurched to his feet, biting his lip harder. Effort and agony, monstrous and horrible. He could not stay here.
Syrie Obviously, something was eating at Revei - something that he could not see, but the other godling could...or just something felt. Regardless, he noticed it as Dream pulled away and fought with his pain-wracked body to let him first bind his hands and then rise to his feet.
Wings of bone and sinew and feather and membranes flapped and beat in a manner that said "Help! Panic! Nooo!" as clearly to Silence as if the other hand spoken aloud. He could do naught for the pain until they were out of the throne room, out and up the stairs - off to the rooms that Harmoidus in his generosity had afforded him.
He could, perhaps, help by spreading a wing around the other - the distortion field would help filter out the sounds...it was the most he could do while they traveled through the Pantheon.
'Gently friend, gently -- find solace in me, lean on me and I will support you.'
Prolixity The skittering lessened slightly, making visible the pity and regret and concern on Endiovar's face. That, for him? Revei flinched again. He needed the careful support of Silence to move, and he accepted it reluctantly. His hands stayed curled to his chest, his wings drooping slowly behind him.
The stairs were impossible. One more step, he lied to himself, only one more, and again, and again, and somehow, eventually there were no more.
Syrie As quickly as he wanted to get Revei up to his rooms so he could make some sort of attempt at bandaging his hands properly, the curly-haired godling knew better than to rush him. At the head of the stairs, he paused to get a firmer grasp on the other and to allow him a moment's respite before continuing.
As they neared his rooms, Endiovar called out for his attendants -- Hue, the Aoide and Piallo, the Ice Demon. Both answered by opening the door and hastening to aid the pair. Though they knew not what had happened, it was obvious that both were suffering ill effects.
The unknown godling more so than their own Master.
Piallo darted off to fetch the medicine kit that held not only basic items for first aid, but also the items Priya had requested to care for Endiovar's wounds on their trip. Surely, it would be needed.
'The chaise, Hue. Help me get him to the chaise.'
Prolixity He needed the support, and only that kept him from pulling away. Revei took slow stumbling steps towards the promise of sanctuary and help. The place in him that heard the dream-static was numb, silent, scalded and frozen by what he had seen within the pod. It would return, wouldn't it? A tiny portion of him spared a moment for anxiety. It would return. It must. It was part of his Self, part of what made him Dream.
The two strangers who emerged to help them were enfolded in the swarm as well. Revei bit his lip harder, forced himself not to flinch. Things moved in his peripheral vision, shaking and skittering, laughing and whining. He would not panic. He would not collapse.
Syrie Once Endiovar had Revei settled carefully onto the chaise and he'd taken the kit from Piallo, he sent both away. Obviously something was not right within the Dreamer's Guide and it seemed that sound and movement affected it. He could much more easily control both if he were the only one attending to the Void-wounds.
'Easy friend, I'm so sorry...I must unbind your hands, only to rebind again....'
Prolixity Revei nodded, a tight, tense motion; with Endiovar's servants gone again, he could see the other god, comprehend the graceful communication. He might scream, he knew, if the pain spilled out of his hands; he could not say that aloud, but perhaps Silence would understand. Only make it quick, so that he did not have to see.
He could do something about that himself. He wanted to laugh at the simplicity of the solution - how stupid, not to think of it - he closed his eyes, and waited to be touched. The wall of pain waited with him, ready to collapse over him again like a wave.
Syrie Indeed, he knew and well understood Revei's wishes. Even as he was unwinding the make-shift field bandaging Endiovar's stomach rolled; he wanted very badly to have this done and over with. Once the wrapping was removed, he tried working quickly: laying the salve on thickly to help the healing process...if there would be any.
At the least, it would save him from infections. Silence bound his new friend tightly in whatever comfort he could give, not wanting to visit any more pain than was absolutely necessary.
Prolixity Revei held himself tense and tight, biting himself so he would not make a sound. He had brought this on himself. He placed no blame on Endiovar; it had been his own choice to reach out, to find out. When the binding was over, he slumped forward on his elbows, breathing raggedly and resting. "My Aiode," he managed after a time. "Opal will assist. Send for him ... "
Syrie While the other godling held no blame to Silence, he himself felt a good part accountable -- after all, he had encouraged Revei to touch...and had assumed there would be no harm come from reaching towards the thing inside the cocoon. There would be time later for him to self-flaggelate over what had happened; for the time being the whole of his attention was on the other man and seeing that he recieved aid.
'Yes, of course--' Endiovar called for Hue to find the Aoide named "Opal" and sent him off. He himself would stay where he was. 'Hue will bring Opal, lay back until that time, if you can.'
Hue zipped out quickly and silently -- he had seen the way his Master had appreciated Xedre's quick, quiet efficiency and sought to mimic it as much as possible. He would find the other Aoide and fetch him to him; quickly.
Prolixity "Thank you." Revei held himself still and quiet. Slowly the storm of flickering shivering motion in the corners of his eyes began to fade.He let out an inadvertent breath of relief. What was it? It had come with the pain; perhaps, when he was healed, it would ebb.
Would he heal? A horrifying thought. He put it aside, ignoring it with careful willpower.
Syrie While they awaited Hue's return with the Aoide called Opal, Endiovar kept himself very still - Revei seemed to relax when there was little movement; he could only guess that there had been some sort of backlash from the Gehenna-pod that was affecting his new 'friend's' mind.
Hue, meanwhile, searched out the door that he thought was correct -- one that was mirrored triggered some slight of memory and he knocked hesitantly, hoping that he had the right of it.
Prolixity A winged Aiode very similar to Hue opened the door after a moment, giving him a blank look. "Yes?"
Syrie Hue's wings fluttered a bit as he took in Opal's similar appearance. "Are you Opal? I was sent to fetch someone with that name by a man with two mis-matched wings..." He was still a bit off from his time in the statue, but trying. So hard.
From that point, Hue explained what had happened to Revei and had informed Opal that the God of Dreams was staying with Endiovar until he were well enough to handle being transported back...whenever that was...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:00 pm
XiaoRen  He shouldn't have left Shk'hin with Dagny. What would become of the willfully naive young god and that temptress? Had he unleashed the two of them on the Grigori or given HER the tools to make the end they all faced that much worse. Maybe the Grigori would take one look and just go back to the Ashlands, letting the conviction that existence was a bane sink in to the rest of their minds through good old fashioned Reason.
He rested his forehead on the cool mirror on the door to their room and let it soothe his headache. He needed Revei. It had been weeks since he was home. Ever since Samyaza had come, he had given himself over to his study. And the sum of that accumulated knowledge was in a chest in Dagny's labs. They probably wouldn't even look at it. But he couldn't bring himself to go back, not yet, not THERE. He shuddered. It was selfish to ask to be absolved of one guilt to ease another. But if Revei would forgive him for leaving him alone through the trumpet blasts so far, then he could forgive himself for being of so little use in this War.
Could Revei forgive him? How would he find his lover? Did any but nightmares now inhabit the Realm of Dreams? When mortals gave in to sleep from black exhaustion, if they dreamed at all, it would be twisted with the fear and rot of the waking worlds around them. What was left of them.
He sighed and opened the door. "I come late to ask, but are you..." The room was quiet. The dust gathered on everything was mundane, dirty, not the kind Revei sprinkled on childrens eyelids in ridiculous tales. It was tracked through with the pawprints of distressed Koratti. But even those now were gone. Revei! Where would he have gone in person? Couldn't he manage the affairs of his realm from here? What if he was...
No! He wouldn't think it. He would have Known if that were true, surely. Berating himself and fretting, he set to cleaning the room. Revei would come back. And when he did, he would find it clean, his books in order, and him waiting.
Syrie In the time since Revei had been damaged by trying to interface with the Pod's consciousness, he had stayed with Endiovar; the God of Silence had spent a good deal of time and energy towards keeping Revei comfortable. Which meant keeping it very silent and making sure no one but himself went too near the Dream God, since otherwise he was having horrifying hallucinations.
A week and a half had passed since that fateful day and it seemed that it was now time for his friend to return to his own home in the Pantheon. The Koratti swirled around their ankles as he gently guided Revei through the dusty hallways and past doors emblazoned with various sigil and rote.
The air about Revei's chamber-door felt disturbed. Endiovar pursed his lips a bit and pushed his way inside, a careful arm around the other man's shoulders. Immediately he felt a presence though he did not know who or what that might be, only that there were no warning sensations.
Friend then. Excellent. That made Silence feel much relieved and yet strangely apprehensive. Slow steps into the room - ah, it seemed to have been cleaned...recently too. A flash of movement caught the corner of Endiovar's eye and he turned his head in time to see Gianfar puttering about. He cleared his throat quietly to gain the other man's attention.
Prolixity  Revei was glad to return to his own rooms; Endiovar was kind, and he had come to regard Silence as a good friend during that week and a half during which Endi had cared for him. But there was always that soft and nagging feeling that he was misplaced, that he was not home. His hands had begun to sting less, his fingers to bend as they ought; but the weird images that resounded and multiplied in his vision at each small sound remained. He was grateful for Endi's quiet guidance.
He, too, felt the presence in the room as they entered; he turned his head, searching. Spotting the familiar grey figure, his eyes warmed, and he smiled more genuinely than he had in some time. "Gianfar," he said, then winced as the sound of his voice scattered distortions through the room, rippling and fluttering unnaturally.
XiaoRen The small sound jumped his heart like the lightning he could wield. Someone was behind him! He hadn’t heard anyone come in. His wings poofed on the instant, feathers drifting into the air as if someone had broken a pillow. He whirled to face whoever it was, irrational images of Grigori in his mind. And he saw Revei’s smile."Gianfar"“Revei!” a word for relief, hand going to his heart. But something was terribly wrong. His lover flinched as if struck. He held himself so carefully, looked so thin, like an animal hunched in a corner wasting of a fatal wound. There were dark hollows under his eyes, and since when did the god of Dreams not get enough sleep. And who was this stranger with him? Mottle skinned and mottle souled, a morph then, fair in both senses of the word. Someone who would know?
“What has happened?” It was a demand, fear bringing out the headmaster in him. He strode to the stranger, looked him the eye, his own bright. It wasn’t Revei he was asking. Revei was falling apart as he spoke. He dared not rush to his side, dared not touch and hold him. Who knew what might shatter the glass threads of which he seemed spun, or who they might cut. But he was never tender in an emergency.
Syrie Gianfar. Endiovar felt a twinge of guilt at having so obviously startled the other God - but his concerns for Revei's state of mind and being kept him from feeling quite as bad as he might have otherwise. Sounds disturbed the God of Dreams in ways that only he could have explained...had he wont and words to do so.
The silent godling inclined his head delicately and lowered his lashes a bit in acknowledgment of Gianfar's obvious affection towards Revei. Lovers? Perhaps - at least the two were close friends. Endiovar muffled the sound of the grey God's words just slightly -- they would cause Dream untold pain and distress if left at full force.
'Please, Gianfar - move only slowly and speak softly...' Obviously, he was more than willing to explain - words or no. Silence would prefer to have this conversation with all of them seated; or at least Revei seated and resting. He did much better when he was under as little stress as possible and Endiovar's gentle nature insisted they care for him first.
Prolixity Revei closed his eyes to shut out the resounding world, held one bandaged hand to his face as he tried to calm the sympathetic vibration of his heart. Not real, not real - A horrifying thought occurred to him abruptly. Could he be hallucinating now, out of his longing for company and comfort? But no, Endiovar was not-speaking to Gianfar now; Gianfar must be real. A rush of relief flooded over him; then guilt. He was causing his lover worry.
He reached out blindly, shaky still.
XiaoRen Practical and calm, this stranger did know what had happened. There was an implied familiarity. How familiar? Was he a friend of Revei’s? Revei never spoke about old friends, except Morpheus. Well, they didn’t speak about that either. This was no time for jealousy, even with a beautiful stranger acting protective of his lover. Or maybe this pang was guilt that he hadn’t been there to care for Revei and this person obviously had been. It hurt to know so little.
Then Revei held out his arms, eyes closed, blind and searching. Such basic need was more reassurance than any words. Gianfar went to him…slowly. But was it safe to touch him? Revei acted like light was painful. All his senses might be raw. Gianfar stretched his wings forward like open arms for Revei’s hands to find. His wings were soft enough that even taxed nerves should bear the touch, and Revei would know them.
I’m sorry I wasn’t there. An apology required answer, and he didn’t want to ask anything of Revei. It’s alright. Reassurances were empty.
“I’m here” he whispered…softly. There was only the bed and the windowseat. The god of dreams wasn’t much for sitting when you could be lounging or laying down. He backed his way to the bed, leading, gathering Revei with his wings. He nodded for the stranger to sit there as well.
Syrie Revei reached for Gianfar and Endi did not interfere - he didn't really want to though a small twinge of something ran through the God of Silence as he watched Gianfar's wings enfold Revei; a chaste but loving embrace.
As indicated, Endiovar settled onto the bed near the pair. He moved slowly and carefully, mindful that all their moving, the speaking and perhaps even his own not-speaking could disturb the Dreamer's Guide.
'...' He had started to not-speak but stopped. The two deserved a moment to themselves; Endi understood and closed his eyes to afford them that much privacy. When Gianfar was ready, he would know by their bodies...by the subtle shifting of muscles and by the very air around them. Then he would begin the sad tale of Revei's injuries - the contact with Gehenna inside it's cocoon...how he himself was to fault for encouraging the dark-haired God.... The void-rot that had so quickly torn through Dream's hands...and of course, the painful and distressing hallucinations that had only calmed with the judicious use of his own powers to buffer Revei.
Days worth of information...some spoken aloud in that voice, quiet-bringing, hushed...but most not-spoken eloquently.
Prolixity Soft feathers, soft touch. Strange, how sometimes it was only after absence that one knew how sharply a loss had been felt. Where had Gianfar been? Revei didn't know; he didn't know very much about his lover at all, he realized. They had danced delicately around one another, nervous, perhaps afraid to give up long-held secrets. " ... missed you," he said softly, guiltily. He would not ruin this.
He settled among the familiar cushions, breathing slow and deep, and leaned against Gianfar, letting Endiovar explain. He could feel the world bending and shifting around him, and tried to ignore it. Perhaps in time it would become familiar, tolerable. He stirred to protest Endiovar's self-blame, though; he had, after all, thought it a good idea, laid his hands against the dark cocoon of his own free will.
XiaoRen It made sense that the stranger used gestures and posture to explain things. A finger to his lips, a hand patting the air down like testing a pillow. “Speak softly, move slowly.” Not even a whisper. That meant even so small a sound could hurt Revei, and the whispered “...missed you” cost his lover something. Gianfar pressed his lips to Revei’s hair.
But as the stranger began to explain in detail what had happened, Gianfar found a small part of his mind wondering just how he was doing it. His acting was superb, his pantomime subtle, but even so the words shouldn’t be so clear. “It dreamed of things beyond understanding, all rage and chaos and unmaking. His hands wouldn’t come free. The rot began to spread, like film burning.” It was good there was a small part of his mind free, clinically parsing how “chaos” and “unmaking” could be rendered into gesture. Some part of his mind that decided this was the god of Silence - even a clever mute couldn’t convey this much. Because the rest of his conscious was diving into a maelstrom of panic. Thank goodness for that sensible echo - Silence. Silence. Don’t yell it.
You did what?!! You wanted to see what IT was dreaming?! What do you think it’s dreaming, it’s Gehenna!
Gianfar didn’t speak, but his own gestures weren’t too bad for conveying meaning. His eyes went wider then his glasses. His lips worked silently, then pressed into a thin line. Feathers shed over Revei’s arms and lap, and Gianfar’s heart was a loud tattoo in his chest beneath Revei’s ear, a noise he couldn’t help. If his hair weren’t already full silver it would have been by the end of the Silence's story.
It must be easier for him to see, who had not loved Harmodius. That thing wasn’t Harmodius, it was their End. Revei had touched the formless yearnings of the unnamed, the Void in that shell! The rot on his hands was nothing, what of his mind? No…no…he was still sane. Their names were still clear in Revei’s mind. Revei had called his out.
He waited till Silence was finished. That same small free part of his brain, always there to analyze, noted how Revei defended Silence from his shouldered guilt. Definitely friends.
He took Silence's hand between his own, they trembled some. Turning up the palm he wrote in it. Even the pads of his fingers were soft, the only callouses from writing. The words were stern, but his touch tender. He was grateful, to Silence for keeping Revei safe. To Revei for existing.
“I am Knowledge called Gianfar. Names become important. They are slipping away… May I have yours?” and then, because he could not help at least a small tirade. “Do you have any idea how lightly you both got off? How lucky we are to still have him?” He sagged after the last word, his hands going still, cupping Silence's between them.
Syrie Blond curls fell into the morphic godling's eyes as he bowed his head; of course Gianfar was right to chastise him - them- for being so brash and unthinking...but they hadn't known. None had...there was no one they had thought to speak with and none stop their actions. Endiovar had spent many days and nights before Revei had come, just sitting with that cocooned monstrosity. His thoughts had been churning and turning in his head until it was all he could do to not slam his fists into the stones in frustration at being unable to do anything.
Gianfar's unsteady, soft hands took one of his and Endiovar watched as the other god wrote though he certainly noticed the body language. Gianfar was upset and grateful and hurting for Revei and for himself.
'Gianfar, Knowledge...I am Silence, called Endiovar.' He matched the other's introduction and knew that what Knowledge said was true. Names were important- more now than ever. 'There is Nothing in the chrysalis and it hungers for what Is. We did not know...and knowing came at too dear a price.' His fingers twitched in Gianfar's hold; his wings following suit and causing little distortions in things viewed through them.
Prolixity Revei's lips quirked into a tired, self-deprecating smile. "When have ... you ever known me to think too hard on a decision?" he whispered. "Perhaps I will have learned." He fell silent again, waiting out the waves of sparkling distortion. Then, "I'm sorry." He turned his face against Gianfar's shoulder, his breathing a little ragged. He was so weak just now, of his own foolishness and pride. That lesson, again.
XiaoRen They did not know.
It was all too clear how much of this was his fault. What did they know of Samyaza, of the old war, of the Void that was before all things, of the prophecies of Gehenna? Nothing probably, only that something terrible had happened to Harmodius and now that pod was all that was left. Of course they would have tried whatever they could think of, and worse, not for their own sakes but for Harmodius’s. Ohhhh….if there were anything left of Harmodius he would have words. But that was misplaced guilt wasn’t it…
“No…I’m sorry.” a whispered sigh that spoke of great weight, a few ashes drifting up from the charred pages of Alexandria. “I should have been there.”
He let the silence and weight settle around them, till Revei’s breathing smoothed. Then he sighed. What fools they were. With one hand he wrote on Revei’s back, and the other in Endiovar’s palm, writing with both hands not difficult for him. “We could wallow in guilt till the end, paint ourselves in ashes, to what purpose? We offer gratuity to the darkness when the price is already paid.”
He wouldn’t leave Revei again. But would Endiovar stay? As much as he was glad, flattered that Revei needed him, he didn’t delude himself that he could offer what Endiovar could. He wrote again. On Revei’s back, “As much as I would like to be alone with you, I think Endiovar should stay.” And on Endiovar’s hand, “Please…stay. He needs you.”
Syrie Had Endiovar known of Gianfar's intent towards Harmodius - should he return to be spoken to - he would have frowned and protested. The God of Silence was no mind-reader however, so he did not know what the pale God of Knowledge was thinking. He only knew that the man's body language had shifted to something slightly more defensive; the protective space he had formed around his lover was brought closer to himself.
Soft settling sounds, muted further for Revei's benefit, drifted about the trio on the bed. No words nor not-words were needed; the quiet wrapped itself around them gently, cradling each like a mother her cherished babe. Gianfar would be the first to break the silence; his fingers light but busy across skin and cloth.
A nod and a soundless exhalation; Knowledge was correct - self-flagellation was as unnecessary as fire in a volcano. Hard to let go of guilt and self-blame...any emotion was better than the gnawing unrest and fear that came with each day since Harmodius' fall.
'Ah--' Surprised that Gianfar would request that he stay, Silence's wings fluffed out for a moment before he was able to regain his composure. Though he could mute things for Revei, he had not expected to stay with him with his lover returned. 'Of course, Gianfar. I will stay so long as I am needed.' An attempt to give the two as much "privacy" as he could would be made; they had much to make up for...time spent apart was hard, very hard.
Prolixity A guilty kind of relief. Much as Revei wanted to give his attention to Gianfar, he was wary of speech and sound and the resulting chaos. Knowing it likely wasn't real did not make it particularly easier to endure. He had come to appreciate the blanket of silence that Endiovar brought with him.
Secrets and more secrets. He liked secrets and was utterly weary of them. "Thank you," he whispered. Several of the koratti slid out of nothing to twine around him and Gianfar, expressing their concern in their own way. Another went to attend Endiovar, fixing one glittering, beady eye on him before nudging its head imperiously under his hand.
Revei sighed softly and flopped back onto his bed. Tired - Gianfar might be tired too; he had been away, journerying, doing things Revei didn't know about. He could write his questions and answers later. He held one hand out to the grey god, questioning.
XiaoRen “Thankyou…” his whole posture said. He let Endiovar’s hand go to pet the koratti that threaded around them. He had missed them, but it had been rolled in with missing Revei. He couldn’t tell if they were being silent now because they knew, or because Endiovar was doing something. Silent koratti would be something he could get used to.
Finding himself host as well as caretaker, Gianfar’s thoughts went quickly to logistics. Thank goodness Endiovar agreed to stay. But where? Best he be closeby, probably best he be in the same room. A morph’s powers were easily strained. But he couldn’t very well just sleep in the bed with them…
Revei’s hand was out to him, his eyes an invitation uncertain. Memories hijacked his thoughts, of this bed he hadn’t been in since he left Revei here, the sleeping they hadn’t been doing. Revei would read it in his face, the way his eyes lost focus and his always wan cheeks flushed healthy as if he'd just come in from the cold.
He didn’t dare look back at Endiovar for him to read the same. His words were practical courtesy, nothing more…had his blind hand not fumbled, brushing Endiovar’s wing as he reached to write on his shoulder, “I hope you can stay until he recovers. Do you have any things you need from your own rooms? I could help you carry them.” He added the last trying to be less obvious. He didn’t want Endiovar to feel a shred of unwelcome.
Syrie The koratti regarded Endiovar a moment before demanding attention - attention the god of Silence was happy enough to give it; his strong, graceful fingers rubbing at the creature's silky head and up under it's usually-clacking beak.
There was a moment, something between Gianfar and Revei that was meant for them only, that Endiovar wisely kept his head bowed from; the two were lovers, he knew this. Lovers deserved their moments without feeling an interloper's interference...regardless of how welcome or not said person was.
With slow movements, Endiovar reached to take Gianfar's hand from his shoulder and squeezed it gently, reassuringly. He felt no unwelcome at all and wanted to assure the grey god of Knowledge as such. 'I must to my rooms, there are things I will need as I am to stay here.' Gentle eyes changed shape slightly as his expression moved from serious to smiling. 'I will have assistance. You will want to stay with Revei of course.'
The good news was that even without Endiovar there the binding around Revei should hold - at the least for however long it would take the godling to retrieve things that he needed and make certain his followers were not going to fade away like so many fireworks in the night.
Prolixity Relief and comfort and home, finally; a sanctuary within the chaos and uncertainty of what might or might not come. "Thank you," he said softly, both to his lover and his friend. Too weak, too proud; but with their help it would be made right.
XiaoRen As the door shut with a click inaudible to them, he kissed Revei with a likewise inaudible sigh. Revei tasted like bile and his tongue was dry with stress. If he had tasted like old fish Gianfar would have found it sweet. He lay down, still kissing, gathering him with arms and wings. Let his lover’s world be nothing but soft grey, with no distinct shapes or chiaroscuro edges to shatter. The koratti watched, curious, as he kissed past Revei’s lips, down his neck and collar, hands going to the sarong. He found himself blushing as the koratti tilted their heads and blinked, sharp obsidian chip eyes.
Since when have I been so bold or passionate? Have some bonds shattered in me along with the Throneroom windows? Time is finite even to mortal minds now, counted down in trumpet blasts. The weeks are become hours, seconds, short as the silence between our funeral knell. There is only the present, and I have so much to tell you.
And he ducked down within the shelter of his own hunched, wrapped wings. So enfolded, private under his own wings, he wasn’t shy. Gentle, patient, slow…but not shy. He would find how much his lips could say without words. He knew that Endiovar knew, and that he wouldn’t be back for a safe while.
Syrie Indeed Endiovar knew - things un-spoken so clearly; the feeling there, between Revei and Gianfar, required - no, demanded - time. Precious moments like miniature universes stretching into unfettered eternities for those involved. The gods pressed so close, closer emotionally than physically...feathers floating all about.
He knew and would remain away, issuing orders and having his quarters straightened. Incense burnt like small offerings to the gods of Love, of Peace...asking for quiet moments savored. Chocolate and fine wine on the tongue. The smoke helped to air the rooms of their sick-bed scent; stale sweat and unrest...countless nights spent pacing and fretting - chasing away the invisible monsters of Revei's mind. The endless quiet that left his servants ill at ease though they suffered it well, knowing that the stillness was the only thing helping the Dreamer's Guide fend of utter insanity.
Silence also knew that while he would remain with Gianfar and Revei as much as possible, until he was no longer needed...he would absolutely be coming back to his rooms from time to time. He himself needed the space away; time to reflect and let his weary head rest as he could. Time to be pampered and petted and time to feel the sharp, bittersweet ache of loss in his chest...loss of things had and of things not had.
Let it be known that eventually, Endiovar returned -- after he was certain the pair had finished...whatever they were able to under the circumstances. Once returned, he did not leave often unless he felt it best. Remaining near Revei allowed him to keep the Dreamer's Guide from being tortured mentally by the shadowy threads of Void that bit at his mind.
That said, Endiovar did leave Revei's rooms -- he had self-appointed duties to the Pantheon and also duties to his rag-tag retinue...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:02 pm
...//Solo - Endless Numbered Days
At one time, mortals considered that silence in dreams meant tension of some sort...but here, in these rooms where Silence and Dream (and of course, Knowledge) dwelt day after day, there was less tension and more concern and worry...and perhaps a little something else. Between Revei and Endiovar the blooming affection continued to grow; even as the deeply loving relationship between Revei and Gianfar became more and more apparent. Endiovar felt that he should keep himself apart from Revei, hold his affection in check and not act upon it save for to offer his aid to the Dreamer's Guide.
It was Gianfar, the dusty, gray-winged god of Knowledge, that approached him first with outstretched fingers; a welcome spoken loudly and plainly...without either of them using such un-necessary things such as words. Endiovar had went into those pale arms and found peace and comfort; for a short amount of time, the God of Silence felt whole, relaxed...normal. Revei's pain and distress was not forgotten, but temporarily set to the side of his consciousness in favor of this newly budding, sensual connection he was forging with Gianfar.
After Gianfar and Endiovar separated yet again - one to the Library to work and the other to return to Revei's side for support - he felt shame and worry. After all, hadn't he just come between two persons that he felt such deep, abiding love for? Beyond any sexual or sensual attributes, Endi loved both of his companions from the furthest expanses of his quiet soul..and the thought that he might have come between these two and caused some issues or problems made his stomach knot and his delicate brows draw together.
Sitting with Revei in the dark with his head bowed in shame, he mentally flogged himself for his indescretion. Trutfully he didn't understand how or why he'd felt so close to Gianfar in the first place; there were flashes of memory that came to him - they had been close in the past, before the Fading? It felt true to him, right in a great many ways...but that was still no excuse for reaching out to him the way he had (never mind that it had been Gianfar that had reached out to him. Swathed in silence, Revei still seemed to notice that his curly-haired companion was distressed; he put a hand on the blond as if to say "Be still, be calm. All is well, all is as it should be." And when he tried to apologize, Revei told him to hush, that he knew and approved.
Together. The three of them. It was right. Fitting. The Way it Should Be, as far as any of them should be concerned.
When Gianfar returned from the Great Library, Endiovar conversed with him about this and received the same sort of response: He should be still and calm, all was as it should be. Hearing it from both - or not hearing it, as it were - and understanding that they all wanted this three-way relationship was a monumental relief to the God of Silence. It took a load off of his slender-but-strong shoulders and allowed him to focus more on other things: keeping Revei cloaked in silence, keeping his servants taken care of...the whole thing with Harmodius being inside that awful chrysalis and yes, even helping Gianfar with his work.
Having both Gianfar and Revei made the Weeks a bit easier to bear but also made it harder for him to bear the thought that they wouldn't be able to bring Harmodius back, that this whole endeavour would fail and he would lose them. The pale-skinned godling would spend his off moments wracking his brain for solutions...ways to stop the beast inside the Chrysalis from coming out, from being born, from devouring All that Is.
Ideas, like hopes, were few and far between...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:04 pm
...//Solo - Numbness for Sounds (Start of Hell)
It was pitch outside; inky black with few twinklings of stars to break the perceived darkness overhead. Universe was subdued, as were all the gods. They were stuck in a what seemed a hopeless situation, though all tried to fight the thoughts of failure. Endiovar walked the dusty marbled halls of the Pantheon, his sandals making next to no sound as he padded past doors, down stairs and past statues to come before the Throne. Empty, of course.
The Crown was still cocooned. Unchanged and still save for the slow "breathing" it did; the beast gestating inside was growing...waiting to be "birthed" upon the world only to end it.
Silence's eyes were damp but no tears came, he had not cried this whole time - frustrating as being utterly useless was. So far, he'd had no luck with reaching the creature inside the pod -- oh yes, save that he'd coerced Revei to try and had caused him harm. That still brought a sharp pain to his chest and caused him to shake his head at the chrysalis.
'It is late, my Lord, but I cannot sleep.' Strong hands reached out even as he moved forward to stroke the strange egg. Perhaps he was stupid to keep talking to it, but...Harmodius had always been so kind to him, given him aid and succor. He could no more stop himself from talking to the pod than he could stop the earth's spinning.
Though honestly, he would have done that if he could. To stop the Earth's movement would have meant that the day would not start anew...and the damned Trumpets would not call the weeks of descent. He was sick unto death of the strident clarion calling out another Week, of hearing the sound that caused the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.
'Are you as sick of the Trumpets as I, my Lord? What do You think, can we stop the Earth's spinning?' No response from the pod, save that steady, slow breathing -- he expected none, naturally. Just the quiet and the breathing and the night-sounds. What was left of them at this late date, anyway. The Trumpet calls had brought week after week that slowly strangled the life from the land...strident and unstoppable...
A thought blossomed in the godling's brain -- unstoppable. The Trumpets. Sounds.
'!! How could I have been so blind all these weeks? The Trumpets are simply sound.' Of course, the plan blossoming in his brain was not guaranteed to work, by any means...but it was worth a try! The blond leaned forward and pressed a desert-dry kiss to the pod's hardened surface and then stepped away from it.
Yes, he would use his aura to try and silence the Trumpet as it called this day -- it may not work, but all they had now were chances, he would take one and do it. Endiovar had been blinded to such a simple thought by his grief over having "lost" Harmodius to the End that trying to blanket the Trumpet with his aura, silencing the damned thing, hadn't crossed his mind seriously until that moment.
How badly would he feel if it worked and he'd waited this long to try? It didn't matter, he would deal with that when it happened. If it happened.
Endiovar closed his eyes and waited, instinct would tell him when the opportune moment would be. Then he would make the attempt. Silence.
'Let this work, by the Crown, let this work even a little bit...'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:05 pm
...//Solo - Strident Tones (Start of Hell)
For the briefest moment, the godling thought it might have worked....but then the planes came crashing together with a force that sent him staggering forward onto his knees; hands out to keep him from going entirely down against the ground. The shock broke his concentration and a tumult of sound, a cacophony of noise assaulted his senses all at once: a backdraft of aural stimulation crashing onto him, over him, like a violent wave o'er a sloop.
Shrieks and screams from those tormented, howls and growls of the devils, the demons and the daemons washed over the God of Silence in growing waves. He had failed in this attempt. There had to be a reason for that -- but what he would not discover just yet.
'Reason. There is a reason--' Hue came running, calling his name in a panic. Was he injured? What happened? Endiovar rose to his feet with the Aoide's assistance and shook his head while the other swatted dust and debris from his clothing.
I failed, Hue. There is a reason for it, though I could not tell you. Something...something that is lost to me yet.' Silence bowed his head and sighed, shoulders slumped; defeat was disheartening, but he had made the attempt. Perhaps he would figure out what that something missing was...try again. Or perhaps it would remain a mystery to Endiovar up unto the End. Either way, he wished to return to his rooms and the bat-winged Aoide would help him to accomplish that goal.
Something...just out of my grasp. I may have known...Once. His thoughts spun round and round as the pair returned to their rooms.
The week of Hell had arrived, but they would deal with this as they could.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:06 pm
...//Solo - Worlds Collide (Hell)
...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:08 pm
...//Solo - Up on the Corkboard (Hell)
Often he had wandered past the corkboard, reading and seeing what each and all that could bother to pen and pin a note up were doing. It was not until he read about the return and the lotus-oil bath (something he had not participated in due to caring for the wounded Dream), the notes under these, that he felt he could contribute much if anything.
Once-elegant script was rendered blotted, blurred by the ash and mildew that permeated most everything -- but it was still a note:
Pinned to the Board I offer room and solace to those needing a place to rest; seek the door with the swan-crest. Glyph - I will see you in the Throne Room, no doubt. -Silence
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:09 pm
Syrie After posting the note to the cork-board and checking on His Cocooned Majesty, Endiovar had retreated to the Library to speak with Gianfar and then to Revei's rooms to see how the Void-damaged Dream god was doing. He was quite worried about his friend, but knew that even with his 'blanketing' properties, spending much time with Revei was not good for Dream's nerves and so he found himself back in his rooms.
Hot tea and a wing-grooming by Hue worked wonders to relax Silence; which was why he startled almost violently when there came a rapping on his door. 'Piallo, the door -- I have invited others to stay here. Guest or boarder....either way, let whomever in!'
The unspoken-yet-spoken command was followed and the one at the door would find a tired looking ice-demon standing there, taking their measure. Mouse Pachinkorelli The return of Glaucon's presence in David's mind had made the mortal quite restless. Despite how his stubborn nerves and muscles were all demanding for him to collapse on one of those ash-caked sofas and sleep until the looming End, he still found himself shuffling around the Pantheon, watching as more mortals trickled in and starting conversations with a few of them. He wasn't exactly very good at the whole 'spreading hope' deal, but his blunt certainty of what needed to be done ended up being the jolt in the backside that some of them needed as motivation to do it. Eudocia, their less-abrasive attendant, always followed close behind with more soft-spoken and poetically-crafted words to add. When they noticed the new note on the corkboard by Silence, it was met with a mix of thoughts and emotions, but both Judgment and his host felt it would be worth paying him a visit. After the long-winded tribulation of going up the stairs, they located the described door, David's hand falling against it in something resembling a knock. No noise of acknowledgement from within - but that was to be expected, given the nature of the deity who resided behind it. It took a delayed second or two for David to notice the ice demon standing where the door once was, an eyebrow arching slightly if he wondered if this was the god of Silence that they were looking for. That thought was abruptly dissolved by a negative from Glaucon, who gave off the impression that he was disapprovingly shaking his head at his host. As fragmented as his memories were and as little as he had been able to focus on them, he was still able to access a few that suggested he had been on good terms with the god they were visiting. It was enough to be able to recognize him on first glance, not to mention how the being that opened the door didn't have the air of divinity that was exclusive to his own kind. Judgment was allowed to take control of his body-to-be, his limbs jerking and shuddering a bit as he worked his influence through the barriers and dead ends that his host's illness created until he felt he could move it well enough to at least make it into Silence's chambers (and hopefully sit down for a spell). His cool-greenish Aoide stood a foot or two away, ready to help at a moment's notice if it was needed. He formally announced his presence with a soft voice that matched the weariness of his body. "I am the Verdict of Midas, Glaucon, here in response to Lord Silence's post on the noticeboard. May we enter?"Syrie Piallo stood hipshot while David stood there internalizing. His expression was guarded but friendly enough -- for him. The Aoide got a fairly interested look, but only until the man started twitching. Words came out, mellow and tired, washing over the creature with little ripples of power. Ah, yes, this was one of the Gods, but not reborn yet as his Master was. "Yes, yes, come in Lord Glaucon - you and your companion are welcome in my Master's chambers." Well, really...he didn't know if that were true, but it sure as hell sounded good! The golden-haired god of Silence heard spoken and unspoken -- he rose to his feet and moved to greet Glaucon in an appropriate manner; silk sliding against silk in the softest of sounds. "Welcome, Friend. I am Endiovar and I find my title means little while He is Cocooned." Though he used spoken words infrequently, his voice did not crack or grate, it was smooth and brought with it a sort of peaceful resting aura with it.
'You must be weary, the times demand much from all of us.' Bleached-white fingers reached out to grasp David-Glaucon's hand in greeting. 'Find solace and rest here, as long as you have need. Piallo will prepare a space for your companion as well.'Mouse Pachinkorelli Eudocia looked as if she terribly wanted to take her Master by the arm and help him into the room, but she was able to smother that desperate desire to help with the knowledge that both Glaucon and David alike would personally request assistance if they wanted or needed some. She resigned herself to trailing behind as they entered the room, giving quiet words of gratitude to both Piallo and Endiovar. There was a small smirk at Silence's response to Judgment's greeting, as he accepted the offered handshake with a volume of gratitude that would no doubt be communicated well without need to voice it. "And I am afraid that the use of such formalities is a habit I would have a very difficult time breaking," he said, wordy as ever. David gave a little huff from his corner of their shared mindspace, amused that a god who liked to talk so goddamned much was friendly with the god of shutting up. One of my domain should know well the value of unspoken words, David, the deity responded as they were allowed inside. There was an impression of the host dismissively waving one hand, before settling into a lounging position in an imagined leather couch. Whatever.Glaucon's attention returned to Endiovar. "I believe you must know by now that the state of our Lord is not completely irreversible?" He had left a note on the bulletin board, after all, which implied that he must have read at least some of it, perhaps seen what was described by the fate-stones. These assumptions were clear as day on his analytically-set face. Syrie So much there to see for him...he read the pair out of habit and also because it was often the things that went unsaid that "spoke" the most. Still, he was distracted slightly by Glaucon's title...it tickled at the back of his mind as familiar. Friendly, even. Perhaps they had been companions or associates before? It seemed likely.
Endiovar's lips pulled into a warm smile; yes - this was an old friend. He felt it. "I feel that you speak rightly. Something you always did...and do now." An elegant hand waved towards a set of couches arranged around a low table; they would sit there - to speak and to rest.
"Yes, I had read that." An odd look crossed the blond's face, but he soon schooled it into something closer to normal. 'It has been my hope and deepest desire since the Start of this that our Lord would be returned to us...' No words, but somehow the meaning and sense was conveyed in the lines of his body, the tilt of his head; expression and body and just a sense of what was meant.
"I confess, I do not understand what the lotuses and the scented oil have to do with his emergence." Mouse Pachinkorelli To see that spark of recognition and friendliness rekindle in Endiovar was almost as nice as finally being able to sit for a while. Judgment's beyond-old acquaintance could most likely see very well how his host's body's nerves were groaning at him for a moment of relaxation, and how immediately they shut up once they had reached the couches. It was enough for David to start fluttering near a state of unconsciousness; the only things keeping him awake were curiosity about this new god and an unusual determination to get things done. He noticed his friend adopt a strange expression for a moment, but he felt it was something best left unquestioned for now. Silence's genuine and obvious concern for the state of Harmodius was all that mattered, and his guest was quick to present the facts he had gathered which were relevant to that concern. "The lotuses are symbols," the wordier god replied. "A flower made sacred from how they remind mortals of life, rebirth and perfection, until the ruler of the city they are from made them a subject of his greed." It was probably lucky that it was such a difficult playing ground in Baadris. The thoughts of the mortals there would be stronger because of it, or so one could hope. "Numbers, Forest, Laughter and I were able to enlighten the city of Baadris to the True Gods, and now the lotuses are offerings for our Lord as tokens of mortal reverence. The will of these people can reignite the spark of Creation, as it feeds the flames of our own rebirth."Judgment spoke with confidence of this method - ' can,' not 'might' or 'could possibly.' He was certain it would work, so long as there were enough prayers behind it and the rest of the pieces could be pulled together in time. Syrie Indeed, it was achingly apparent to Silence that his current companion's body needed to be resting; he could only surmise that the host had been injured or unwell before the implantation. Knowing this did not diminish either man in his estimation - strength was not only measured by how physically fit one was and to be host to Judgment would take one with an exceptional will.
He listened with ears and with eyes and with that intangible other that allowed him to read into each nuance and pause - the unsaid.
"I see." Jade colored eyes narrowed a bit as he reflected on what he'd just been told. Glaucon was certain this would work, though he could tell that there was more to this than simply the lotuses and the people of Baadris. "The mortals must be careful around our Lord. Reaching out to Him in an intimate manner has cost one of our own his sanity and his hands." The nightmare-memory of watching Revei try to connect with the primal being inside the cocoon caused a slight tremor to course through Endiovar's body.
"Unless necessary, I would not want another to suffer a like fate.' Mouse Pachinkorelli His eyes widened in surprise at this news - that was certainly disturbing, and made his mind burn with questions about the circumstances. It seemed reasonable to assume that the mentioned god had touched the Chrysalis, but mortals had bathed it in lotus oil and come out of it sane and undamaged, from what he had heard. There had to be something to explain this while still getting his own point across efficiently. The god settled on one thing to ask, that would hopefully shed some light on this topic: "Is what this god did synonymous to worship and prayer?"Syrie There was shame and deep regret weighing down the curl-haired godling's shoulders; he thought of Revei...touching minds and touching the chrysalis with his hands - hands Void-burned and sanity fragmented until he could scarce bear the company of others.
"He tried to reach out to it, through Dream--" 'Perhaps that was the distinction; that he would actually touch the consciousness. I do not know, save that Revei of Dream now hallucinates and his hands...' Here Endiovar stopped and shook his head, closing his eyes as though to banish the sight, only to have it be twice as vivid in his own personal theater of the mind.
"Void ate his flesh. Void-rot burns him yet." 'However, I have been to the throne room with Him almost daily, touching and speaking at Him, and I have suffered no ill effects.' Mouse Pachinkorelli It was Dream who had attempted to find Harmodius within that Chrysalis? Yes, that made plenty of sense - Glaucon could imagine that meeting with a being composed of Nothing in such a way would end up as poison for the mind. Distress was rolling off of Silence's form about it, but the fellow god was still keeping his sense for reason, something that Judgment respected immensely. "And the side of our Lord we are attempting to reach must have been too far asleep at that time for even Dream to find..." Perhaps if he had waited until there was mortal will strengthening Him, that search would have been successful... but there was no sense in being frustrated, disappointed or guilty about that fact. It would lead to no progress and more emotional baggage weighing the white god down. "David and I are planning to pay our respects after we have rested enough to try those stairs again," he continued. "If you would like to join us, I am sure the mortals in the throne room would appreciate a moment of Silence for their losses along with our own."Mouse Pachinkorelli The god slowly shook his head, as if to try and chase off the buzzing in his skull that this theorizing was starting to cause. "Or perhaps these possibilities aren't worth thinking about too much. So long as the faith of both mortals and our own bring Him back, the answers to such mysteries might be better left to Himself." More talk about it would lead them around in endless circles without someone like Knowledge or Mystery to lead them to a new path, and even then it was up in the air whether gods of those domains would be able to comprehend such a thing as the Twin Crown was now. "Tea would be most appreciated, however," Glaucon decided, offering a bit of a smile. And then, after a stirring activity from his host followed by a mental suggestion, he added, "Iced, if I may ask. David prefers it cold."Syrie "I believe you are right. Theories are best left alone at this juncture." Endiovar leaned forward and motioned for his servant to chill the cup of tea he poured for Glaucon. His guest would be served first, of course -- and thanks to the Ice Demon, it would be beautifully chilled.
'As you wish. I too prefer chilled teas to hot ones.' At Endiovar's bidding, Piallo chilled the entire pot of tea before he served Judgement's Aoide. Mouse Pachinkorelli After having to drag their body through a desert world and back, returning with malicious demons at their heels and not really being able to cease their motion until now, a cup of ice-cold tea was the perfect remedy for both the host and the god. There was a few moments where conversation stopped in favor of sipping at it gratefully, quietly allowing a few layers of fatigue to peel away - but with Endiovar, those kinds of moments were the often ones where the most was said. Even the well-crafted words that Judgment could use wouldn't have been able to describe his gratitude for a place and time to rest at this point. It came with the knowledge that there would still be much to do in the coming days, but for now it was more sensible to stop for a bit, and let those some of those cracks repair themselves today so he wouldn't end up broken tomorrow. After a moment, David's scruffy face broke into a small, weary smile, and Judgement remarked, "My host is equally grateful that we chose to knock at your door." A hand reached for one of those scone-things... they were starting to look tasty. Syrie Tea and scones and rest - just the thing for someone that had traveled far and long and been through much. Endiovar could tell that Glaucon and his host were relaxing and enjoying the stillness and quiet of his suite even before words were put to it.
"I also, though the situation is not one in which I would have wished to meet you both."
Situation or not, Endiovar was quietly pleased to have Judgement staying with him. He had taken to caring for others much better than he had taken to sitting about uselessly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:12 pm
...//Solo - Real Life Henny Penny (Paradise)
It was calm. Finally calm across All that Was; week after disastrous, painful Week had taken a heavy toll indeed. Nothing across the great expanse of Creation had been left untouched and unmolested; like a naive girl on Prom Night discovering that her upper-classman boyfriend won't take "no" for an answer, they were all shaken. Samyaza had done well in her actions to savage the True Gods and the realms they held domain over; in this moment of wary peace, they were breathing, shuddering and terrified as to what would happen next.
Endiovar was inside, feet curled up under his lithe body as he watched Gianfar and Revei; Knowledge had some sturdy notepad open and was jotting down notes or whatnot and Revei was resting with his eyes closed. He was not so bothered when he was able to close his eyes and hide away inside the sheltering silence that Endi was able to provide to him, though nothing assauged the void-rot eating at his Being, whatever small comforts could be afforded the wounded Dream were given generously. It was then, with the trio in a dream-like, quiet repose, that Endiovar felt it.
A few seconds after the calm had settled over All, a strange emptiness washed over the curly-haired god; as though something that had been there, been a part of him without even his knowing, had been removed. Immediately he stood and made to leave - Revei would be fine and Gianfar...well, Gianfar had different needs of him than the sharply-featured Dreamer's Guide did. Out of the room and along the hallways, past many doors - some with identifying crests or markings, some as blank and bland as the metal doors one might see in an institution (but without the observational windows). Out and down and out of the Pantheon building even; he passed the loyal Dog - that pitch-and-nightmare colored beast that identified as a Dragon King - and many mortals without names he could put to faces. He passed some that were panicked, blathering and babbling something that brought to mind a long-buried memory that had once belonged to Colin:
"Help! Help! the sky is falling! Oh, help! The sky is falling!"
Initially, Endiovar could not fathom why he would be thinking about the story of Chicken Little nor why people would be saying such things to remind him of that old child's story in the first place, but once he was outside? It took only moments.
The blond put a hand to his chest, pushing against the flesh there to keep that throbbing, thrumming, beating organ safely within his chest; he found himself unwilling to accept the scene before his jade-colored eyes. There was no sky.
Inside, when he'd first been complelled to get up, he had felt something was missing from inside of him, an emptiness that he just couldn't identify. The reality of what they had lost was even more horrifying and heart-wrenchingly painful. How would he tell Revei? Did Gianfar already know? So many questions, roiling around in his head and making his stomach clench unpleasantly.
There was no sky.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:14 pm
...//PRP - The Silence of Kings (Paradise)
It was, Delmin thought, a relatively minor miracle that they were not spending every moment at the Pantheon. There were, of course, other things they could be doing. Delmin was, due to the lingering remnants of the soul-pact he had had with Seir, the best vector for attempting to locate the missing demon among the planar chaos caused by the deterioration of the worlds. That, unfortunately, meant he had to be in extended contact with the demons who had arrived while Jin Huang had been off after the Manacles, something Delmin was firmly opposed to. And although the dragon certainly had business to attend to with the remains the demonic clan that had served him in Ages past, he kept finding reasons to either leave his host in control, or slip off to the Pantheon. While not always successful, it worked often enough to throw the demons off-stride and keep them from mounting an effective 'attack' in order to keep his attention. To be sure, if Jin Huang had truly exerted himself and had his way, the pair likely would have spent far more time staring blankly at the Chrysalis, or polishing the Manacles, or whatever it was the dragon thought up to keep them occupied and his slight obsession satisfied.
I am simply trying to find a way to discharge my duties, said dragon groused, rumbling in discontent at the direction of his host's thoughts. And this is an escape for you as well, he pointed out sharply, causing the man to wince slightly as the barb struck home. The man ran a hand over the back of his neck, a tacit acknowledgment that Jin Huang was right.
"That doesn't make this any less boring," he rallied half-heartedly after a moment as they entered the Pantheon, heading for the Throne without much more than a quickly suppressed longing to head up the other set of spiral stairs to the Treasury, but that impulse was one they both had plenty of experience in ignoring. No further attempts at conversation were made as Delmin began what had quickly settled in routine cleaning of the area around the Chrysalis, although any efforts to remove the larger glass shards were beyond his capabilities. Indeed, all he was really doing was shuffling the dust around, lacking anywhere other than a lava flow to deposit it.
Sandal-clad feet and silk made very little sound as the man moved; once he too had been prone to discussions with his host, but no more. The youth was all but gone -- he would have been absorbed completely into the young god's being save for one promise...one made after the original, gem-binding promise. Even with his tormentor dust, Colin had not wanted to disappear. The reasoning? HarmodiusDestructionHIM Colin Hargrove had, when alive, felt such a surge of tangled emotions towards the Eldest that they had carried over into Endiovar's being once they had merged. Now, he wished to remain until they knew if The Pearl that Fashioned All could be restored.
Endiovar was grateful, truthfully. If this were infact the end of All, he selfishly wanted another - someone he was close to - to be there with him.
'Ah, foolish creature am I, even in these times.' He moved into the Throne Room, arms wrapped around his waist; eyes drawn to Delmin-at-task almost immediately. Another he did not know personally, but that he knew came to sitreflectwatch the Chrysalis. "It will not come clean, Friend." He knew. He'd tried often enough.At the sound of the other's voice, Delmin straightened slowly and turned, the only signs of his slight jumpiness a brief tremor of his hands, quickly stilled. "The glass can be moved," he offered in reply, indicating with one slightly cut up hand the larger pieces that had been moved away. "And the cleaning's better than just staring," he continued, sounding rather tired, as if he had indeed come many times to just sit and stare and worry. You make it sound so pointless, Jin Huang said lightly to his host, coiling his influence slowly inwards, recalling himself. Delmin made an abortive motion with a hand to dismiss the complaint, but stilled himself to watch what the other would do now. You could introduce us, the dragon suggested, but was not upset when his host continued to offer silence. They had met few people willing to come within this room. Most preferred to stay without, in the halls or upstairs, away from the Chrysalis that held all Jin Huang's Lord had been. Endiovar's feet moved silently over bits of glass that should have crunched under his weight. The other's hand was cut, he saw this -- he also read quite clearly the internal conversation between god and host; people did not realize how very much they gave away to him, especially when they did not speak openly. "True. I have oft tried to clean the wreckage." The curly-haired blond let his gaze move to the shattered windows. He had moved the colored glass shards many a time, but had been otherwise occupied of late. It seemed another had come to do what he had not.
'Perhaps it is pointless, but there is much at this time that seems so...and yet is not.' His gaze moved to the Pod. Gehenna. How often had he sat there, playing silent vigil? Motionless like one of the statuary that flanked the walk to the throne room? It had only been after Revei's unfortunate encounter with the entity inside the chrysalis that he had begun to realise that whatever was in there currently was very likely not the man he revered as Lord.
And yet...he could not be certain. "I am Endiovar...in these times, I find my title is unimportant." If Del/Jin wouldn't introduce themselves, he would make the first move.A god then, what with the mention of titles. Not a name Jin Huang recognized, but such things could shift during the process of rebirth; loss of memory, or other factors, could force a change of name. "Delmin Brock," the host replied amiably. There was a brief pause as things shifted within, and it took only a moment before someone other was speaking. "And I am Jin Huang, the Dragon King Futs Lung." While the disconcertingly observant god might not find much use for titles or ritual, the formality and familiarity of such things were an assurance for the somewhat vain and ofttimes stuffy dragon. "My thanks for clearing what you could. It seems wrong, to leave Him surrounded by such debris, even if He is not aware of it. I am sure my Lord would offer his own gratitude, if..." He trailed off there, realizing belatedly how inane such a comment was. Pompous a**, Delmin snorted, able to follow the thought to it's logical conclusion. Less a god and more a godling for while Endiovar had been reborn into his host's flesh, he was as yet still growing and changing to regain a form closer to that which he had held before the Fading. Which was part of the reason Silence had a strangely metallic-looking mullet going on rather than a more...suitable to station coiffure. Delmin spoke his name and then there was a change in the mortal; obviously the god within was taking control for a moment -- to others, perhaps it would not have been quite so obvious but Endiovar was well schooled in the unsaid.
"I am honored to meet you, Jin Huang, Dragon King. And your host, Delmin Brock as well." Endi's eyes went bright for a moment - he had met a Dragon King before though not the one standing before him. A very light acquaintance with Tian Yue, a good while before Destruction had become changed. It felt like a wholly different lifetime and the blond sighed a little bit. "I have met one of your kin, Jin Huang..." 'Tian Yue. Do you know him now?' The phrasing used was slightly off, a bit odd -- he knew that in these times, not everyone knew each other; even among such a seemingly tight brotherhood there would be as-yet-unknowns.
Endiovar brought one hand up to push his hair back; Jin was right. It did seem wrong to leave Him surrounded by such filth...even though he knew now that it was not Destruction nor Creation dwelling inside the chrysalis but something wholly Other; strange and terrifying. "I agree...however, I have come to know that the creature within the shell is not our Lord any longer, though we may yet bring Him forth from it...." Gianfar had told him that - he and Revei...chastised them gently for being so foolish before realizing that had he been there - had Knowledge made himself available - the Dreamer's Guide would not have been harmed.Jin Huang frowned slightly in concentration as Endiovar spoke; the other had a shifted, half-heard way of speaking that was more understood than actually vocalized. It wasn't hard to understand, simply requiring listening at a different 'pitch' than normal. "Tian Yue? I spoke with him briefly, outside this room. The Lady Greed sat on the Throne, and he was eager to be away from her." A small, pleased, smile darted across the dragon's face at the memory. That had been a good day; brother found, and an old not-quite friendship rekindled. But now Endiovar was speaking of the Chrysalis. Leaning forward intently, Jin Haung's frown this time was sharper before flattening out to mere unhappiness. "Not the Crown? I'll not speculate on what now lies within then," he continued, guessing that the quiet godling had some knowledge that he lacked. "So long as He can be called forth." He settled back with a sigh and the ghost of a laugh. "May we all have time enough to figure it out." An unspoken question hovered on the dragon's lips: did Endiovar have any clues to the puzzle? The blond watched the Dragon King with some interest - so far, in all of his encounters with the Kings he had found them to be quite intelligent and very fair. He did notice the way Jin Huang's brow furrowed at his 'not-speaking' and made an effort to keep his words in the spoken range -- it made it easier on everyone and cost him nothing to do at this point. "I would feel much the same, the lovely Lady Greed had quite the affect upon us all." Disturbing, the way the weeks touched and changed them all; Silence was not a fan. At all. No matter how attractive the domain's Goddess was.
"I was told this by one that served Him, a spiderine Aoide by the name of Xedre." A bit of a nod and then a soft, sad look towards the Chrysalis. "What is in there is no more the Crown than I am a fish or you a tree." Endiovar shuddered a bit -- neither of them wished to speculate upon what was inside the twisted thing holding court before them. "I believe He can return to us, with effort." The unspoken question was loud and clear to the curly-haired god of Silence, unfortunately, he did not have any answers to the unspoken. What he knew was next to nothing useful.
'My apologies, Jin Huang, but I know very little that can be of help. Only that our Lord is not held within; not a prisoner...and that he may be returned to us. Somehow.'"Most are wary of her, and with good cause," he agreed with another smile. He was certainly wary of Phaedra, but he was also rather fond of the cat-like Goddess. With a shrug, he dismissed that part of the conversation; the changing of the weeks had hopefully ended for now. Indeed, the previous 'week' had held court for a month or so before this more pleasant influence had made itself known. "Whatever lies within is bound," Jin Huang said slowly, an awkward wave of his arm indicating the glittering Manacles that still appeared to hold firm. "But it will not remain so, not forever." Tian Yue had said that, though Futs Lung had not known at the time what role he would play in the binding of the Chrysalis. "Already the Manacles begin to strain and fray. If you and I know nothing of what must be done, then we shall have to hope that those wiser have a plan."Endiovar's lips pulled into a thin line; yes, the Chrysalis was bound by the Manacles for the time being - he had oft wondered at the one that placed them there. It would seem that this Dragon had been the one to bind the 'Egg of Destruction', to buy them time so desperately needed; Jin Huang's body language told him that much - just as it had told him that the Lady Greed was looked upon somewhat fondly by him also. It was an...interesting prospect, to say the least.
"Indeed...I have heard whispers of thoughts, twining together in some semblance of a plan." Being so still and quiet much of the time left him with quite the ability to go unnoticed by others; he heard many things in the coming and goings of those wandering the Pantheon's deteriorating halls. "I do believe that He will return." The blond lifted one hand to push curls from his forehead, "Take heart, Lord Dragon. All those within these halls have a purpose they move diligently toward...just as you do." There wasn't much more for him to say on that account either so the God of Silence returned to his quiet, wings stretching out behind him as though to reawaken those phantom-like limbs."I have missed much," Jin Huang confessed, looking slightly abashed. "The Lady Greed and I were gone to claim the Manacles, and so whatever plans are forming do so without my knowledge." Or input, he almost seemed to imply. Quite an ego on this still gem-bound Dragon King, but in their case, it was perhaps justified. Perhaps. "Yes, He will." This was said firmly, with no quaver or hint of doube in his rich voice. Casting another glance at the imposing Chrysalis, Jin Huang rippled a shrug at Endiovar. "I hope only that they do not take too long about their purpose and plans. We shall have little enough time, even with the Manacles, to solve this puzzle." The dragon's head cocked to the side slightly and he issued a small sigh. "It is time I returned to my dwelling, it seems. May we meet again, in better times," the dragon offered by way of farewell, essaying a small nod of his head to the other and a more profound bow of respect to his cocooned Lord before heading back out the way he'd come. -Fin-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:15 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:18 pm
khiarhu Waiting wasn't one of Yu's strong points; he was far too much a man, er, Dragon, of action. This was part of the reason that he hadn't gone to seek out an audience with the newly returned Creation; Yu was busy keeping the mortals in hand while Harmodius met with Tian Yue.
But now, as time had passed a bit...he felt it time to re-introduce himself to Him. Xia Lu had been one of those to support their Lord after his emergence from the chrysalis, but he had not properly made himself known. Now, he felt it time to regain his place by Creation's side; as himself again.
His place as the Pillar.
Yu approached the Throne on two legs, his furry head high and proud. Harmodius sat the Throne as though a part of it, still and quiet; behind that was endless possibility of though and action-out of sight. He fell to one knee before Creation, head bowed; "My Lord, I am Xia Lu Ling, Yu Five Claw. Your Pillar, come to you with humility and reverence."
The Dragon King lifted his head so he could watch the Crown. "We are overjoyed at Your return to us, Lord." Ivynian  Creation blinked, then shifted his eyes first, followed the motion with his jaw and chin, then shoulders, through spine to hips and finally lowered his knees from their informal resting over the opposite arm of the throne down to a more respectable flat on the dais floor. "Emblem Pillar. " The newer name that attached to the title he did not give voice to, but seemed to taste the sounds and shapes in his mouth, looking up thoughtfully as he did so. A device of Destruction's, no doubt, that the suited and final vessel would be something that seemed to have stitching at its seams that wavered with the internal glue of the dragon's mesh. A better fit that way? Shards for shards and like some mad wizard, stitched together a golem out of bones and glass. "Yu.....Xia Lu Ling. I am glad to see that you are at last gaining steady strength. I it was that collected the handfuls, but I di dnot even see your first host. I had already fallen to silence and echos within my own Other. We are not far akin as every, my Evermind, both nearly Eaten. " "Though what you called to is a strange Thing. So tired was your waiting and blindness in the slumber of the stone that your eagerness for Sight sought one of so many eyes? Thirst found such a tongue? And ears and nostrils beside.... " Creation's mouth turned up in mirth. khiarhu The Dragon King's strange-malleable fur rippled and shifted with the pleasure that rolled through him at being addressed by Creation. The Crown's amusement in his choice of hosts brought a great rumbling chuckle from Yu's furred chest and muzzle.
"As you say, My Lord. I required many eyes, with which to take in sights more quickly. I had much lost time to make up for." Yu's tail flicked against his legs, the tip curling around the thickly muscled limb and then uncurling just the same.
"Nearly devoured, and yet I stand before You now, strong and ready to Serve."
Yu rose to his feet and moved ever closer to Harmodius before kneeling yet again, placing himself upon the stairs. "My Lord, though I wish nothing more than to be in Your presence...I must admit, I am curious about many things. With You returned -- is there a way yet to bring back the Sky. The mortals are unsettled...as are my own servants." Ivynian His smile faltered, grief edged before it was masked with stillness, "TienLung did speak with me of the matter....close wrought to the heart and yet asunder in this life. But the same answer I must give, at least on behalf of what memories the whole of Us....the Pantheon have. Lucius, our many stars and jewels, is gone from us forever. That Ending....what is named Gehenna, is the Mouth of the Void. What it consumes wholly, it does not return. There are tokens, but the memory and greater part is gone. Not enough to raise the Firstborn again." "But the skies are the roads of the gods and immortals, and the symbol of pact and immeasurable bounty...loveliness....that is gifted to everything that Is. Inspiration embodied, wonder and.... " "True enough the first conceptions most were ever meant to glean of surrounding silence and emptiness. This shall have to be fashioned anew. It troubles me, how to do this thing. ' khiarhu Seeing the pain sliding across Creation's face brought forth pain from the Dragon as well; it was painful to know that in asking he had caused his Lord further pain. How could he have not though? Universe had been Firstborn, beloved by Harmodius -- and yet...he had been bound, Yu knew this to be true for he and his host had gone to speak with Lucius before. He had Sinned...and now he was no more.
"My apologies, Lord, for causing You grief. We are all grieving for Universe and the others that were lost to Void - directly or indirectly. It was unthinking of me to bite into such fresh wounds."
Fashioned of silence and emptiness. "Perhaps, Lord...you may wish to speak with Silence himself? I saw that he had been reborn...would he be able to assist in some way?" Advising the Crown on how to fashion a shadow-sky was perhaps not as helpful as he would have wished, but what did Yu know of such things? At the least, the Dragon King was making an attempt to provide a service to the one upon whom he played his Life and unwavering Loyalty. [/'color] Ivynian "It is in silence, Outside, that so much must make a bed...." He trailed off briefly, distracted. Even shifted, he had managed to keep to thought and task for some while, and brought many through painful means to bound contract as 'fodder' for the gods. Only for some Cold comfort seeing what had become of the pendulum swing. The mortals believed, at such terrible costs. Those he had striven so hard to bring again into the world grieved. And still the slide of the tapestry was to inevitable end. Begun in Joy..... Left far off, were the scars worth the time? Well, the choice was made. Yu was here, standing. They were all of them there, existing and in strife of survival. They had not lain down but had sought his own rebirth from the very brink. Pillar-to-pillar. "I should speak with that one anyway. He is presented....perhaps... Already to my shadow self. But there is intrigue in the writ that was left behind and Known again of this host and newborn god. I do not recall his allegiance to have lain in such a bed long ago, but I cannot say that Silence would not do him badly, would you? " khiarhu Yu crept a bit closer; it was his quiet shame that he wanted to put his head in Creation's lap much as a dog might. To be petted - Gianfar had once done that with him, had he not? The sensation was a comforting one even from the grey-dove; he could only dream that it would be something even better from Him.
"Sacrifices have been made my Lord. Ours is a bed of choice and chance; You have returned to a world made of broken glass and gossamer...of heartbreak and of promise. The World was nearly Unmade, but we will salve the wounds as best we can, by Your command and will."
A speech, perhaps not wholly on target, but Creation had a far-away look on his face that troubled Yu.
"Shall I bring him to you, Lord? Though I know but little of him, I am certain that Silence would do his best by You and Your wishes." Thinking about it, Yu could recall the fair face and form that belonged to Silence. The pale haired god - if indeed it were the one that he recalled - had spent many a day and night keeping vigil. Not with the Dragon King so much as...occupying the space along side him. Ivynian "Yes, I would speak with him.....if he have time, that is." Harmodius regarded the throne chamber with quiet disdain, sighing as one might at spilled drink. It was suffered. "Though better surroundings may be wanting. By him or by me, should he agree to the occassion." khiarhu "For you, Lord, I think that he will have time." Yu's muzzle curved into a proximity of a smile; an expression that on him looked wicked and cruelly mocking due to copious amounts of white, sharp teeth that showed.
As to the surroundings...well, that could be addressed should the god of Silence acquiesce to Creation's request. "We will find ways to make things more...comfortable." Indeed, the Pantheon was a ghost of it's once-glory...even with the effort put into making it more visually palatable for the Lotus Ceremony.
The Dragon King rose to his feet and took a few steps back. "I shall bring him forth, My Lord...if you will but wait." Yu would stay only long enough for Harmodius to bid him go before backing away from the throne to fetch Endiovar. Instructions on where and how to find Silence had been on the cork-board some forward-thinking host or god had thought to use; he would utilize this and fetch the man back to Creation's audience.
For there was no doubt but that Endiovar would go to Harmodius when called. Ivynian To wait was an easy thing. It required only staying still and patience, both things that he had learned to store in abundance long ago. Waiting was often the past-time of the immortals in the past. They had centuries to stand in place of their days. Waiting the walking steps of his Emblem should be an exercise in loving the clicks of claw on stone and the gentle movements of air as bushy tail swept it aside. For mortals.....how much of their bright flames was wasted on waiting? Waiting for love, for comfort, for the right time for hundreds of things instead of acting. But some did. And some gods acted. It would not be very long. The newness and shining, even in the obvious pain and despair of the surroundings in the eyes of others, to him was marvelous. He had opened his eyes an remembered colour and form and Self. Am I within?
Can I hear me?
Any voice at all. He will seek me in my eyes. Can I move? Feel my hand? Stretch the fingers?
No. Not yet. It is still to early.
Lay still. Rest. They've done so much...they have grown. We needn't fear to be supported this time. I do not have to take every war on myself. khiarhu A Beast that spoke come knocking at his door was no more surprising than anything else that had happened in recent times; Endiovar greeted the creature in formal but wary welcome until his station and purpose was brought to light.
A summons by Dragon, to the Throne - to Creation.
Silence quietly counted himself lucky to have been not in Gianfar or Revei's quarters, but his own, when the Dragon King came for him. He followed Yu quickly, steps stirring dust but making not a sound; emptiness to the Dragon King's heavier foot-falls and claw-scrabble against stone.
Inside he was in turmoil; dread and longing and so much else...he should have gone sooner. What could Creation want with him?
Duty drawn without flourish, Yu's ears pricked upright, his tail a proud banner behind him as he brought Endiovar to the Throne. He moved to bow, the pale-haired god behind him doing the same. "Lord, I present the God of Silence, Endiovar--" Here Yu rose and took upon himself a stance near to Harmodius but to the side slightly; eyes bright and watching for the slightest command from Creation. Ivynian "Presumptuous is the Speaker that calls for Silence, and yet for his own words to be heard. " Creation nodded back to the god in respect, "But there are troubles caught in my hands that must be worked anew into miracles." "It comes from memories that you were raised by Destruction, now wholly honestly, but not wholly mourned either of your host. But I know little of you or your bearing....of my own experience...." Creation rose and crossed the dais then stairs quickly, lifting a hand out to his side in gesture for the Emblem Pillar to stride beside him and under it. His Pillar and base crutch. The latter was demeaning in some thought of his own now, images from the book and from the gathered tapestry about. "If you are not busy...I would know of your thoughts. Yourself and your new life....there is always role of Silence within Me, but I would know of the without. Better the ease in judging instead of drowning." khiarhu Kneeling he should have remained, but at full height it was easier to read the Crown, easier to see how drained, how weary...and how different He was to what both he and his host had known.
"The irony, Lord, is that Silence comes to speak when called to." Not that one would want Silence to listen; still-quiet was always the best forum for serious thoughts formed and passed onto another. A very slight frown touched Endiovar's mouth; the Dragon King was being used as a crutch - Creation moving when it was apparent he should yet be resting.
He watched with eyes bright; reading much in both of the gods before him. "There was truth and untruth in what Destruction told my host...though what he heard and knew, I cannot say...he was--" 'Enamoured of Destruction - idea and form.' The last part was not spoken so much as impressed; Silence dipped his head a bit before speaking aloud again. "No, my Lord. I am not...busy." He fumbled, feeling much like a young man alone with the object of his affections, daring to speak for the first time.
"There has been much to happen since I came to be, but much of that was devoted to your Return. Now," A thoughtful pause, "Now they bow their heads when it is quiet, and wont for rest..."
Creation moved and Xia Lu Ling moved with him; form well suited to being a crutch; his Majesty's Loyal Dog. He listened to what Silence said and flicked his tail; it was not for him to speak - this was a conversation for Creation and Silence; one that he was as furniture to. For the moment. Ivynian "Walk with me?" It was a request, though Creation did start a slow step forward. "Long idleness and decay are inimical to me by nature, and while I am not yet fully unwetted of the blood of the cocoon I find that this hall becomes as oppressive a cage. "
It must be likewise for most of the mortals ....and immortals even. Except those darker purpose, few bear that hollow heart. "The question I must ask first is unkind. Do not feel locked to your answer, or even to knowing the whole of it..."
"Let us pretend as we are. What Is is infinite. Imagine. Forget the sorrows and the shadows, the scars that mar the hands and lips. Or ashes that dull taste of tears on tongues. "He waited the paces it took for them to reach the out of doors, letting the sound of his voice ebb as a tide of mist against hazy banks of the mind. The world did seem dim and fresh and blanketed in fog that was sudden but seemed to have been there for generations. No, it had always been there. "Tell me, how will you bring glory to what is? What is your part now, as you are? As you plan to be? What is deified Silence in this place?" Syrie
A request granted with grace and tempered lightly with trepidation. The seriousness with which Creation addressed him, his stance - even leaning upon the darkly furred Beast keeping pace with him - told Endiovar a great deal. He nodded and fell into step with the Crown; he too felt fettered, chained to this place.
"There was safety in the walls of our tomb and we were loathe to leave."
Standing out of the Pantheon with fog all around, Creation speaking not plainly, but plain enough and a Dragon King brought to valet, servant, crutch...Endiovar could not but feel chill. Unkind indeed! Bitter words blossomed in Silence and died before they became word or un-word.
"What you ask is not unkind, but difficult." He wet his lips and let go the knot in his stomach; there was sense of Purpose that touched upon his skin lightly. "There is nothing but quiet here, my Lord. Without Universe Silence rules, but incompletely." Endiovar stepped away from Creation and turned to face what wasn't there any more; gathering his thoughts as best he could - he did not mean to be cruel, but without the low hum of activity held within Universe that spread to the skies...it was unnaturally quiet.
"I have been the surface upon which so many prayers were brought to You. In me, in my presence, they have found solace and comfort. What Is...will always have need of this, though less as things are righted." Endiovar went back and forth between the hard, solid comfort of spoken words and the gentle touch that came when he did not use them.
Right or not, he had answered as best he could - what the reaction was, he could only wait.Ivynian "And Then?"
"When the need to bring missive to me of quiet need and desperate prayer...when that post has faded and the great terror is passed? What do you plan to do with your power when the thoughts of the many turn towards children, money, homes and work? The Eldest spoke softly, walking still in the mist, though there seemed to be soft greens, tendrils of moss growing from the path that he feet tread. Syrie And Then. Creation's soft words and demeanor so changed to what he'd known of Destruction; only fitting to be so different, of course. But what Then? "I do not know, Lord."
"Cloak all that Is with quiet, with such a soothing comfort... should one simply reach for it, I suppose." That was not satisfactory, it made his lips purse and his brows knit closer together, a frown on his face. "Silence is not simply a void to be filled..." Endiovar looked up at the empty 'sky', expression softening. "At least, not always." But he was musing and talking nothings when a question had been pressed to answer.
His wings, insubstantial as they were, fluffed a bit. as he shrugged. It wasn't a careless gesture, but one that said plainly he had not thought this far. "In truth, I had not ventured to think of after. It seemed best to not." Another small pause, then " I feel that in past I must have waited passively, inactive, until needed. I do not wish to sit, I would make something more ' of myself'."
Clearly, he would need to think on this more. Ivynian "Do not trouble greatly....the minds and eyes of all have been focussed on the horizons of coming end, and the ears on the sound of trumpet blasts. "
"The ultimate path and intention of a life is something that usually takes the whole of it to realize." Creation ruffled his hand into the fur of the host beneath his grasp. "There was silence before it had being, long ago. But it was not a silence that spoke or felt. It was absence. When there were words between AllMaiden and I, the sounds and words had no keeper. These things did not come until later, when enough was said and done that sound came to be a thing within and without of the Primodial. When the silence was given meaning as well. But the greatest part of the Home before was in the space between the stars. That living void that was cut with gems and bannered with light and colour dazzled all...but found special kinship in you. "
Ages ago...
"You are yet young, but when your power comes greater to your hands, may I ask a token of it?" Syrie It was strange, to not feel shame at not knowing - but Silence found only a wont to understand and learn, not shame at not knowing. He watched Creation touch his Dragon fondly, as though the words spoken now also had meaning for Yu....meaning he would not ask about, even later. Watching the beast-dragon's ears flick back and forth sheepishly was enough tell for Endiovar.
He nodded; understanding at the least, this part; Creation spoke of the Beginning. How he first came to be with and within All. So very good to hear this from His lips, to read the truth of it all in face and form. "I...Even without knowing, something so dear is missed." If he closed his eyes, he could ignore the pressing wrongness and loss that came without sky to give shape above them.
"Ask anything you wish. There is nothing I am or have that I would not freely give to You."
Through this, the Dragon remained quiet, steady and steadfast at Creation's side. He listened and mentally made observations -- yes, one's path was something revealed slowly, sometimes. His own host had discovered this first-hand, as had he. Yu's tail swished back and forth lazily; the tip just touching the new green-growth that sprang from his Lord's step. Ivynian “When you are grown, then. “ Freely given. May these not be feelings and words spat on later with regret. Promises so often find their owners bitter when their dawn comes at last.
“You bring some ease in the task, and have my gratitude. Is there thing or deed that you desire that would bring you the same? Word or thought? “ Creation held one of the great, fuzzy ears of the beast in his hand, lightly pinching pressure between his thumb and pointer as he drew along the outer shell. In many animals it produced an endorphin effect. Pleasure-pain. “It must be wondered by the host of the Pantheon if there are any words but those drear and full of meaning to be had from my mouth. “Strange mist was clearing to show shadowed columns and garden paths again, stone sculpture and moss walks. The place was changed again, neither shop-cottage nor charnel Throne, and surrounded again by splendour of fruit bearing trees, arboured vines and waterways with stock of fish and shells. Pantheon Layout Syrie Curiousity skittered along the back of the blond's neck; Creation asking something of him when he was grown - and what could that be? Endiovar nodded graciously; trying to be attentive and not let his mind wander as their feet were doing. "It's necessary, at this juncture, that your words carry such weight. All that Is very nearly was not."
As the area was changed, he thought on what he might ask of Creation. A gift so spoken wasn't something to treat lightly. A request came to mind but it warred with a twinge of guilt and not a little bit of hesitation. This was a chance for him to make right one of two things and it did not come easily to the youngling god; he could ask Creation to visit Revei, perhaps to help heal the scrambled and fraying edges for him...or he could be very selfish.
Two of the three sets of eyes granted to Yu by his host closed in pleasure and the beast made a low, rumbling sound that was part growl, part croon. Before them the grounds sprung to life; green and flowing from Creation's generous hand. Water sounds tickled at Yu's furry ears as he waited and listened; what would this child ask of Creation? Never mind that he himself, in this incarnation, happened to be younger yet than Silence -- the pale-haired godling was still 'child' to him.
Moments spent watching the fresh scenery before a decision was put forth; he would try his luck. "I would ask two things of you, Lord." 'If you would allow it. One is personal and will take little effort but would mean so much...the other is not for myself, but another.' Ivynian “It is but asked, that as I am able such things will be granted. Two is hardly ought to worry over; Wishes most often come in threes, you see.” Syrie Endiovar smiled up at Creation with the whole of his being; a mute-swan's joy required no sound but spoke volumes. He could ask his two items! "Thank you, Lord." The blond pursed his lips a moment and framed the first request; which of his requests should go before?
"I ask that you would come to see Revei, the Dream's Guide. He was...injured. I know not if you can help ease his mind, but it would ease mine if you came to see him." Endiovar would explain further if Creation wished, but the true extend of Revei's injuries were best known in person.
"My other request..." He paused; what an odd little thing to ask and one he wasn't certain how to phrase. "I gave my word to Destruction that I would return and repay a favor he granted...you and he are two of the same, so...I would like to repay that favor." He reached out to touch the Eldest's arm lightly. "A kiss..." Soft words, lowered lashes; it wasn't the most comfortable thing to request of a man in the presence of another.
Yu's tail flipped a little; he pretended to not hear any of that; a semi-private moment though he was right there, being a living walking stick. Which was fine. He didn't mind. Ivynian “Injury and wound is dealt by sword and hand to the body, by word and deed to the mind. Both may be healed, but deepest running are but scarred over and lessened in pain. I will do as can be done to heal what hurt he has taken, but that it happened at all will remain a memory to him. “
“Though perhaps that is not wholly an ill lesson, is it not?”Harmodius listened to the pause before the request was made. Repayment? Were tithes paid with requests further? Though it was plain the request was permissive rather then pleading. At least the original intention of it may have been. The softness of the motions and the heave gilt gold that rimmed Endiovar’s eyes said this was not necessarily an inimical payment. “Favours granted with sweetened breath? Surely I should fear to harvest such lips lest I lose my own voice.” The tome held much unspoken of loves and liaisons of the gods and mortals, less so of his own. Single chapters or errant pages scattered with poetry and prose. Or detached into writs of myth that insulated the house of leaves. But kisses had not yet lit upon this new flesh. Or kiss alone, singly. Creation paused, inclining his shoulders and face down, “There is neither lava beneath my skin nor fangs within my jaw to please any thrill of danger. But as you say is true of our nature.” Syrie He dipped his head and nodded a bit, yes - that was all true. "I can ask no more for him than that. I give him ease such as I can. Blanketing his senses with soft, nothing..." Endiovar's eyes were bright; Creation's words sliding over his senses like a balm, soothing him with a quiet assurance that Things would be taken care of as they could be.
"You are correct, my Lord." 'Remembering such a lesson can only benefit thought the pain of such a recollection may be great.' Even gods must learn things - though neither Endiovar nor Revei would have been made to suffer in such manners had Knowledge been present to give forth what he knew. Things that they had already discussed, the three - Knowledge, Dream and Silence.
His lips curved into a smile - that he would take Creation's voice! "I would not steal from others such a precious thing...words to ease and bring hope." Creation shifted his position, leaning towards the blond haired god and he lifted his face and hands to the other; fingers lightly threading through the multi-hued silk of Creation's hair. "Danger is not the only thrill, Lord." Silence lifted up onto his toes, bringing his mouth against Creation's in a kiss that had long waited to happen. Destruction would not have his repay, but His 'better' half would...in the presence of a Dragon King, no less! Ivynian With difficulty the sensation of gossamer tinctured with delight was inscribed on his mind. The moment lasted, in that manner, some moments. The gratification derivable bounded outside of jest of rude recompense and arrived at some genial warmth that spread through limbs with ascending intemperance. Harmodius pulled back first, a sigh exhaled on his breath as he lifted away, “ A jealousy of attendance may come of this between ourselves, but I could not regret it. “
“This is a first that is given unto me in ages tumbled over each other….and new on this wrought form. I should take the symbol to heart, that Silence first besotted this flesh. “
And yet the names of others are close writ on his being and even born out of his own mouth. Brevity makes the honey sweeter from stolen arbors. Surely it is that my own mind has been turned to the procuring of such esteem so often lately, and the issuance of such acts. The balance of absent hearts.
Syrie As he had said, there were thrills that could be had without the 'danger' of fang or heavy, thick tail. Silence did not press for more than that one kiss though a good part of him would have been pleased with another and another and another. With an expression that held a deep-seated affection and a little bit of the confusion and inner turmoil he had brought on himself, Endiovar's sandal-clad feet returned fully to the newly green earth.
"Nor I." No, he would not regret such a kiss, shared with Creation. A gently taken first; robbed of Creation's mate by one that carried quietly flowering feelings for not only Him, but two others! Had Endiovar been mortal yet, he may have tried rationalizing that He had held court within his chest long before the damaged Dreamer's Guide and his grey-bird of Knowledge. As it were, he simply accepted that he carried a great deal of affection for all three and held such moments close and precious, as rare and exotic gems in times past.
Light hands lingered, smoothing back bright hair for just a moment; Endiovar drew his hands back and let them uselessly at his sides. At Creation's side, the Dragon King's bright eyes watched him as though taking his measure. The beast was so still though; like a living, breathing piece of dark statuary that made the Eldest stand out even more. Silence could not help but wonder what the creature-King thought - if it were thinking at all.
Creation and Silence would likely have been amused to know that the Dragon King was in fact thinking forward about the newly-made grounds. Maybe he would roll in the grass and moss as a treat for his host, or find Zhijian and have one of his servants pour them tea. Mostly though, Xia Lu Ling was thinking that the soft and seemingly-useless god of Silence might not be quite as useless as he seemed. Interesting. Ivynian He took some breaths of quiet, feeling more then watching the motions of hands that brushed into his hair with relish. Touch. It happened little before, then not at all for so many ages that opiate properties remained to it. “ Your compatriot then, Revei. Do you know whence he houses now that I could call on him?"Syrie Creation's words brought his attention back round to more serious things; less pleasant surely - but a great deal more serious. "Yes." 'He retired to his rooms here,in the Pantheon...Gianfar is with him.'
Knowledge had not attended the Re-naming Ritual in favor of remaining at Revei's side though Silence had slipped away to join in. His affection for Harmodius having drawn him down to the crumbling, busy Throne Room so he could watch the burning-god sacrifice himself that Harmodius might come forth from the chrysalis.
'Revei has not left his rooms since the planes merged.' Ivynian "It shall not be long then. I will send warning before calling on him, then. It should not wait long for his own comfort,"
call on he. And..Gianfar. It has been long, long since I spoke to him. He was ever gone to the books, to his flights, since he has returned. Well, not entirely. Destruction has been unkind, and sight of me is like to be unwelcome in any matters. It cannot be helped, if Revei is to bee aided...and that he will value. If hate? I cannot say. I cannot say anymore. Everything is familiar as pages touched a thousand times and yet remote as the book held in the the lap and not the memory behind the eyes. New as first fallen petals... Harmodius lifted fingers to his own lips, deliberation plain in every gesture.
And of silence? To call again upon this youth before the appointed and already promised time? It is not my place. Knowledge may have plenty to feed down my throat on such matters as it is, let alone to come so near as one of his own friends. Not so soon, not yet. This knife edge must yet be walked a while. Syrie "Come when it pleases you, Lord. I will hold wide the doors to welcome you." Pretty words, but not spoken without feeling. Pale fingers touched lips the color of chill slowly; though Creation's internal dialogue was hidden from him he could read some of what the Eldest felt in the stance he took, the far-away glint to his eyes and the slow, thoughtful movements.
What he would have given to know the threads of thought spinning behind His eyes - and the purpose. Would thoughts become reality, sturdy as heavy broadcloth? Or as light and delicate as spun silk? To what purpose did Creation's features carry such a look?
With his thick, furry form against Creation; Yu felt his Master's movements more than saw them. What private thoughts held court in His head, the Dragon King could only make educated guesses at. The Sky being missing was one pressing issue among a veritable ocean of others; thankfully many of the "problems" caused by Destruction (and later Gehenna) would heal simply with Creation holding the Throne.
"Two birds with one stone, My Lord." Meaning, of course - that He would be able to speak with Gianfar as well as take a look at the wounded Dream. Naturally Xia Lu assumed that Creation would wish to speak with Knowledge...after all, he himself had. Ivynian "It is so, they will both be there. The little birds.....new birds, new loves. What more exotic and ecstatic a nest-feathering then that of Knowledge finally courted and Dream....dream given room to soar. " He leaned more on Yu then, before shifting to bow to the bleaching youth. "I will look for your smiles then, when my own thin with care and caution. It will not be over long. Until then, Sachem Aphonic." Syrie That brought a smile to the pale god's lips; it was good to see the two together...they were a wonderful, beautiful couple -- very much in love. It radiated from them and touched all around them. Endiovar enjoyed basking in the warmth of their relationship; coat-tails. Tagging along and getting some affection in return for a service rendered to one that he cared for.
"Come often, My Lord." 'Seek my smiles even when you have no need, but merely a wont.' Endiovar reached out to the Eldest as he bowed, fingers light and lingering only briefly against Creation's flesh. "Until then, my Lord."
Yu's furry body bore the weight of Creation as he bowed to the blond and spoke of soft things. He was attuned to his Lord and would travel with him, supporting him where ever the Eldest wished to go; be it Throne Room or Other. Ivynian Straightening, Creation guided his and his Dragon's steps again towards what served as the primary architectural structure of the Pantheon grounds. "There is a orator's walk now that spans over a recessed floor and step bench where listeners could relax and debate at their leisure. That damned throne is gone, and the symbol of its inflexible hierarchy. "
"It would be best to rest there a while. You spoke knowingly of Gianfar's location, and purposes regarding him. Have you spoken to him, Xia Lu Ling?"Syrie Endiovar watched Creation and his dragon moving towards the open area spoken of but he did not move to follow though he did wish to. Follow Him and watch Him, as he had when his Lord had been naught but raw and wild nothing held in a shell.
Pale lips curved shyly up and the blond turned so that he could go and tell Revei and Gianfar of the news; he wished to linger, but...they had already bid each other farewell for this time. Improper to stay and improper to want to run to Creation and put his arms around him that he may draw strength from his limbs the way he did with the Dragon King.
The Dragon-in-Beast's-Skin nodded his great head at the directions given to him; his keen eyes picked out the place Creation spoke of. He spoke with such derision of thrones and what they represented...but the King did not comment about that. This was a time for all that was new - new order and new practices -- perhaps Gianfar would be pleased with this; he knew the grey scholar held no fondness for the conventional way the Twin Crown had held court over All.
"Yes, my Lord. I have spent time with Gianfar." Xia Lu Ling brought Creation to the bench and helped the Eldest to settle comfortably; he himself kneeling at His feet. Easy to speak from there; easy to watch with all the love and joy he felt at being so near the Twin Crown. "We spoke at length, previously. I...felt it odd that he did not show his face and share what he knew, before." And because he had been curious as to the past...not stuck pining for it as some surely had...but curious and wishing to Know.
They had not parted on bad terms either; Xia Lu Ling was wary of Gianfar in some ways, but respected and liked the God of Knowledge. Ivynian He smiled with faint amuse, "All things shall come to me only when directly invited? Speak, dragon. You tell me you spoke at length, but not a summary at least of what was come to. If it was interesting to your mind, it is so to mine, to know what Gianfar's reasoning for his recent actions are. "
"It is not my preference to be ever estranged, isolated, from even the closest of my kin. Speak, Xia Lu Ling. "
Syrie Creation's words were lightly spiced with laughter at having to pull information from his Dragon; Yu's ears flicked back and forth as he settled in with only a hint of sheepishness at being so gently chastised by his master.
"Gianfar came not to your side, Lord, for he was more concerned with his lover's well-being; as you know, the Dreamer's Guide has been wounded. I was told there are more important things than even the End of All." Here the Dragon King chuckled a bit, "Admittedly, I approached him for other reasons - a ghost-dream from the past was haunting my thoughts...as he was a player in that misty drama, I sought his company and knowledge." Speak he would; not only because He bade him speak, but because it was good to speak with Creation at length.
"He spoke of his council, a forum for speaking of balance...and of Samyaza's first appearance--" Excitable beast, growling beast; Yu's fur stood on end and his many eyes narrowed and glinted with anger repressed. "How the assumption that You had sent them led to his teaching those he could not Know the ways of Names and how to traverse Yggdrasil. It was very interesting, to hear of the Grigori and how things happened Before."
Again the beast paused, it's great jaws closing for a moment as it pondered things not-remembered but re-learned; Knowledge was dangerous and powerful in his mind - a great ally or a wily enemy and while the Dragon King obviously caused the grey-winged god much anxiety by his very shape and existence...he found him fascinating and counted Gianfar as an ally. "No matter his...mistake, Gianfar spoke passionately, Lord. He was quite angry that she, Samyaza, brought him low and made him a traitor. Even your beautiful Empress fell victim to the Grigori's un-truths and brought her to your side."
Xia Lu Ling shifted and wrapped his long tail about Creation's feet, heavy paws flexing to show claws. "I was told, my Lord, that You were angrier that your Kings were harmed by the Void that makes up the Grigori than by the attempt made upon Yourself. That the Grigori took three routes to escape as you bade us cease attacking the Void-beasts." Syrie Endiovar heard only bits of what was said and made a mental note to speak with Gianfar of these things...it seemed quite the interesting story. Of course, his interest was wholly without rancor or sharp interest whereas the Dragon King had approached Knowledge with fang and claw bared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:19 pm
...// Solo - The Healing Begins He had met with Creation and His beastial companion - the Dragon King Yu Five Claws - a meeting that had gone very well. Endiovar had taken the newly returned Eldest's first kiss and been granted reprieve for Revei; of the two, he was most pleased with Creation's willingness to see to the wounded Dreamer's Guide though a small part thrilled at having kissed lips as blue as the dizzying skies could be blue.
Endiovar touched this finger tips to the cool marble fashioned with will into a gently curved archway; just inside his Aoide, Hue, slept peacefully. For a brief moment there was no one awake or stirring in his quarters but the Lord of Endless Quiet himself; such a rare, peaceful moment that he put all things from his mind to enjoy it.
Soon he needed to return to Revei's side - soothe wounds that waited for Creation's healing touch - he would need to coax the wounded God out of his bed. Out of his rooms and into His embrace; thankfully this should not be too overly hard, though Revei had been most unwilling to stray far from Gianfar's sheltering wings or his own quiet embrace. Still, this was something that needed to be done. Soon.
But for a few moments he could let himself be drifting and aimless. A few moments more wouldn't hurt anything - nor would it help anything. Moments where the Sachem Aphonic stood still and breathless as the chilly marble under his fingertips. Perfect and endless as only moments of deep peace or blanked mind could be; he reached inward to his core and stroked lightly at the shadow of who he had once been - both before the Fading and also this incarnation's mortal host. So little left that it would shatter if he pressed hard enough - but Colin was no longer needed and it was past time that his host was put to the vast nothing.
Memories that were his to learn from, emotions that colored some of his actions even now: intangible gifts from his host to pair with the tangible 'gift' of his face and form. Endiovar smiled inwardly and pressed All that he Was around the soap-bubble delicate remains of his host; enveloping him and taking the balance into the whole. Gently as a butterfly-kiss; feather-light pressure and it was done.
Slowly the pen touches paper in the guidance of the words that you write.
Memories roll in; of the things you once did
and who you had shared them with is somebody thinking of you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:20 pm
Zero Dream  The reshaped pantheon was such a wonderful thing. It had already been a few days, but Echo had not yet managed to get to know it fully. It seemed that, every time she would come outside, she would discover something new.
Though there was not much of that going on for the moment, as she had sat in the grass, with a violin case laying nearby to her left, enjoying the weather for a moment before she would go out once more and play for those who where struggling. It was not much, but it was a small drive to carry on. Entertainment, after all, was what she did best.
For now, however, she was enjoying some time for herself. Nergal had agreed to watch over the children while she did as such, which, while she did enjoy their presence greatly, it was nice to have some time for herself again. She closed her eyes and let the soft, cool wind caress her face.
Syrie Indeed, Creation's influence and will were reshaping All slowly but with a lavish hand. Endiovar had been present for the start of the changes, but he was no less affected than any of the others, God and mortal alike.
Not that going outside was comfortable, even with the new 'improvements' that Creation had wrought. There was yet no Sky, no Universe to fill that void...but things were Improving. Beautifully improving - and he had been there at the start of it, standing at Creation's side along with His beloved Pillar. That was one of the reasons that he felt so much more comfortable than most outside; one of the others being that it was just too quiet, too disconcerting without the heavenly framework of Lucius' body.
Soft fabric kissed his skin as the god of Silence's sandaled feet took him out along the pathways from the main Pantheon towards one of the tea houses that Creation had made. On the grass, a lovely woman with wings that made his breast-bone vibrate; more than sight was sound of the woman. Endiovar's wings flared out behind him, causing disturbances in the air behind him as he moved towards her. Striking lady, he thought he must know her from somewhere...or knew of her.
"Greetings, elegant Lady." Words, aloud, and the variance of his body that inquired if he were welcomed into her space or no. "Creation's hand has given much for us to enjoy...it is good to see one doing so."
Zero Dream The lack of sky, of course, was a rather sore point still - though dwelling on the bad only made matter worse, she now knew from experience. She was not quite able to completely ignore it, but it did not mean she did not try.
It was the soft voice of the lord of Silence that made her aware of his presence, head tilting up to look at him, revealing her striking blue eyes, their shapes constantly changing with the hum of her wings, and the sound of her voice.
"Greetings." She answered back, moving her legs, along with the skirt and the violin case, to allow him space to sit beside her should he wish to do so. "And to who do I hold the honor of speaking to ?"
Syrie Echo's welcome was very evident from her body language and he moved to settle near her in his quiet manner. The whole of the woman was very busy; from the constant hum from her wings and the strange-but-lovely eyes that never stayed still. She was also rather noisy for his tastes, but had an obvious gentleness to her that was attractive.
Once his legs were folded, Indian style, beneath him, Endiovar smiled at the woman. "Endiovar." A name, spoken, and then more - unspoken but heard. 'Sachem Aphonic. The god of Silence, at your service, Lady...?'
Zero Dream The sudden switch from spoken words to physical language seemed to throw the goddess off slightly - probably just a tad more than the others the god of Silence would have met so far - though she figured that, after all, such would be expected given who she was now talking to. Once she knew what to listen, or perhaps more accurately what to feel for, it was not so bad, and while different from what she was used to, it was definitively understandable.
"Echo, the Voice of the Countless, goddess of Music." She answered in turn, with a nod of the head. Belatedly, she hoped the sound of her wings was not bothering him - it was somewhat hard for her to repress it, but she would attempt to do so should she notice it being the case.
Syrie The curly-haired god's demeanor bade her forgive him; he hadn't realized that his manner of 'speech' - as it were - would cause her any pause. For him, it was as natural as breathing, of course.
"Lady Echo..." Endiovar's expression flickered from a general welcome to something a little firmer. "You are Nergal's Lady." Words plainly spoken; that was how he knew of her! Nergal's Echo...yes, he should have known. Priya had spoken of her and Underworld while they were on the pilgrimage to the Silent Forest. How the times had contrived to make him forget such things! "Nergal and Priya assisted me before..." 'Before Gehenna nearly devoured All...they spoke warmly of you always. My apologies for not recognizing you.'
As for her wings...the sound did not bother, per se; it was more that he would have preferred the stillness and quiet. But that was only natural.
Zero Dream "It is allright." The goddess answered with a smile. How could he have recognized someone he had never seen, after all ?
"My, it does seem like I now have a reputation to withhold, hmmm ?" She said, her tone light and amused, rather than serious. Had the two met after that, she wondered ? So many things had changed... with the two of them to start with. Some things she would rather forget, but some that she was extremely glad for.
Syrie Echo's smile was infectious and the blond found himself smiling back. "Only a good one--" 'And you certainly do not fall short, Lady Echo.' Endiovar stretched his wings out a little bit behind him and looked around at the lush greenery around them. "I have not spoken to Nergal in a great while...is he well?" He had only seen Underworld briefly, when he presented Creation with cloth to cover his nakedness; but nothing more than that.
Zero Dream "Well, that is certainly a relief to know of such, lord Silence." She adds, but pauses at his next question. Her smile remains, though the rest of her body language would betray her hesitation. She ultimately did not know how close the two gods were, and fears revealing too much for her lover's taste.
"Things could have been worse, I figure." And they had been. "He has ascended as well, as you most likely have seen, somewhere around the start of the waves." The goddess ponders this some more. Echo did not talk about his sudden vanishing prior to that, which even she knew little of those events, and of those following directly his return - these would be for Underworld to divulge, should he wish. "I am now mother to three beautiful children, which you may have seen going about." Silence had been at the ritual, had he not ? There had honestly been so many there, gods, immortals and mortals, and she had been so focused on her own task, that she truly had no idea. "I believe either he or their uncle is watching over them, at this moment."
Syrie "Yes, I had seen - both Nergal's ascension and the three babes." Endiovar's expression grew warm and fond, as though he knew the children (which he did not). Children were such a wonderful gift, especially in such times as these were...Creation reborn, the uncertainty of All...and yet there was new life. It was beautiful and brought such a warmth to the god of Silence that his very being spoke such without words.
"I congratulate you and Underworld both, your children were beautiful, even from a distance." That Echo was holding back, Endiovar knew -- he did not press, however; her "secrets" were hers to keep and he would not be so rude to press the lovely goddess further. "Perhaps some time soon I could visit you both at home? I would like to meet your children..." And say a warm hello to Nergal and Priya.
Zero Dream "Of course." She announced with a smile. Since their things would be done moving from Ankou's rooms to their own, it was much easier and much more comfortable inviting others, as she did no longer had to keep in mind not to disturb the Spirit Guide in the process, who seemed rather withdrawn as far as it came to having company. Ankou seemed to prefer to keep to his own, or to a handful of others he was comfortable with.
"Feel free to drop by whenever you wish. If neither of us are there, at least one aoidei may be... I believe you are familiar with Priya, are you ?" Echo found that she rather liked the catgirl, who could be rather amusing and endearing in private, when she did not realize her presence in earshot...
Syrie Endiovar wet his lips a bit, he was unused to making use of the vocal cords in this body anymore. - most of what he wanted to intimate to others could be said without any cumbersome words cluttering the air. But Echo was a goddess of Music and so he was being kind.
"Perhaps I shall, if it would not be a bother." Ah, Priya. Yes, he well knew the milky-furred catgirl. "Priya accompanied me into the Silent Forest, before the Grigori came for Lord Harmodius' Name." Rather, it had happened during that trip and only though a great sacrifice of the sylphs there had they returned in any sort of time. Now that Endiovar thought on it, the fate those small magical creatures had chosen was far kinder than what would have awaited them.
Speaking of ...the blond tucked away in his mind that he should see what - if anything - was still standing in that still, sacred place. "Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Echo."
Zero Dream "It would not be. My youngest, in particular, could afford to meet more people, else I fear he end up being much like his father and uncle. He can be rather shy, though curiosity tends to win out in the end." An amused smile trailed her lips at the thoughts, and every bit of her body language about her gave the first statement more strength, more truth, though it was doubtful she was doing so on purpose. She would most likely be much like an open book to Silence, who knew how to look for such things - how long ears moved to follow the ambient sounds around them, how the strings ran across the grass much like a cat's tail, lazy but content.
"The Silent Forest ?" She inquired, curious.
Syrie Truth in her words shown through every nuance and gesture; Echo may or may not have been aware that she "told" her curly-haired companion quite so much as she did. Granted, it wouldn't have served her well to dwell on such things; Endiovar had no plans to use any such information to darker purposes -- he was a friend to her chosen mate and as such a friend to the goddess herself.
"I will look forward to it, then."
Ah, her strings were interesting! Silence was distracted from pondering the intricacies of her strings by Music's implied question: What is this 'Silent Forest'? A question he was very well able to answer.
"A place that was Mine, in the past--" 'Before the Fading, when all was Lost. I remember it faintly, but prefer to think on how it is now, as He has bade us all.' Endiovar slipped back into his not-speech for a moment before pursing his lips sheepishly. "I was drawn there, but was unable to go unaccompanied as I had just taken this body from my host. Fever and weakness insisted that I bring another...Nergal graciously allowed Priya to come with." He shook his head a little and smiled with amusement. "I fear the trip was a difficult one for her." Creepy and scary and just...yes, he had seen how his forest affected the female Aoide -- she had not enjoyed it much; fur always bristling.
And then when the sprites began popping off--! That was something he may tell Echo's children...the did so enjoy visuals like that. Little "balloons" of light, popping...of course, he would leave out that the creatures had died in doing so, but...the before would amuse the young ones.
Zero Dream "I see..." Echo had been listening, to both speech and non-speech, as she seemed to have less problems interpreting it when she knew it was coming (or at least knew to watch for it) If it was anything like it's name, then she could see how one might be in unease in it.... most except the lord of Silence, of course.
She remembered the timing of Priya's absence clearly, at least the only one she knew of... and this allowed her some guesswork. "I do hope that it has not been damaged too much..." It did sound like it was precious to him, as it should be.
Her stings continued their motion, wriggling though the grass, bopping about back in forth, sometimes all at once, sometimes independently from one another.
Syrie He smiled softly as he saw Echo's recognition and understanding of how special the Forest was for him though it didn't last long. The goddesses' words reminded him that he had not in fact been anywhere near that special place since his initial return.
"I do not know, Lady Echo. I have not been away since Harmodius' attack." It was unspoken that he had not wanted to leave His side just yet,not now that he'd returned - nor had he wished to leave Revei and Gianfar. Revei needed the quiet he could provide and Gianfar...well, he just...needed him too.
"Perhaps now, I will be able to return. I fear the delicate state has only crumbled further from the decaying weeks...my Forest was not well-kept in my absence."
Zero Dream Echo nodded - though if it was in answer to the spoken or the unspoken was not readily evident.
"If you need of any help, my aoidei should be able to assist you with what will be needed." Her boys seemed to always be itching to do something, and three (most often that not two, because of Concerto's tending of Rio and Adi) of them was certainly alot to tend to her needs. There was no way she could really require the three of them by her side constantly. "Actually... I ought to introduce you to Alto." Her expression was thoughtful. The blonde god before her would certainly enjoy the presence of the mute servant, she felt... Maybe they could even be able to communicate without any kind of sign language ?
To go herself... well, the silent forest would not exactly be silent anymore if she went, wouldn't it ? The thought was amusing, and a smile started to curl up her lips.
Syrie Echo's generousity did not go unnoticed; that she would offer up her servants to him as freely as Nergal touched the God of Silence and filled him with a warmth that helped to drive off some of the chill that crept into his being when he thought of his forest. His likely dead forest.
"That is most gracious of you, Lady Echo. I look forward to meeting your Aoide and your children." Oh yes, he would probably enjoy the mute Aoide very much -- and no words were needed with Endiovar as he 'listened/read' the unspoken with almost perfect clarity (surely he would perfect that as his powers grew).
"When I return, if I find the forest to be in a reasonable state, I would like to extend a pre-emptive invitation to you and yours." The curly-haired god's mouth pulled into an amused smile. 'No, I cannot imagine it would remain Silent for long with your presence, Lady Echo.' Endiovar reached out to touch some of the fresh, thick grass Creation had brought to replace the barren and cracked expanses of lava Destruction had favored. "I am not so accustomed to children, are your's very small?"
Zero Dream "They were born..." Music paused, then, brow furrowing in thought. "About two months before the ritual, I believe ? But they look and act older than that. More so like children then babies or toddlers, if I can attempt to put it in mortal terms..."
The mention of her children, however, seemed to make her remember something else. "Is Revei feeling any better ? I have seen him, quite some time ago, but not heard more since... I would go visit again, but I fear I may bring more discomfort upon him." She had been able to control the tone of her wings, for the most part, but to do so had been a challenge - and she could very well tell that even the scratching of the pencil on the paper seemed to bring her dear friend pain, in absence of the curly blonde sitting at her side.
Syrie Endiovar felt that he could understand her difficulty in relating the children's growth. They were the children of the Immortals and naturally the Godlings wouldn't have to be held to the same growth-strictures as any mortal children.
"You need not do that, Lady Echo. I understand." He smiled gently at the purple-haired goddess of music and nodded a bit when she asked after Revei. "Revei is..." 'Better, but only in that my cottoning of his senses keeps...whatever plagues him, at bay' Half in word, half not; a sure sign that Silence felt a great deal of emotion towards the God of Dreams. "I have made a request to our Lord...perhaps he will be able to heal Revei where I have only been able to keep him from worsening."
It was his hope that Creation would be able to do something to ease Dream's agony - a request he'd made even over his own, more personal request.
Zero Dream Echo's purple lips pulled into a thin line as silence spoke and non-spoke of Revei's state, eyes showing both her worry for her dear friend, pain of knowing him still suffering, and perhaps, even for his companion - it was evident that it was hard for Endiovar as well, to see him in like this.
"I can only hope He will be able to do something..." She let out, along with a sigh. She wished so dearly that she would be able to do something... But it was mostly beyond her skills to do. Though he had seemed to enjoy her company, she brought with it more pain - it was better for her to remain as is for the time being, and wait for Dream to come to her this time around.
Syrie It was obvious to the God of Silence that the Lady Echo cared for Revei of Dream; she shared in his pain if not the creeping guilt that haunted the blond. Even though Gianfar had tried to absolve him of guilt for Revei's condition and Dream himself did not lay blame across Endiovar's shoulders he still felt very raw about the whole thing. Very raw and quite guilty.
"I am certain our Lord will be able to help Revei." Something in her body-language, in the unsaid from the Goddess prompted him to speak more. "You have...seen Revei since then?" She could have, yes - he wasn't always around Gianfar and Revei - he hoped so. Even though it caused the Dreamer's Guide pain to be near others, he knew that it cheered him to see old friends in these new times.
Zero Dream "Not very recently, no." The goddess admitted, shaking her head. "It was before the ritual, I believe... After he sent out dreams to everyone. That, and words from another I hold dear talking of something that might have happened to him brought me to seek him out."
Her ears pinned back, slightly. "I wanted to see if there was anything I could have done for him... But it was not to be so. The only thing I could give him was an invitation to see my children in better times." The wording was a little tricky, but the small signs would add up to the silence deity that she meant better times for Revei, not better times overall.
Syrie "Don't worry overly much Lady Echo, I believe he will be fine." Rather, he believed that Revei of Dream would be as fine as he could be once Creation had visited him and done...whatever it was that Creation would do for him. Endiovar did not know what that would be, the Eldest hadn't said anything to him...simply that he would attend to the Dreamer's Guide and give whatever aid He could.
Echo hadn't seen Revei in person since before the Ritual; Endiovar thought that was a good thing. Revei's current condition was still very disheartening, even to the curly-haired god of Silence who spent a great deal of time around him. Zero Dream "I shall attempt." She settled on a smile - though it still betrayed her worry. "But to know that you will be by his side until then reassures me." Silence seemed the careful, steady sort - rather dependable, if first impressions were to be true. He had given her no reason to doubt them, so she did not.
Her expression seemed to grow thoughtful for a moment, and she studied the area around her as best as she could, curious much like a child would have been. But it made sense - after all, everything was new in a sense. Syrie Worried as she may be, Echo was able to smile and put on a brave face. They were all scared or worried about something - be it children or family or the Grigori or something Else; it would be a long time before the gods and mortals would be able to relax. But at least some of them could face these things with a smile. "Of course. I will see that Revei does not linger too overly-long in the darkness that Void wrought into his mind.
Silence sat a few moments longer with Echo but then started to excuse himself; she was lovely and caring but she was the Goddess of Music and the God of Silence. Their relative spheres of dominion did not always co-exist in a peaceful manner; of course, there was also the pressing matter of taking care of Revei -- he'd been away for a lengthy amount of time and really did need to return.
"Lady Echo, I am sorry, but I must take my leave--" 'I have been too long from his side and I do not relish the thought of his torment.' The curly-haired god rose gracefully to his feet and then reached down to take her hand and bring his lips close to her hand as though to kiss it. He did not, but the gesture was meant to show his respect for her and her 'husband' while also showing that he felt affection for her on her own.
"Thank you for allowing me to sit with you this while." Endiovar would stay only long enough for her response and to exchange a few final words - a promise to come see Echo's children...and Nergal as well - before making his way back across the lawn towards the stairs that would lead him back to Gianfar and Revei. Zero Dream "I should likely be along my way as well." She noticed, belatedly. Echo had went outside with something to do in mind, but had been started by the sudden changes here. She had meant to only enjoy the fresh grass and her surroundings for one moment... But then Endiovar had come along.
She regretted nothing of taking the time to speak with him, however. She inclined her head and smiled, nonspeaking - her own mark of respect toward him - and was off a few moment after he left.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:22 pm
Syrie He had been distracted since he had last spoken with Creation, since He had agreed to do what He could for the Dreamer's Guide...it wasn't that he had wanted time to lapse between requesting the intervention of the Twin Crown and actually bringing Him to Revei; it had just happened.
In loose, egg-white colored garments and soft, supple sandals the god of Silence went to Creation with Revei held gently to his side. The Dreamer's Guide found it difficult to move but had requested that Endiovar take him to see Harmodius; at the least, Silence could help muffle the sounds that brought Revei such discomfort.
Together, they stood at the threshold of a pale door beautifully wrought by magic and no man's hand to request entrance. He was there...or at least, He had been nowhere else that the blond god had looked before beginning this journey; he did not want to cause any more undue stress to Revei than was absolutely necessary.
Prolixity Revei leaned against Endiovar, nervous and quiet. It was, after all, his own folly that has brought him to this point; much as he wished to be whole again, he wished, too, that is was not necessary. He took a long, soft breath, braced himself, and squared his shoulders; then he leaned forward slightly and tapped on the door.
Ivynian  The door opened unattended, moving back for the waiting gods to enter in. The way was obvious. The door led into a hall, plain polished wood of the same sort of the door but uncarved and smooth led back and turned a corner hiding further prediction from their sight. The floor was an inviting plush of a dawn silver that deadened sound naturally and akin as a sheared pelt before a fireplace to bared feet. Creation waited past a handful of corners, where the strange hall opened out to wider space like a room but without visible walls or decoration except for a victorian fainting couch that he rested a hand on the backing of while he stood and considered some distance out in the empty, unwalled space. Come. Rest.
Syrie When the door opened without a hand to guide it, the god of Silence was unsurprised. There had been no motion or sound of motion to disturb the still-quiet, no being there to greet either Revei or himself -- but that they were welcome was apparent. Blessedly, it seemed that Creation had set his halls to suit the circumstances: all was set to minimize impact on the 'wounded' Dream.
No words needed between them, Silence and Dream set forward down the bare hall; they would not stop until the reached their destination: the contemplative Lord of All. Endiovar's lips curved into a smile - there was a couch at His hand where Revei would be able to rest as the Eldest had invited them to do, but naught else.
He could appreciate the bare space, waiting to be filled. His own domain was much the same...
Prolixity Nerves and anticipation, awe and fear and love. Revei brushed a soft hand over Endiovar's shoulder and moved forward with him, the quiet and the softness enveloping them. Some of the tension flowed away as he walked, as the room remained clear and unwarped around him.
When they had come near, he carefully disentangled himself and went to one knee, bowing his head to his Lord. His wings spread around him on the floor like a cloak; his hair fell over his face.
Ivynian Creation turned his gaze to Revei, letting his hand down and drift out, palm up, in invitation. Softly, echoed back around from some unseen edges beyond the long dark, Creation's voice spoke without his tongue, "Sanctuary and respite lie in the hands of a Father that tends a wounded son. Guide of Closed Eyes, I bid that you trust me and take comfort on this lounge. If Sachem Aphonic would attend you, he may, or he may watch. My wings will lay upon you, and lift up from you the taint of touching the Outer part. "
Syrie Revei bowed to Creation and Endiovar followed suit, though he did not remain so for very long; this was Revei's time and he would be quietly at his side, unobtrusive. Each time Creation 'spoke' without words, the God of Silence felt warmth spread throughout his body that started from the top of his head and flowed downward to the very ends of his toes.
An invitation to participate - in a way - or to remain a bystander; it was an easy choice for Endiovar: he would remain at Revei's side as he lay upon the couch, a mute attendant and worried lover.
Prolixity Voiceless words like cool water on his skin. Revei breathed relief and rose to take a place on the couch, daring to look up at Harmodius; he tried to put everything he felt into a single look, apology and gratitude and all the many things he had never said.
He caught at Endiovar's hand, a little shyly. Affection and care, the blooming of a deeper feeling.
Ivynian The wait was long enough for both of the young gods to get settled. Contained, but debatable in solidity, his wings extended and curled around to shield and cover them both. The touch of the wing surface was cool, spring trickles from a waking mountain stream. "Some has been eaten, some that cannot be understood has been known and torments, some has been corrupted into strange paths that must be straightened. All must be enforced again to the order of the Being Plane without the Unbeing. This I will give to you, Revei...son of dreams...who, valiant, sought in the unknown what could be found of us." The cool dipped in, flesh being no barrier to the strange substance, accompanied by sweetness and suffering, relief and agony. Scars opened and scooped out of infection would ache and then feel clean later. Absence could be felt as respite. It took minutes that stretched to hours or days out of the reckoning of celestial time.
Syrie Once they were settled and surrounded in Creation's embrace, Endiovar closed his eyes and squeezed Revei's hand gently. The long time of waiting was coming to a definitive end within the Eldest's cool, comforting embrace: Revei would be whole again, able to exist without having to be held in a cocoon of Silence. Though he did not mind doing such things for Revei, knowing that the Dreamer's Guide would not require his 'services' made him feel both joy and some small amount of sorrow.
He kept his lips together and refrained from adding anything - spoken or unspoken - and simply let Creation's healing power wash over him; His soothing voice speaking tenderly to Revei and stroking along the God of Silence's being while doing so.
Time stretched and flowed fluidily about the trio of True Gods all but unnoticed; time had no meaning for them - a quick breath, a long sigh - until the healing was done. Only one of the two younger Gods would feel Creation's blessing so acutely, though Endiovar would be able to tell from Revei's body language, from Creation's withdrawl, how effective this encounter had been.
Prolixity The space of one long breath, the space of forever. A sharp and edgeless pain, a lifting and emptying, an outflow of elsewhere. The pain of infection draining from a wound. The pain of waking from a long, drugged, motionless slumber. Relief so acute that it manifested as pain itself.
No different, but that everything changed.
The touch of Creation's wing fluttered through Revei's self, resonating in all the empty spaces that the touch of Void had left. He held Endiovar's hand tightly enough to hurt, enduring the sudden absence of pain.
Prolixity The space of one long breath, the space of forever. A sharp and edgeless pain, a lifting and emptying, an outflow of elsewhere. The pain of infection draining from a wound. The pain of waking from a long, drugged, motionless slumber. Relief so acute that it manifested as pain itself.
No different, but that everything changed.
The touch of Creation's wing fluttered through Revei's self, resonating in all the empty spaces that the touch of Void had left. He held Endiovar's hand tightly enough to hurt, enduring the sudden absence of pain.
Ivynian Creation bent, curling down at waist and knee, to bring his lips against the furrowed brow. Words of old were in the kiss, guidance and protection, new growth and regeneration to the True Soul within. Pulling back briefly, he then kissed over each of Revei's eyes, "My blood to yours, son of minds and wishes, descendant of the line of the Crown reborn. My tears to yours- see not again that which is in the mind beyond the barriers, beyond the weave. Nightmares will not be your torment, nor Knowing your burden. "
It is so done, Endiovar, that he is healed. He will sleep for a small time, dreamless though he IS dream, recovering from this closest touch in the far reaches of his own castles. On the third day, you may wake him with his name, a prince of his heart.
Syrie Whatever pain given to him by the crushing grip Revei had on Endiovar's hand was nothing to the pain he'd felt all on his own at having been party to putting the Dreamer's Guide into his wounded state and he bore it without a wimper.
Creation shifted his position and spoke to Revei first, then the curly-haired god of Silence. The blond opened his eyes and looked to the now-sleeping Dream while his Lord spoke-un-spoke. Gratitude and love touched face and form, speaking clearly his feelings to any that cared to see; with his free hand, he reached out to touch Creation's pale cheek lightly. 'Thank you, my Lord...from the depth of my being.'
He would, after a bit, carry Revei's sleeping form back to Gianfar - to explain and so that they weren't monopolizing Creation's time and attention. As comforting as it was to be with the Eldest, Endiovar didn't feel that it was right to linger in his rooms for too overly long.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
