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 Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:01 pm
If my life were transient like a flower
I would be in full bloom by your side
And after watching your smile
I would fall alone, just quietly
If I could flutter like a bird
I would fly to you
And offer my wing
To your wounded back
If I could flow like a wind
I would reach you
If I could shine like a moon
I would keep shining on you
-- "Moments" - Ayumi Hasasaki A Confession / Setting Things Straight Thabara  Leaning against the railing of the balcony, Nergal watched as the Aoidei left. He had managed to send them on an errand, the whole lot of them, one they'd hopefully not return from anytime soon. It hadn't been easy to convince them to leave - Tempo specifically, who was his Lady's sworn protector - and only Priya seemed to be delighted at the prospect of being sent out on a mission with 'the boys'. In the end Alto had rolled his eyes and simply shooed them all out. He turned now, glancing up at the balcony as if he'd caught up Nergal's thoughts somehow, and gave him a knowing smile. Nergal acknowledged it with a brief nod. So, there was at least one among them smart enough to realize that he wished to be alone with Echo.. But then he cringed inwardly as his ears picked up Ishum mentioning something about 'quality time' and then laughing.
Make that two, then.
True, he wanted some time alone with the gentle goddess, but it had nothing to do with that so-called 'quality time'. He needed to talk to her, desperately so, to establish clarity about what it was they both felt.. or not. He had been cowardly putting it off, finding excuses left and right (mostly in the form of the present Aoidei) to delay what would possibly hurt them both, but now.. he was running out of time.
He turned, his gaze resting on the small wooden box he'd placed on the coffee table, and then veering towards his luggage neatly piled up in a corner. A backpack, a bedroll, a set of saddle-bags, the sheathed khopesh, and the carefully wrapped shape of the scepter. He was ready to leave anytime now, and he would probably do so tomorrow, at sunrise.
She ought to know, before I leave.
It was strange for Music's dwelling to be so quiet.. without the constant melodic hum of her 'wings' and the chatter of the Aoidei. Strange how much he had gotten used to it.
Something soft pressured against his ankle suddenly, and when the god looked down slightly startled he found that Vertigo was rubbing his head against it, and starting to emitt a low purr. Smiling softly, he picked up the feline to hold it and absently pet its star-sprinkled fur while he waited for Echo to return. Zero Dream  But then, in that house, things did not stay silent very long, as proved by a voice that slowly made it's presence known nearby, in a language that had not belonged to the goddess, but to the host, a long time ago.
Kokoro ga kogetsuite yakeru nioi ga shita, Sore wa yume no owari subete no hajimari datta
Echo was nearby, and hadn't really seemed to realize that the aoidei where gone just yet, by all apparences brushing her hairs in the bathroom as she sang, idely finding herself braiding a part like her host had done so long ago. She did it, every now and then - probably fueled by the fact that Zero was now completely a part of her. The good news in all this, is that the merge hadn't really changed much about the kind goddess...
Akogareteta mono wa utsukushiku omoete, Te ga todokanai kara kagayaki o mashita no darou
Finally, she came out, and stopped for a moment, noticing the packed belongings. So it was time, it seemed. But then, she saw the two and couldn't help but smile.
"Do tell me, my lord... has my cat adopted you, or have you adopted my cat ?" She said, an amused tone in her voice. Another change - she was calling Zero's things hers much more freely now.Thabara "It would be the first of the options, I fear," Nergal admitted, playfully flicking a finger against the Vertigo's strange glowing antenna before he put him down. The cat gave him a slightly insulted look and then trotted over to Echo, rubbing his head against her legs and peering up at her expectantly.
"Don't pick him up," Nergal muttered dryly, though the corners of his lips titched upwards slightly, showing he was not being entirely serious about this, "it will only prove to him that he has managed to train us sufficiently."
He hesitated. It would be so easy, he realized, to have this be nothing more than a casual conversation and humorous banter.. Zero Dream Echo couldn't help but let out a small giggle, heeding the "warning" as it was.
"I am afraid I am already properly trained by now." Echo gave a mock-pout toward the cat, who meowed in answer, sitting to peer up at her expectantly. Finally, however, Echo cracked and picked him up.
"See ? I can't even resist those eyes of his." She smiled, scratching under the cat's chin before letting him settle on her shoulder. Thabara He couldn't help but smile at the sight, but it faded from his face quickly, making place for a more serious expression. No matter how much he wished that time would stand still, that he could remain in the company of the person he.. 'liked' very much forever, without any duties and responsibilities to take care of - it could not last. The ruined landscape he laid his eyes upon for a moment when he glanced back over his shoulder before he stepped back into the room was a painful reminder of this fact. Nothing could ever last.. Change, it seemed, was the only thing consistent about this world, be it in the form of Creation, or Destruction.
"Echo.." he started hesitantly, but then stopped. When had he become so familiar with her that he had started to drop her title, calling her by her name only? And how did it come that he felt so terribly nervous now, much more so, it seemed, than when he had gone to face Kishara, or Lucius?
"There is something I need to talk to you about," he finally said, his voice firm. He still could pretend he was going to talk only about taking his leave tomorrow, but he knew he wouldn't. He owed her at least this much. Zero Dream Echo seemed to grow serious as he finally had, herself noticing the use of her name, without commenting about the fact. She didn't really mind, from other gods, that her name be used. On certain mortals either, she didn't mind.
"What about, my lord ? I... did notice the luggages, if that is what you mean. I figured this was coming." She said, softly. She was sad to see him go, but hey, this was sure an improvement from him leaving in the wee hours of the morning. Instead of setting him back even more in his quest, she preferred to count her blessings. Thabara "Yes, about that too, but.. I actually meant to talk about something else. Us."
There, he had said it. No turning back now.
"I.. noticed that you seem to.. harbour certain feelings for me," he said nervously, trying to tread carefully. He didn't want to hurt her, if it was possible at all. Zero Dream Us. Hm. Uh oh.
Echo wasn't sure what to think, what to answer to that. What would he rather hear, a yes or a no ? Or... well, didn't she owe him that much ? She remained silent for a moment, thorn in between truth and what seemed to be the easy way out, the way to make sure nothing might break.
"...Yes. I do." She answered about what seemed to be forever, and left it at that. Thabara Her feelings for him had been fairly obvious, yet to hear her actually admit them.. that was different, like suddenly being plunged into ice-cold water.
"Then.. there is something you ought to know. Something about the past which you.. possibly do not remember." He gave off a short nervous laugh - a strange, strangled sound which just as well might have been a sigh.
"Even I remember merely bits and pieces of it, the clearest in my dreams.. Yet once I wake they fade and elude my grasp once more." Zero Dream Echo remained silent, only a nod showing that she was, indeed, listening, not wanted to betray her nervousness with any kind of sound.
Something had always stopped her before... but what ? Why ? Maybe that would tell her exactly what that had always been so. Even now, something in the bottom of her soul insisted that she should never had let it show, should never have spoken up.
But what.... ? Thabara It pained him to see her remain so quiet, and with a pang of guilt he realized that even the soft hum of her wings seemed to have stopped.
"What I do remember," he finally forced himself to say, every word feeling like he was driving a blade into her flesh, "is that there was an empty throne next to my own. The Underworld was once reigned by two, Echo, just like any of the other domains. And seeing that both Loves have been reborn, and both Dreams.. There is a good chance that one day my Queen may return as well." Something felt deeply wrong as he said it, but he attributed it to his own strong affection he felt for Music.
He bowed his head, not able to look her into the face any longer. Zero Dream Two.
Memories of her dream flooded back into her mind at that moment. Two, two, of course, of course. Oh... oh god.
Echo again remained silent, barely daring to breathe, but it quickly became apparent that her attention was elsewhere...--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "....It is quickly breaking apart, that much I do know, Echo. I have been unable to go back for so long... But the Underworld is collapsing. I fear I might lose him, just as I fear I might lose you..."
She felt so weak, unable to stand, unable to sit, unable to move. She tried to at least sit, but a pale hand stopped her. "Don't. You need to save your strength." the voice said to that. And Echo couldn't disagree.
"I hear them... They say they no longer have a need for me, that Song is their own now. So many of us are growing weaker. Perhaps this is the beginning of the end... or a new area to rise, one where mortal deny the gods that I have given them so much. Nergal is strong... He will be alright, I am sure. As for me... There is little I can do, especially as I am now."
"You can't give up, Echo. You can't... So many people need you, even if you do not realize it. I need you. My love needs you, too - have you not noticed how you manage to make him smile ? So few can..." The woman trailed an hand trough silk-soft hairs. "We're like sisters, you and I. And we are both women of taste, to care so deeply about the same man."
"I... Wait, it's..."
"Shhh." the Queen said, softly, a soft finger touching the goddess' lips. "I know it all, Echo. It's impossible for you to truly hide it. You do love him, I know... But you would also never act on it, which is why I always trusted you so much. I quite honestly can't blame you for that. Oh..." She turned, met eyes with Alto, who had been standing there all along. The aoidei nodded and went off. The goddess was growing cold... More than ever, the queen was afraid for her friend's life. Was it what would befall the whole pantheon... ?
"I still feel guilty, sister. And I fear nothing you can say will erase that guilt in my heart completely..." Echo answered with a soft smile. "But... it is good to know you do not hate me for it."
"Oh, Echo." She sighed. "I can't lose you. I can't."
"I can't promise you. Go to him... Go to the one we love, and remain by his side. Surely he will need you. I am in good hands - do not worry about me. Focus on your realm, sister. Nergal is going to need you more than he ever has."
"Not until I find a way to save our realm... I will find it, and I will stop this." The queen ran an hand on the goddess' cheek before getting up. "Don't give up. I will fix all this..."
"I will not. Do what you need to do, dearest sister. I will wait here."
Little did she know, it would be the last time the Queen of the Underworld would see her dear friend alive...--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Suddenly back in the present, Echo found herself leaning on the nearest wall for balance, as her legs threatened to give in. She remembered, now, and she quite honestly felt rotten. So that was why... oh dear, that was why. And she had dared forget.<
"Oh..." She finally said, in between sobs that she had no idea that had started. "Oh, sister... I have finally... betrayed you, have I... ?" Thabara Nergal finally dared to look up, more than just a bit worried when he didn't hear anything from her at all, except for shallow, strained breathing..
She was staring at him wide eyed, but her look went right through him and he could tell - whatever her eyes were seeing, it was something far beyond his reach.
"Echo?" he mouthed gently, horrified of the impact his words apparently had made on her and growing more and more worried with with each passing second - but his voice did not seem to reach her.
What had he done?
Finally, she faltered, tears streaming from her eyes, and blindly grasped for the nearest wall to find hold. Without thinking, Nergal jumped forward to support her, to hold her.. A moment later he found himself gently lifting her up and carry her to the couch.
"Shhh," he whispered soothingly into her ear, his lips brushing against her skin, "it is alright. Whatever it is, it is alright." Zero Dream And she offered no resistance, still too confused, her mind still too clouded in between past and present for her to truly react. The pain... oh, the pain. Not of his words, she was always expecting something akin to rejection but... No, the pain lied into the deep feeling that had took seat inside of her, so strong and vivid that it took over all her senses for an instant. How had she dared ? She should have remembered, should have... And now she had went and done this.
But the same they had made it to the couch, Echo seemed to be calming down - or at least, opening herself to reality again, burying her face in Nergal's chest to cry, even if she seemed like the last thing she should be doing. One side of her mind, Zero no doubt, screamed for her to calm down and stop this, but the rest of her wouldn't listen. Everything seemed to be going out now, each and every time she felt like crying but kept everything inside herself.
"No, it's not..." She managed, voice muffled by the fabric and her sobs. "I... I have done the one thing I had promised her that I would never do !" Echo clearly felt horrible, but how to tell Nergal it wasn't his fault ? She couldn't find the word to explain it, they eluded her in the whirlwind of shock, panic, and self-loathing. She didn't even deserve to be in his arms now... It should be her instead. Oh, she couldn't even remember her name, but the feelings, so strong... Thabara For the time being, Nergal simply held her, gently stroking her hair and continuing to whisper soothing words into her ear.. It seemed the right thing to do, and it came to him strangely natural, despite his usual awkwardness with closeness, and feelings.
"No, shhh.. It is alright, you have done nothing wrong.. Please.." He hesitated, clearly not wanting to cause her any more pain. But.. "Please explain.. You do remember? Something?"
For I do not.. Nothing but the sound of her dress whispering across the floor.. Zero Dream Echo didn't answer at first, visibly trying to get her thoughts in some kind of order before she even attempted to do anything about this. Still, she managed to calm down, at least in apparency, the crying slowly stopping. The hum of her wings slowly returned, as if it had been interrupted by her panic.
"Yes. I do remember. I cannot remember her name, or how she really looked... but I remember... feelings." She held her head for a second, feeling an headache starting - it always happened when she cried. "We where really close, and she knew me inside-out. So, she indeed.... knew. While it wasn't exactly worded, it was unspoken in between us that I would never let you know exactly how I felt. I... messed up, madly. Oh... How could I have forgotten this... I knew deep inside me that there was a reason, but... nothing as clear as this... Oh, how I miss her, now... I feel so badly, knowing this. I've betrayed her."
She paused for a moment, wondering if she should ask the question bordering her mind at the moment. But it was probably better not to know what he felt at this...
"It's not your fault." She said suddenly, hoping to stop the thought from forming itself in his mind. "It's not what you said, I just... It's like everything rushed back in my mind in a single second, and the feeling that resulted... Was more powerful that anything I remember feeling in this life."
Added to the fact that she had expected a "rejection" of some short, but that was better left unsaid. Thabara "This.. is much more complicated then than I thought it would be," Nergal admitted with a low voice.
"For, you see, Ishum.. He told me there was love between me and Her, but for all I knew my Other might have been nothing but a good friend, or possibly my sister." He reached out with his hand to gently wipe the tears from Echo's face. "Even now.. when I think of her.. try to remember her.. I feel nothing. But when I think of you.." His voice trailed off, leaving things unsaid for now.
"There is no betrayal in what you did, Echo," he told her instead, keeping his voice soothing and calm. "It was I who asked you, and I cannot possibly hold you responsible for what you feel. If anyone should feel guilty, it should be me." Zero Dream The second time that she was told she shouldn't feel bad because of the feelings she held. Still, her mind had problems warping itself around what others told her was true.
"But the memory is surely there." She said softly. "Just like mine was, waiting to come out. I had a dream, a few days ago... I do not remember most of the details too clearly, but it was when I met the two of you the first time..." She couldn't help but smile. "Maybe we should be glad for meddling mortals, sometimes..."
But then... oh, she had to be brave, she had to ask. "When you think of me... ?" She had to ask, if only for the sake of letting everything out, of knowing exactly what to do about all this. Thabara
"You remember more then, than I do.." Nergal said, trying to keep the bitterness he felt inwardly from his voice. "At least I can be certain now as to what my relationship to Her was. That is something."
And what now?
Before, there had been a distinct chance - however small - that the relationship to his Other would turn out to have been something that would not stand in conflict with what he felt for Echo. But now that he knew..
He sighed and closed his eyes, keeping the upset goddess cradled to his chest. So close.. He could smell the scent of her hair, delicate and sweet, like flowers blossoming in spring, but--____Different.
"When I think of you, I.." he started, but then his voice failed him. He took a deep breath for a second attempt, feeling ridiculously jittery and nervous. "I.. The night after I met Kaelin I had a most horrifying nightmare.. about.. that you were to suffer the same fate as him. It was a thought I could not bear, and my concern for your wellbeing became almost overwhelming. It was.. madness. I was about to return for you head over heels when the goal of my journey was within reach. I had no choice but to--" He broke off, not sure if he wanted her to know about the extent of control he held over his own feelings. That, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt about what he'd done back then - discarding and locking away his feelings for her as if they were nothing but a useless burden.
"When I think of you, Echo, I cannot help but to wish to be with you. I wish to protect you, to see you happy." His voice grew firmer now, more confident with every word that spilled from his lips. "I wish to ensure that smile will never leave your face, and that you will never cease to sing your songs." His fingers trailed to carress the lines of her face as he spoke, coming to a rest underneath her chin, gently forcing her to look at him.
"This is.. what I feel when I think of you." He bent down then, closing his eyes as he placed a chaste kiss on her lips. Zero Dream Echo listened, the only sound remaining being the familiar hum of her wings. He had problems voicing himself, so she said and did nothing to interrupt him, hoping this would help...
Still, she managed to be caught off-guard when his lips met her's. She remained stunned, for a moment, before, shyly, moving up to return the kiss, doing her best to ignore the pang of guilt that hit her as she did so. If this moment was to be given to her... she would make the best of it.
"You should not worry about me." She said, softly, once their lips parted for the second time. "I am safe, here. I have the aoidei..." She didn't want him to worry again. But she wasn't sure how to make sure it would be so, what where the right words... or if it was even possible to make sure it would be so. Finally, she just curled closer to him, head still resting on his chest, not really upset anymore. At the moment, she seemed calm, and most of all... happy. Thabara "I know that now," he said, brushing a strand of hair aside which clung to her still-moist cheek. "They are so devoted to you - it is clearly visible in every word they speak to you, every deed they do for you, their every glance at you.. I have confidence in them, you will not come to harm under their protection."
Wishing this moment could last forever, he slowly shifted his wings around to offer shelter to the goddess, yet he was careful to not brush her skin with their cold touch.
"I do not know what to do, Echo," he finally broke the silence after a long time. "Even though I feel nothing for her as I am now.. I cannot possibly betray her. Until I am certain of her fate, and how the Fading may or may not have affected our feelings for each other.." He reached for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. "There cannot be more that friendship between us until then." No apology was offered, because he felt none was needed. Zero Dream "I have bottomless faith in them, as well... Simply having someone other than me here does wonders at making one feel more secure. I honestly believe that the only reason I... faded, before, was because it was out of their reach to have stopped it. Or they would have done so."
She felt so warm there, in his arms. Safe. She didn't want this moment to ever end, but then, she knew it had to end. They each had things to do, on their separate sides. Worlds to rebuild, action to do, songs to sing... They each had their act to do, no matter big or small.
"I understand." She said, softly, looking up at him for a moment, the long sleeves of her robe trailing to the floor. "There is no possible way I could ever ask that of you... I hope she will return among us soon, for more reasons than this. We where definitively close, and now that I do remember, I long to see her again..." Thabara
So understanding.. Always and ever so understanding.. For a moment the strength of his feelings for her was almost insane, a floodwave which was threatening to drag him with it, drown him.. But then it had passed and he drew in a deep breath - a sigh almost.
He shifted a little, a part of him protesting vigorously as he unwound his fingers from hers, and reached to the table, for the small wooden box he'd placed there.
"There is a favor I would like to ask of you," he murmured softly as he pulled the box closer. It was worn, completely devoid of any decorative elements, and not much bigger than a cigar box. It was the one the animal keeper on the carnival had given to him. Zero Dream Echo also seemed to sadden a bit when he let go of her hand, but did her best to hide it. Instead, her focus went to the box that the god had brought forth. It was odd that she did not notice it before, but then, after the emotional shock she had go trough, who would have ?
"What is it, my lord ?" She said, softly. Thabara Instead of giving her an answer right away he took the box and gently placed it into her lap, opening the lid with care to not spill the contents by accident. Beads with large holes were inside, charms, ornaments.. Some of them hook-shaped, some rather shaped like assymetric rings. No two looked the same, yet all of them had one thing in common - they had been skillfully carved from bone.
"Perhaps you remember them from your dreams," Nergal said gently, "the bones I used to bear.. These are not the same, the old ones have crumbled and long since turned to dust. Poltros crafted these new ones for me. But.. I do not feel ready yet to bear them, so.. Until I return from my journey, I would like to entrust them to you." Zero Dream "I do... vaguely." She answered softly, bright blue eyes locked on the many articles of bones. The name of the crafter strung no cord within her, but she found herself fascinated by the contents of the box for a reason she couldn't really understand, running a finger across one charm. They where beautifully crafted, smoothed to perfection. It was easy to see that the goddess was fascinated by them, having never really touched bones before. She finally caught herself and let go, a bit embarrassed.
"Do not worry, they will remain safe." She said, suddenly going trough her sleeves in search of something - visibly the long bell sleeves where not only fancy, but pratical, having pockets hidden in them. She finally found what she was looking for, and gently took his hand, one part of her mind saying that she was being too bold, but she felt the need to do this.
"But then... I would like if you could keep this with you." She withdrew, revealing a necklace, metal rings coiled on a metal cord, topped with a perfectly round stone that grew faintly. "It used to belong to Zero, a long time ago, but as we are now one... I... no, we would like you to have it. Then we will always have something belonging to the other with us." As silly as it sounded, it was true. Echo always held a great importance to trinkets like this - having that box, and those charms, would definitively remind her that she had to stay strong, for both herself and the mortals she might eventually be able to help. Still, it definitively was a bit sappy, and she thought the god might find it a bit silly.
"I am sure... if you ever need me on your journey... that my voice will find it's way to you." Thabara Surprised about the goddess' boldness Nergal looked at the delicate necklace she'd left in his hand, and then closed his fingers around it with a smile. "I shall keep it safe."
It was.. a promise they'd made, its words unspoken. A promise that they would, one day, meet again. And until that day came each of them would do what they had to do to the best of their abilities. A reminder as well, of the lessons they'd learned from each other, and a short, but much cherished period of relative peace and happiness.
"I am sure your songs will reach me somehow.. After all you are friends with Lady Wind, are you not?" He smiled and winked at her, but then his face grew thoughtful again. "There is another favor I would like to ask of you.." He bent forward a little to whisper something into her ear. "Could you do that for me?" he asked once he had voiced his second request. Zero Dream "I am so." She smiled softly, but then grew curious and leaned forward to listen to him, the silk of her sleeve brushing softly against his form as she moved. Her expression changed from one of a curious child to, finally, an understanding smile.
"I am pretty sure I can." She said, finally. "It would be a pleasure, in fact." Thabara
"Thank you," he murmured gratefully. "I am sure that she will appreciate it. Only.. Do not mention my name, or you might yourself find banned from her quarters quicker than you could ever imagine."
He lowered his gaze, his expression slightly guilty. "I really should stop asking favors from you," he said ruefully, "I keep doing this without ever offering you something in return." Zero Dream At this, Echo seemed to grow a bit pensive. Would it be possible, maybe... No, this was not her place, was it ? It would be much better for them both to mend things together. She might only make things worse...
But then, she just smilled. "Or maybe... Maybe I do not need anything in return. You have helped me more than you might think, my lord... That in it's own is worth almost all favors in the world." Thabara "If that truly is the case, then I shall try and worry no longer about what I may or may not owe you." Gently he let his fingers slide through her long, silky hair, his hesitant smile giving way to a more thoughtful expression as he experimentally wrapped one of the strands around his index finger. Had he braided Her hair back then, he wondered, because - obviously - the knowledge was there. It was strange what kind of things one would remember, while other, much more important memories remained stubbornly buried and inaccessible.
"I will leave tomorrow, as soon as the sun rises," he told her a little later, shifting to a more formal tone again and letting go of the goddess' hair with a twinge of regret. But.. this was not the time for it. Later perhaps, when he would have certainty of his Other's fate. "I do not know how long I will be gone this time, or how far I will need to go.. Priya will accompany me, as my scout and my guard. Ishum I ordered to stay behind, I left him with a number of tasks to take care of. Should there be urgent need to find me.. he has the means to do so." The aoide had tracked him down once, and with the Cerberus at his disposal Nergal had no doubt he'd manage to do so a second time. Zero Dream "I see." She said, softly, trying not to show any changes in her face when he withdrew his hand from her hairs. Did this moment really need to end... ?
"He is welcome to stay here, if needed" The goddess continued, doing nothing to stop him, or to try to get him to stay longer... even if, deep inside, she wished it would still be possible.
"But..." She hesitated, hand going to comb trough a strand of hair, almost nervously. "Please be careful. I do not wish to see you injured again..." She remembered when she had seen him, at the pantheon... and how worried she had been. Thabara "That is an offer most welcome." Nergal nodded, his expression sincere. Inwardly, however, he wondered slightly amused how long it would take for Ishum to swamp Echo's dwelling with kittens and the like to show his gratitude for the lodging she offered so kindly. Not too long, he guessed, as he knew his aoide was rather enthusiastic about such things.
Reluctantly he got up, starting to miss the warm touch of her skin against his almost immediately. But this small moment of tenderness was all he could allow himself to happen without feeling like he was betraying himself.. and Her.
"Do not worry about me. Priya is a fierce warrior and very proficient in the use of her weapons.. She may be a little ill-mannered, but she would rather die than allow me to come to harm." He bent forward to brush his lips against her skin once more, a chaste kiss on her forehead - a blessing rather than a sign of affection.
"There are still a few things I need to take care of before I leave," he said regretfully, "but I trust you will see me off tomorrow?" Zero Dream She got up shortly after he had done the same, scooping up Vertigo again as she did so. The feline, oblivious of the seriousness of the situation that had just unfolded (and that he might soon have feline neighbors) started his purring again almost immediately.
"I shall." She answered softly.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:03 pm
Watching Him Go When time had come, she managed to resist. She did not cry, did not scream for him to stay with her, just one more day. She did not ask, again, to bring her with him. She remained strong, locking away her feelings as she watched him go. Love is like a butterfly. Let it go, and if it comes back to you, it was meant to be. If not, well...She stood, watching until she could not see him anymore, one hand on her heart, eyes locked on the horizon. There was no way to deny what had happened the night before, there was no way to pretend there was nothing anymore. What would she do, once her friend, her sister, the queen arose again ? She would need to, once again, find the key that locked her heart. She wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. She wanted her back - it was a hole in her heart. But if she came back, then it seemed impossible for them to have a proper relationship, something that had seemed like a distant, impossible dream, yet now stood just outside her reach, teasing her like a shining star. They both had things to do. She would remain strong, and make him proud of her once he finally came back. That, she would make sure of. Finally, she turned, going to tend to Aria in a attempt to take her mind off things, but she would find herself staring in the direction he had left for a few times during the rest of the day.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:04 pm
With every breath
And all the choices that we make
We are only passing through on her way
I find my strength
Believing that your soul lives on
Until the end of time
I'll carry it with me
"Mother Earth" - Within Temptation Hello Once More, Mother / Fulfilling A Promise Lady_Ourania  The tea set had begun to look jaundiced, a dusting of pollen settling over its pristine surface while Kishara watched with an unhappy draw to her features. Drinking water had grown scarce despite their careful rationing, and so the goddess had voluntarily stopped brewing her favorite drink, one of many ways to conserve what remained until Destruction's Age receded into a time of Creation and the supply could be replenished. But she had no idea when such an event would come to pass, and the woman was seriously beginning to miss the luxury.
Wonderful. I have reached the point where it is the absence of tea which makes me wish Harmodius could become balanced once again. Her lips twisted bitterly, and she rubbed some of the yellow powder off of a cup with one thumb, leaving an imprint that would quickly be coated over again as the spores drifted in an innocuous golden haze around the room. The red head's displeasure with herself was largely unfounded, but it was best to put things in perspective every once in a while. Her petty wish for tea was nothing when compared to some of the trials others were facing on the outside; apocalyptic events were commonplace there, and although she'd saved those within range, many still suffered just out of her grasp.
Still, though she felt irresponsible and guilty for it, she really did miss her tea.
Gaia sighed deeply and reclined in her chair, closing her eyes and breathing in the air. She supposed she should have been grateful that her host was not allergic to pollen - having a runny-nose and itchy eyes due to something that was an aspect of her domain would have been embarrassing, to say the least. Kishara was not sure how Persephone's sensitivities affected her beyond the occasional craving for solitude and the desire for a firm sleeping place.I'm allergic to pistachios. And shellfish. And goddesses who think too damn much."How helpful," Kishara replied dryly, throwing one arm over her eyes to ease the headache brewing. "Anything else?"Goddesses who ask too many questions? Oh, and possibly having my soul eaten - the scratch test was inconclusive on that one.Gaia dared to wonder only for a few minutes why her host was suddenly acting so energetic, guessing it had something to do with her own fatigue and general listlessness. It could have been anything from the weather to her body's own internal devices, but the goddess felt strangely tired and drained even in her own room.
She dropped her arm down, pausing and lifting her hand back up to correct a caterpillar's path before it dropped off the leaf it had been nibbling. It had been a lazy few days while she'd recovered from numerous disappointments, and the life in the room had appreciated her near-constant presence. Even as she moved to place the insect on another, fuller leaf, it began to try and wind her fingers together with the silken strands from its mouth, intent on making a cocoon. She gently untangled herself and substituted her digits for the chosen plant, returning to her previous seat and watching its progress from there.
At least there is some life still... but for how much longer?Quote: Down below, the door opened and closed with a soft click. Echo stopped a moment to close the umbrella she was carrying - she had found it to be the best way to protect at least her upper body from the ash - and dust off the bottom of her robe with a slight, almost inaudible sigh. It was not her usual wanderings - she had an actual reason to be here... a few, in fact, which would make it easier to hide one of them, as it had been requested.
Still, she found herself nervous, hand securing the case holding her guitar shaking lightly. For that one reason (what if she messed everything up ? To upset the mother would be a pain too great) and countless more. Even if they had not seen each other since times now lost... she felt like a child trying to make her mother proud, and she did not feel like she could do so in her current self.
But then, how did she used to be ? She had no recollection of how she even looked back then, only songs, feelings, and vague memories... But then, she found herself in front of the door she was looking for and she had no more time to think.
Softly, she knocked. Lady_Ourania She was surprised to hear the rap of knuckles upon her door, gaze diverted from the metamorphosis taking place as she nibbled thoughtfully on her bottom lip and rose with decided slowness. Who would have been calling upon her now? Someone seeking shelter, perhaps, or more likely an individual who had mistaken her abode for another deity's room. She still received the occasional guest looking for Love, but most were now aware that it was the reborn Mother who occupied the space instead of the Sinned Khiviance. Even then, it would not have surprised her to find someone trying to pay the silenced deity homage, even with Destruction's influence so suffocating. Love did not stop existing merely because the world was crumbling away into darkened skies.
The plants that thrived in a happy existence around her door were quick to move when she reached for the handle, turning it and tugging open the barricade so that whoever was on the other side was given a full view of the creeping green behind her. Gaia resisted the urge to tilt her head inquisitively when she was met with an unfamiliar face, a quick inspection of her memories reaffirming such doubts. A stranger then, at least for the moment.
It did not take more than a glance to tell that the woman was very beautiful, her hair long and sweeping while her sapphire eyes glinted from a face that was only slightly older than Gaia's stolen semblance. It was also apparent that she was a goddess, the low thrum of her rippling wings and the strange cords that dangled from her limbs only adding to the sensation of divinity that she carried.
Kishara found a smile to give the unknown Edelsteine, the gesture curious but courteous and undemanding of one in return. "Good evening, lady." She greeted pleasantly, green eyes thoughtfully taking in the guitar case as a vague idea of who she was speaking to formed in her head. "Was there something that I could help you with?" Zero Dream Echo had to resist peering inside the room curiously after the door seemed to open on it's own. It did not take her long to see the goddess she came looking for. The state of the room gave no confusion to the fact that she had been the one she was looking for, and there was also no memories of the past - so no confusion of visages in her mind.
Echo gave a respectful bow before speaking. "I have realised that I had spent too long without giving proper reguards. I am Echo, the voice of the countless, and I was wondering if you would mind some company ?" Lady_Ourania Crimson brows interspersed with green quirked up when the dark-haired goddess bowed, compelling Kishara to incline her head in acceptance of the display. It still struck her as odd when other, older deities bothered to show her courtesy, much less deference. Her title of Empress had reached its expiration date when she had, but everyone seemed intent on pretending otherwise. Gaia supposed she could hardly fault them for it.
When the conversation started, she found it easier to concentrate on the other's lilting voice, her smile brightening considerably at the introduction. Echo. Music. Indistinct recollections rose like disturbed sediment into the stream of her consciousness before settling coyly back down once again, taunting her with half-formed thoughts and recollections. It was slightly frustrating, but she was used to the nuisance of forgetfulness.
"I was unaware that regards had to be paid," Kishara replied lightly, brushing a bit of foliage away from the door to make room for her guest to enter. "But I would be more than happy for your company, Lady Echo, should you be inclined to keep mine. I am Gaia - though I suspect you already knew as much - and I have taken the name Kishara in this lifetime; you are free to address me as either. Please, come in, and pardon the mess if you can." Zero Dream To Echo, it was likely that gaia would remain the empress, the mother - this seemed so innate to her that it could not even be called a memory. It was almost instinct, like a young child instantaneously knowing who her mother was. She did not find the first comment odd - after all, if someone had seeked her out as she was now for worship... she would definitively feel awkward.
She made her way in after the foliage was out of the way, as not to harm it. "Perhaps it is not needed... but I felt the urge to do so, all the same." The goddess said, softly. The mess did not seem to bother her - after all, her own quarters where not exactly in the most orderly state either, with her own aoidei, and Ishum remaining there as well...
She gently let the guitar case on the floor, careful and ever so mindful not to hit, harm, or squish any plants in the process. "I am more than so." She announced with a smile. "I must admit you are quite lucky... I was unable to keep any plants alive since Destruction rose... It is quite refreshing to see healthy ones again." Lady_Ourania "One can hardly argue with those sorts of urges," Kishara remarked, watching appreciatively as Music stepped around and over the tangled vines and leafy branches that crowded the narrow walkway. The caution wasn't necessary since the most fragile plants, the newest sprouts from the seeds which Ishum had bestowed into her care, had been carefully situated near the back of the room; still the goddess couldn't help but welcome such a thoughtful gesture as she closed the door and followed Echo deeper into her inner sanctum.
"Luck, hmm?" She mused out loud, flapping a hand at the drowsy plants that had all but eaten the chairs she used for company. "I suppose that is an element to it, yes. If you would like, I could give you a seedling to take back to your residence, but I could not guarantee that it would live for long. My powers are laughable when compared to His, and are easily overwhelmed... it is only the persistence of my presence that has allowed this place to stay as green as it is."
Her voice had dipped noticeably at the mention of Destruction, eyes taking on a distant haze as she dusted a fine layer of green-gold pollen from the seat of an unoccupied chair. She motioned for Echo to sit, not even bothering to realize that it had been the same space that Nergal had filled not long before. Gaia seemed to shake it off the haunted distraction after an indulgent moment, looking faintly flustered as her gaze met Music's once again. "I am sure my complaints are not what you came to hear. Forgive me the momentary lapse... and tell me instead of how you have fared in this new life. I have not seen you before today, so I could only assume you live elsewhere?" Zero Dream "I would usually say yes, but..." Echo sat on the chair she was showed, hand carefully brushing an open bloom. "It is better for them to stay here, as you say. Perhaps, when things are back to normal... I will take you on this offer, but not now." Echo herself also seemed to sadden at the mention of Destruction. As she stood more on the creation side of things, the current state of the world continued to worry her.
"It is better to talk about these things... When you do not, they wind up weighting you down... and I happen to be gifted with great ears to listen." Echo said with a smile. "As for me..." How had she fared ? What had she accomplished ? There wasn't much to say, especially if she didn't mention the Underworld... "I have been doing as I can. I live not too far from here, in a house that my aoidei have found. I do have plans to get myself more involved soon, after I get caught up with how my art has evolved in the hands of the mortals while I was gone." She brushed a lock of silken black hair from her eyes. "I may not be able to stop this, but if I can at least soothe their pain... I have remained idle for far too long. I feel like I must do my part in all this..." Lady_Ourania 'When things are back to normal.' And when would that be, precisely? It seems such a faraway dream now, a return to normalcy, to everything we took for granted when we stepped back into the realm of existence and thought our roles were set. Where is that determination now? The call to arms that fell so flat the moment I knew a new era had come to pass?
Kishara sat in the opposite chair and stroked a broad leaf that had wiggled into her lap, her stare thoughtful though she refrained from asking such questions out loud, quite certain that the young goddess would have no accompanying answer. "The offer will still be open," She replied instead, trying to ease Echo out of what felt like a mutual unhappiness at the state of the world. "And I do not doubt that you would listen and listen well, but... I believe that some things are better left unvoiced, even to one so obliging and kind as you."
The last thing she hoped to do was pay Music even the smallest of insults, but Gaia felt certain that opening up her own bottle of poisonous thinking and forcing the other to guzzle it down might have been worse still. Better to keep matters revolving around the Twin Crown to herself, even if it changed her.
The goddess smiled faintly when Echo spoke of taking up her part in the fight even as she gently pushed the plant from her lap and leaned back further in her chair to watch the dark haired musician. "It is a noble quest, to be certain, and one which I hope to see succeed. If you require my aid, I would feel privileged to extend it, but I must warn you that I carry little of the authority that I possessed before the Fading..."
Her appeal to Destruction felt like a lifetime ago, trampled down by wasted lives and insecurities she dare not lay name to. She was not the Gaia of old, the one who had loved unconditionally and wielded influence enough to diminish flagrant displays of power. She was not certain she could ever be again. Zero Dream "I understand." Far be it from her mind to force gaia to talk, but her offer would remain there, should she change her mind. After all, she thought the same about a few things as well... one which had gone into the open not too long ago. She remembered that morning with such clarity... but no, now was not the time. Thankfully, as the other would figure out, Echo gave out no sign of being insulted in any way by the refusal.
"We have all changed, I believe." She continued, voice soft and smooth. "Some realize it, some do not... I am pretty sure I have changed myself, that things are different, not just in terms of power... but... I have no memories to figure out exactly what." She pondered for a moment. "I seem to remember.... feelings more strongly than images, events, or names. Perhaps because of how close feelings are to my domain... Ah, but I am rambling now, am I ?"
She let out a small laugh at that, then continued. "Well, I do believe I could use your help, as you are so kind of extend it... I have prepared a new melody - perhaps you could help me finalize it ? I have not thought of words yet to go along with it, but your opinion of the melody would be appreciated..." And again, Echo became a bit nervous, as she did each and every time she played for another. She certainly was less confident than she used to be on her work, after all, her powers where still so small... Lady_Ourania It was easier to relax once she knew Echo had not felt slighted by her well-meant dissent, the goddess taking it in stride and moving on without an obvious pause in pleasantries. Kishara could not help but warm to the easy pace at which Music took her cues to act or to rein herself in. She only wished that she possessed the same sort of talent, or at least that it could be bottled and applied to some of the situations she stumbled into.
Green eyes widened slightly when her guest spoke of absent memories, forcing Gaia to bite her tongue for a moment so that Echo could explain a little more thoroughly. How frustrating it must have been to recall nothing... and yet how freeing. The same circumstance had allowed Lucius to go against Creation in an attempt to claim him for his own, but she could foresee no such problems from the gentle woman before her. The two were not even slightly relevant to one another she decided as she examined her thoughts more closely. Just because one god's forgetfulness turned against him, that did not mean that Echo would suffer a similar fate.
"I have found that rambling is the centerpiece of any decent conversation." Gaia assured her warmly, "I manage to do it all the time, and often in a far less profound way than you."
Again, the goddess was surprised, perhaps having expected something other than a simple listening session. Still, the possibility made genuine excitement stir in her belly, a chance to hear a song other than the ones she had been singing in the new hours of the morning to take the edge off her heartache. "I would be truly honored to hear it, Lady Echo, though I cannot promise that my ear will be of any use to one such as yourself." Zero Dream "Listening is more than enough, I assure you." Echo smilled and simply nodded, fiddling with the case until she finally freed the guitar from the dark shell. It wasn't exactly the guitar one would expect a goddess to carry - it was well-used, but it had been handled with care and love by both it's owners - the host and the divine - leaving only a few minor scratches on it's surface. It looked like some kind of acoustic/electric hybrid - something quite rare in this world, especially now, the wood stained blue with a few swirl-like designs for decoration. The instrument was precious, fact made evident as the goddess cradled it lovingly in her lap, inspecting the strings for a moment before finally settling in to play.
The melody that followed was soft and easy on the ears, her fingers dancing on the strings in a way mortals could only hope to accomplish with years and years of practice. The goddess was in her element, and it showed, if only simply because of how serene she looked, and by how beautiful and uplifting the melody was. This continued for minutes on end, the goddess not seeming to notice truly how long her creation was. It was just like if she was lost into her own little world.
Finally, the melody grew to an end, and with a final note, Echo peered up at Kishara's face, hoping this had been satisfactory. The truth was sightly different than she had given - that melody had been written especially for the mother, and she was not sure if she would ever perform it for someone else. It had been his idea... his wish for her to do this, do her best to make gaia feel better.
And now she waited, hoping she had achieved just that. Lady_Ourania The guitar was worthy of admiration, a beautiful instrument that Echo obviously cared after meticulously as Kishara watched her guest remove it from the case she had brought along. The goddess leaned back thoughtfully in her seat, delight evident as she watched with a soft, upward slant to her mouth while the guitar was checked over and tuned with a practiced hand. She envied Music the uncomplicated way she ruled over her domain, so easily slipping back into the role she had held before the Fading had driven them all from memory. It was strangely rejuvenating just to watch her, so comfortable in the skin she'd made her own, free and unbound by troubles that might have followed from a life left behind.
Gaia held her breath when Echo began, afraid that an errant exhalation would somehow taint the song that was weaving its pure melody, carrying currents of serenity throughout the four corners of her crowded dwelling. Any periphery noises - the timid rustling of animal refugees, the plants whispering intimate secrets to one another, the creaks and complaints of a room holding far too much life - was either silenced or absorbed into the musical notes, drops of water drawn into the crystalline flow of harmony.
When the song came to a close, Kishara's eyes were half-shut and wet with inexplicable emotion, the peace drifting over her in snowy drops as she lifted one hand to gently rub the tears back into her skin, wondering where her self-consciousness had fled to. Without a word, she rose and quietly went to where Echo sat, gently wrapping her arms around the other's shoulders and embracing her like so many other mothers had for generations.
"Thank you, Echo." Her voice was barely above a whisper, the hush purposeful so as not to dispel any lingering enchantments still hanging in the air from the song. "Thank you." Zero Dream She waited for a moment, still, and a bit nervous, she had to admit. If, while performing her art, she seemed so sure of herself, it was not completely the truth. While freeing, her incomplete memory also brought forth it's own share of uncertainty.
She did not expect the reaction that was given, and was lucky not to drop her instrument in surprise. She let it slip to her side and lean against the chair, however, and buried herself in the embrace that was so freely given.
"It may not be much, but..." She started, in an equally low voice. "Let this be my gift to you. So you know that whenever you need someone, I am here, something to lighten your heart when it grows heavy."
More than ever now, she truly could see and realize that she had a gift, and even with her domain more limited than some of her peers, she held meaning. She had a reason to be there, a reason to exist, a reason to shine.
And it made her happy. Lady_Ourania The returning hug made her tear up again, and Kishara had to fight back any accompanying sobs from the unexpected reprieve. A day that had begun with questions of worth had become something inspiring, an exquisite crescendo when she'd expected a gloomy outcome.
"It is more than you realize," Kishara replied gently, not even considering that the goddess she held was older in body and rebirth. It seemed so right to keep Music in the circle of her arms, like protecting a newborn or a very small child from whatever harm the outside world planned to inflict once they parted ways. "And I am eternally grateful for such a gift, Echo... I do not even pretend to think that I could ever find a way to repay this kindness, but if there is something that you want of me, you may merely ask and it will be yours."
It was unnaturally easy to make such a promise to the dark haired woman, an offer for anything she could give and more if required. Kishara reluctantly eased out of their mutual embrace to allow the other some breathing room, knowing that she had taken her by surprise. And even though she tried to suppress the urge to continue fussing, the Mother began to comb Echo's mussed hair tenderly with her fingers.
Life revived through Song; that seemed somehow entirely appropriate. Zero Dream The difference of ages in rebirth never once crossed Echo's mind. She seemed perfectly content with the role of the small child, safe in her mother's warmth and acceptance. She had made her feel better which, in turn, made her feel better as well.
Likewise, she did not seem to mind when the mother busied herself with her hairs - she simply stayed put, and relaxed.
"There is no need to repay a gift... You should now worry about it." She said with a smile. Lady_Ourania "Nonsense," Kishara disagreed good-naturedly, finally withdrawing once the strands had been resettled into some semblance of their previous style. "One gracious deed deserves another, and there are so few to go around in this place that it seems not only fitting but necessary that it be reciprocated." That was true enough; after all, how many of her brethren were endeavoring toward an empathetic view of their fellows? Her mind strayed momentarily to Lucius before darting away again, not yet ready to lose the heady happiness granted to her only minutes before. The Universe was not permitted to ruin another one of her days just yet, not so soon after Echo had made it worthwhile.
"You need not ask something of me now," She reassured Music, noticing a reluctance to accept her offer and hoping to lessen it with well-phrased words, "Or even soon, for that matter. Just know that I am gladly indebted to you."
The Mother had sensed somewhere during listening that the song had not been an incidental tune, but instead a series of carefully constructed notes used to evoke sensations and emotions specifically for her enjoyment. Surely that was worthy of obligation as well as praise, a melody woven to ease both the troubled heart and soul, something to keep her from faltering into oblivion during what seemed to be the end of days. Zero Dream Echo did not want to upset the mother, of course, or break the moment, so she decided to simply smile. "Fine... if you say so." She answered softly in a similar good-natured tone, giving in the request to allow her to one day return the favor. Who knew... perhaps it may be needed. With time like these, there was no telling when her own determination might fade. Again.
Even if she did not like to think about it...
"I am glad to have been able to help, at least." Her smile became a bit wider. Lady_Ourania It was a relief when Echo finally conceded, the worry that had pinched her gut dissolving into slow warmth when she remembered the notes of Music's gift. It was worth any wish she could grant and more if only for the way it caused her tense muscles to unwind for a reason other than pure exhaustion.
The goddess also had a more selfish reason for forcing the promise to be made: a pact to cement the bond between herself and the kind-hearted goddess so that contact would not be lost the moment she stepped outside her door. It was childish, she knew, the expectancy that once Echo was gone from sight she would also be effectively removed from reality. Even knowing how ridiculous the consideration was, it seemed reluctant to disperse, and so she had entertained the thought long enough to extract a solid vow.
"I am glad that you would have thought to," Kishara replied quietly, the corners of her lips finding their way up in turn. "Few others would bother, or do so even half as well. I have always possessed a soft spot for song of any kind, though I guess that you had already come to such a conclusion on your own."
Her fingers touched the guitar wistfully, the instrument silent for the moment but ever capable of remaking melody. It had been a long while since she had constructed music with anything save her vocal cords. Zero Dream Echo had thought as such, even if the original idea was not her own - after all, had she ever met anyone who openly disliked all music ? Particular styles, yes, but not all of it. She wished she could claim the idea as her own, but she couldn't, yet she was sworn to keep her secret. It was thankfully easy to pretend she had been the sole initiator of the kind gesture.
"I do my best to make people happy... or even sad, sometimes. I make emotions stirr, I don't really think of it as out of ordinary. It is just... what I do. It is my art, my vision, my being." Sometimes, she felt like she could accomplish so little... but at least she could make things happen... like making people smile.
Echo watched the goddess touch her guitar, curiosity intermingling with a bit of amusement as she watched the mother's fingers dance along the varnished wooden surface. Echo obliviously was certain that gaia would not bring any harm to the instrument, as there was no rise of overprotectiveness. "Would you like to hold it ? I can teach you a few cords, if you like." Lady_Ourania She had been reminiscing about the rave in the empty warehouse, the time she had danced freely to the thrumming techno when Pell-mell's own weakness for music had given her momentary reign of their shared form. It had felt so right to move, her feet touching the floor as the beat woke her sleepy senses and vividly displayed the potential of what awaited her once she was legitimately reborn.
Mention of emotions made her nod solemnly, her own experience with the art stretching back far enough that she could understand, if not share in the intensity of what Music was explaining. It caused her to wonder if Echo had ever played for Harmodius, her guitar strumming a tune of choice while she stood unadorned and unquestionably nervous before Him. What could she have invoked in the dark panes of his features? Could musical notes pierce the scabbing over His heart where Lucius had laid his love on the tip of a blade? Would a composition of any sort stop that restless pacing that she could remember so well, or halt the unyielding tirade of chaotic enforcement?
Would her thoughts ever not fall back to Him?
"Such generosity from you, Echo," She took back her hand, remembering her manners too late to do much but sound slightly apologetic for overstepping perceived bounds. "But it is your instrument, the mechanism by which you design yourself. I could not impose." Zero Dream The mother did seem in thought, but in dispice her curiosity, Echo refused to pry - she would listen if she was meant to hear, but sometimes some thoughts are best left to one's mind and their own perception, she knew this well. All too well. Even now she was still longing for...
No, she should stop thinking about it. Just because she was allowed once didn't mean it had true chances to be. Time would tell, but she did not know what she wanted the most - his love, or her rebirth...
Can't have your cake and eat it too.
"Well, if you desire to be technical, the instrument is not really my own." Well, it was now that host and goddess where one... but the guitar would always remain as a distinct proof that Zero had existed... the instrument would officially belong to the teen for all times, as far as she was concerned. "And you are not imposing, please. It has been a long time since I have gotten to teach someone anything. I am willing, if you are." Lady_Ourania Echo seemed preoccupied with her own thoughts for a heartbeat, and Kishara could only wonder if they were traveling down similar tracks to her own. But who would Music be yearning for? There was a tickle in the back of her mind, a memory attempting to reassert itself without a great fuss, but she could find no way to make it more evident. It was far more likely that the dark-haired Edelsteine was thinking of something else entirely, and that Kishara was merely seeking similarity where none existed. Beyond that, she doubted that anyone was foolish enough to resist the sweet-tempered and beautiful goddess' affections. Surely no one could have been so heartless, so callous as to deny her.
The Mother tilted her head in question when Echo admitted that the guitar belonged to another, curious as to whether it had been some worshiping musician's sacrifice to his chosen deity or something else entirely. When the offer was repeated, she laced her fingers together and gave the instrument a second glance, worrying at her bottom lip before returning her attention to Echo.
"If... if it would not be too much trouble." She relented finally, the appeal too strong to ignore given a second chance. "But I make no promises in regards to my aptitude." Kishara couldn't even remember if she'd held a guitar before, much less played one with anything resembling skill. Zero Dream After the other had finally relented, Echo slowly, carefully, started double-checking the tension on the string - very clearly a labor of love - as she answered the unspoken question - she had started, it was only fitting, in her mind, that she goes to the bottom of her thought. "This instument was my host's and will continue to truly remain so even as the ages will march on, a tangible reminder of everything she has taught me. Now, are you right handed or left handed, dear mother ? I find it easier if your stronger hand is the one working the strings on the handle, but it does seem to be a matter of preference..." Lady_Ourania She hadn't expected an answer, though the one that was presented made such perfect sense that Kishara was surprised she had not come up with it on her own. That Echo could speak of her host without a guilty spike warping her tone implied that their acquaintance had been a happy one, a meeting that was nearing an end without an unclean break from one life to an assimilated other. The redhead wondered for a moment if it would be the same between herself and her host-daughter, or if Pell-mell would fight tooth and nail when the time arrived hot on the heels of the latest series of tragedies.I'd really prefer not to think about it, if it's all the same to you.The thought was immediately muffled by a blanket of concern. Of course.
Kishara raised her hands in an effort to distract her split mind, trying to determine which possessed the finer coordination that string instruments so often required. "I would have to say right." She decided finally, remembering that it had been the hand she'd used in the past to catch weapons Gideon had thrown at her with little warning. It had also been what she'd used to unthinkingly lift her tea cup to her lips. The actions seemed almost contradictory in a way, two very different gestures that had somehow become ingrained reflex.
"Your host must appreciate the way you maintain her things so devotedly," Gaia murmured once the decision had been voiced, watching the way Music made certain of the guitar's readiness. It seemed only right that they tend to the material things that their bodies' previous owners had left behind, and the naturalness with which Echo held her host's guitar was an indication of just how close they had become - a mortal legacy made eternal by the divine touch of a goddess. Zero Dream Of course, the mother could not guess that she was actually talking to both host and goddess, that their mind and soul has merged into one solid being with characteristics of both, the goddess being more proeminent. She could also not see or guess that the reason for this initially was not a positive one - and for that, Echo was glad.
After finishing the tuning, Echo got up to hand the guitar over. "This is something I felt I needed to do... And it bought her comfort, so it was all for the better." She paused, gentely placing the guitar on Kishara's lap, pondering silently where she was supposed to begin. It had been so long since she had taught anyone, and Zero did not count, since she had all done it subconsciously.
"Well, first of all... You create sound variations by holding the strings on top." She said, crouching beside the mother and pointing at the top of the guitar. "Depending on which of those cords your fingers are holding up here, the sound will be different when you play the cords in the middle." Avoiding the technical terms would be best, she thought. Lady_Ourania Kishara held the guitar tentatively, tightening her grip only when Echo released it so that the instrument would not drop with a cacophonous crash to the floor. The strings twanged slightly at her touch, quieting immediately when she adjusted her grip to overlay the quivering lines and give her a chance to listen to Music's instruction. It had seemed a simple task to play when in the other Edelsteine's hands, but Gaia was well-aware of just how deceiving such ease was to the untrained eye - Echo had a previous lifetime of competence as well as endless practice on her side; Kishara would consider herself lucky if she didn't cause nearby ears to bleed.
She leaned over the guitar to peer at what Echo was motioning toward, wetting her lips nervously as she considered the thickness of the cords being referred to along the dark neck of the instrument. She wasn't certain whether the distinct lack of terminology was purposeful or not, but the goddess was grateful to know that she would not be quizzed on her knowledge later. Echo hardly seemed the type to affirm her lessons with tests of any kind.
Still, it was a very tranquil start to their lesson with the plants shushing any disruptive animal noises and the air crisp and clean to breathe. And even though she did not wish to disappoint her newest teacher, she was intent on keeping relaxed. Zero Dream Echo remained silent for a moment, the goddess herself visibly not knowing exactly where to start. To perform was one thing, but to teach... How did she do this, again ? The knowledge behind the fact eluded her - and in turn, upset her a bit. She found herself mimicking gaia's lip-licking motion without really thinking about it, thanking the calm, laidback environment which was prime for thought. There where so many things that where instinct for her that she now had to put into words and it proved itself to be harder than she had anticipated. It's in my head, it just won't come out... She wasn't going to go into sheet music and actual notes - at least not just yet.
"I apologize - it has been so long. I need to get my thoughts back in order..." She said, barely above a whisper. "Ah, well, something to keep in mind - there is actually a specific order to which guitar cords are aligned. If you look closely, the thickest cord is at the bottom and they get thinner as you go up. This help with creating different sounds. Also, the pattern of cords on the hilt creates a rectangular grid, see ? Depending on which corner of the "grid" you are holding the string the sound will be different." She really wished she had another guitar right now... Instead, hoping she was not being too foward, her hands met the mother's to guide her along the instrument, holding down the top cord and producing a note. "Like this. I find myself lacking both sheet music and another instrument, so I apologize for improvising slightly. I am not going to get into reading sheet music or more advanced things unless you wish to, at a later date... This will be more of a rundown of the basics than anything else, I fear." A pause. "...I do not seem to remember how I used to teach other my art before the fading as clearly that I had hoped. I apologize." Lady_Ourania It was only when the quiet stretched out longer than she'd suspected it would that Gaia returned her leafy gaze to Echo, immediately lowering her stare when she saw what was amiss. Kishara pondered a way to help the struggling goddess, but she had never instructed anyone, mainly because her abilities were not something that needed to be passed down. Most of her domain was based on instinct, on inevitability and existence; it was not a subject that anything alive was unable to engage in. Beyond that, the closest experiences she could name were the occasional speaking lessons she'd given Milo, and those had always ended abruptly and devoid of apparent results. The little boy seemed more interested in developing his own loose version of language, and considering some of the ridiculous rules she could glean from Persephone's memory of a brief schooling, Kishara had decided not to actively pursue the matter.
After a few seconds of thought, she recognized that there was no sense in heightening Music's distress in an effort to help, even if it was well-meant and gentled by their budding bond. She could not force the situation to become more comfortable for her companion, no matter how she might have liked the idea.
When the predicament was finally voiced aloud, Kishara offered the goddess a reassuring smile, her patience not the least bit tried. When the lessons began anew, she tilted her head to listen and look with a student's open curiosity. There was no objection when her hands were taken, and she allowed Echo to manipulate her fingers so that a note was produced, a flicker of excitement crossing over her face for the progress. It was a long way from mimicking Echo's beautiful performance, but it was an important step, and it produced a dawn colored wave of pleasure to rise up from her belly and brush her heart.
"You need not apologize so profusely, Echo." Kishara reminded her softly when several forms of forgiveness were requested in the same stumbling observation. "Truly, I am grateful for anything you are willing to teach me, and if we both happen to learn during the process, then that will merely make the result all the sweeter." Zero Dream Echo could not help but smile - the mother was right, of course. This was an occasion to be able to learn from one another, together... which was not especially a bad thing, even if she felt she should have more control over her realm. But then, memory is a fickle thing, so easily altered and erased by the ages... Maybe one day she may remember. Perhaps she may never. Who knew ? And if she did, it was possible that the new method she would learn would be even better than the old one...
Their lessons continued for hours, and when Echo finally watched the window, she could see the sky reddening with the sun's decent, day leaving to make place for the night. "Oh, has it been so long already ?" The young goddess pondered. "I fear it will have to be it for today, as I must get going soon." She gave the mother a warm smile. "That was a lovely afternoon... thank you." Lady_Ourania The transition from day to night had escaped Kishara's notice as well until Music spoke, distracting her from the faltering song she'd been plucking from the borrowed guitar's strings. The redhead caught up the smile with one of her own, a little glad for the reprieve as her fingertips had begun to ache noticeably, unused to persuading instruments to play for long.
"It was time well spent," Gaia replied, depositing the guitar in its case and snapping it shut before holding it out to its rightful owner. "But why should you think to thank me? I was not the one giving lessons," She paused reflectively, a pink stain taking up residence on her cheeks when something occurred to her. "And I am quite certain that I was unsuccessful in providing for you as one of my valued guests. I was so entranced by the thought of learning..." The Mother appeared genuinely troubled by the oversight, a small frown touching her lips as she glanced outside in thought, gaze taking in the mutated colors of a chaos damaged twilight.
"If you are returning to your home, I would be more than glad to accompany you there to make amends for my negligence. It would be the very least I could do, and it is not safe to walk without an escort so close to nightfall."
Kishara was aware that she hardly looked the part of a bodyguard, her slender build even less imposing than Echo's more shapely frame. But Gideon's training had taken its toll and she felt comfortable in the knowledge that any assailants out on the road would find themselves painfully stunned if they encountered the duo in the dark. Gaia pursed her lips when she revised her thoughts a mere second later, knowing that such a favorable scenario would only occur if their hypothetical attackers did not have the familiar coffin tattoo drawn out on their faces. Zero Dream Echo took the case as it was handed with care, sliding it on her back while making sure that the strap went to her front properly, nothing to bring a pick the next time, or to always carry some on her person. The goddess had forgotten that untrained fingers tended to disagree to long exposure to guitar strings.
The goddess seemed throughly confused with the words that followed. "There was nothing wrong with your hospitality, dear mother - I have thoughtfully enjoyed my time in your company. There are no apologies or amends that need to be given, but a companion on the way back would trully be appreciated, if you insist." But then, who would see the goddess herself back to the pantheon ? "And you may also spend the night if you wish, there is in fact plenty of room, if you so desire." Or maybe ask Ishum and Tempo to see her home if she declined. This was starting to look like a plan indeed... Lady_Ourania "You are too kind, Echo." She shook her head slightly, once again thankful for how polite the gentle goddess could be toward her even after the inconsiderate lapse of manners. "And yes, I think I will insist, though I am sure you are more than capable of arriving there unscathed on your own. It would merely make me feel at ease if there was no question as to your wellbeing." Kishara reminded herself that her presence did not necessarily mean that they would be any safer, but it was still preferable to one unarmed woman walking along dimly lit streets.
Gaia was considering bringing along a concealed weapon for the return trip when Music's suggestion to stay at her residence caught her ear, and she worried at her lower lip, immediately wondering if Echo had somehow heard the brutal thought. "I do not believe that would be necessary, dear Music," She decided after a moment, aiming a warm glance at her guest. "But I do appreciate the offer."
She nearly grabbed her cloak before thinking better of it, recognizing that the night would be warm enough without the addition of layers. Instead, the winged redhead opened the door and waited patiently for Echo to deem herself ready, butterfly wings fluttering softly as though hoping to disperse some of the darkness already gathered in the hall. Zero Dream The goddess simply nodded, and followed suit. She couldn't force her to stay, even if the idea of the mother making her way back to the pantheon alone was not an appealing one. But then... Asking Ishum to follow her, even if unseen, won't be all that hard... He would probably do it himself even if she gave no word of it.
Echo followed out of the door, the small wave which formed her wings buzzing in a low, pleasant tone. "Let us get going then ? Before it is too dark."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:05 pm
Running In Circles And Going Nowhere Fast It had been ages, it felt, since the dark haired goddess had seen the mother, and in that span of time she had achieved... nothing at all.
Of course she had tried - she would spend days secluded, or surrounded with the numerous cats Ishum seemed so good at bringing home, most of them coming and going as they would as strays, trying to write or think, but nothing would be to her fancy. It would always be a note too high, a note too low, this sentence would sound off key, or that play of words wasn't right...
To be short, her muses seemed to have deserted her. Or one in particular, she eventually noticed. Even Kishara's song had been finished quickly, in a bout of inspiration, before he had left. Selfishly, the absence of tea was not helping - she has resolved herself to do much the same as the mother, only allowing herself her favorite herbal drink every now and then, as she found it a bit too hard to abstain completely. If she closed her eyes long enough, it seemed like she could still hear him walking around the house, still feel a colder touch on her hand, still feel his lips on hers...
There was a small nuzzle that brought her to reality - brought her back to laying on the living room couch, a faceful of starry fur to her left as Vertigo (who, with the venue of other cats, seemed to have become more possesive of "his human" ) nested himself right in front of her. She gently nuzzled back the feline with the tip of her nose as he started purring.
At this rate... she would have done nothing when he would return. This wasn't exactly what she wanted to happen, yet...
It also dawned on her that she had no idea what mortals wanted. With gods, it was easier - call them a bit old-fashioned, but the same old formula always seemed to work.
But mortals ? In the time she was gone, her art survived, evolved, changed... Things she did not totally have a grasp about, having chosen to discard most of Zero's memories at the merging to respect her privacy.
She let out a small groan, which was mostly muffled by cat fur. That was just great. Not only did she have no muse and no inspiration, she had no idea where to start with.
In Zero's words, she seemed properly screwed. But there had to be a way...
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:06 pm
Those Waiting Behind Thabara As quietly as he could Ishum opened the door to Echo's dwelling, and just as quietly he tiptoed inside, not letting go of the furry ball of fluff which was wiggling impatiently in his left arm until he had locked the door behind himself. "There you go," he murmured soothingly, finally setting the light blue kitten onto the ground. It blinked at him with large confused eyes, seeming somewhat perplexed that it had actually gotten that large person to do what it wanted. Then it let out a tiny mew, the fizzling 'antenna' on its head bopping up and down slightly, and set out to curiously explore it's new surroundings. The aoide smiled as he watched her wander off, absently rubbing the claw marks on his arms. That little fluffball had been quite insistant on that it wanted down. Rather satisfied with himself for the moment, he wandered into the kitchen, opening the cupboard where he had stored the cat food. Vertigo had to be hungry by now, and his new friends as well.. Zero Dream As soon as he did just that, the beastmaster found himself surrounded by a couple meowing and purring heads, some sitting to look at him expectingly, others rubbing themselves on his legs in affection. The opening of the cupboard had became a cat alarm sign recently.
Following the cat mob was a familiar figure, who was gently scratching the underside of the kitten's chin and then let go at the first sign of wriggling, letting her join the rest. Echo wasn't too surprised - after all, asking Ishum not to being anything cute, fluffy, and apparently in harm home was like asking Alto to start singing. The beastmaster's presence was benefic in the way that it kept the goddess from being stuck in a lovesick and uninspired mood all day.
"Looks like your furry friends ruined your stealthy entrance." The goddess said, an amused tone settling in her voice. "How has today been ?" Thabara My, my, had he really brought back so many of them, or had they multiplied somehow while he'd been away..? Careful to not accidentally step on any tails Ishum knelt down, petting a head here, scratching a neck there before he opened the first can of food for his furry little horde. "Fine, I guess? Kishara is as sweet a mistress as one could ever hope to have, and Milo - that werewolf pup - is simply adorable. Full of mischief though." He smirked, obviously not disapproving of the boy's antics. "I met Love - he hasn't changed at all - and I made a new friend on the way back." He pointed at the light blue kitten, bearing a slightly guilty look on his face. But really only slightly guilty. "Guess she introduced herself to you already. How has your day been, my Lady?" It had not escaped him that the goddess seemed rather distracted and uninspired lately, and he did not have to ask what the reason for her drop in mood might be. Zero Dream "I do hope they are well." She said, pondering. Love... which of the two ? But for him to talk this way... "Ah, you have seen Rio ? He is quite charming, but with him being Love, I guess it is kind of a given. I trust he is still well ?" To remain so optimism even in the light of recent times... such a blessing, that she often wished she had.
The slightly guilty look on the beastmaster's face, as always, amused her quite a little. "Have you thought of a name yet ? I believe Concerto named the last one, so it would be up to you again. As for my day..." She slid into thoughts for a moment, not really wanting to say that she had spent the day trying to write, and had, again, came out of it with nothing of worth. "Well, mostly similar to each other days lately. I should try going on walks more." But then Tempo, in his overprotectiveness, rarely did approve with that. Thabara "As well as they can be, given the circumstances," Ishum replied, casting a quick sidewards glance the window. It was always such a relief to be allowed into Gaia's chambers which were thriving with life and greenery, when he'd spent most of the day exploring the ruined town trying to scrounge up something nice which would please either goddess - be it seeds, homeless forlorn pets which had managed to survive somehow until now, or-- Oh, he definitely needed to sit together with Alto and his brothers about that last discovery he'd made. "And Lord Desiderio is quite well indeed - he sends his greetings, by the way." He gave her a friendly nod, and went to dump the empty cans into the garbage can - for a short while the only sound to be heard was the content purr of a dozen feline throats, and busy slurping and munching. And, of course, the soft hum Echo's wings gave off. "How about, uhm, Aliah?" he suggested after a little bit of thinking. "It means 'sky', if I remember right, and I think that's sort of fitting for the little one." "A walk might do you good," he agreed. "Perhaps you will find something which inspires you.. It is dangerous, there's no denying that, but if you wanted to you could borrow Cerberus for a bit? I'm sure any malicious creature out there - be it man or beast - would think twice about attacking you with them around. I definitely think you need to get out a bit, find something to do for you.." He paused, thinking. There was something he'd been wanting to ask her for a while, and after meeting Rio today.. Hm. Zero Dream "That does sounds fitting indeed." Echo crouched, giving pats and nuzzles to the gathered feline horde that seemed to have pretty much taken over her house with the weeks.
The idea of walking Cerberus on a leash was in fact... a bit alien and a bit scary all that once. "Hmmm... maybe. Or perhaps you could come along if you find the time... ?" She would definitively feel safer with the aoide handling the hounds. Then she perked in curiosity. "About my what ?" Thabara "Of course I could," he nodded, though the reasoning behind her request escaped him. The thought that she might fear the Cerberus was just as foreign to him as the idea to walk them on a leash. "About your, uhm," Ishum struggled for words, closing his mouth just in time before the word 'lovesickness' could slip. "Well, you seem kind of down lately," he finally said with a shy little smile. "And it's really not hard to guess why. I miss him too." Zero Dream "Oh, I figure at this point it's not really worth trying to hide it, is it ?" The goddess spoke, sadness sweeping in her melodious voice for a moment. "I do believe all of you guessed, anyway. I do not think I have ever been any good at lying." She said, standing again and motioning at the window to stare out at the dark sky, with a few curious felines trailing her walk to hide among the silk of her robes as thunder sounded off in the distance. Ishum had came home at the right time, it seemed.
"It feels like that creative spark in me left as he did... At this rate, he will come back, and he will see that I have accomplished... nothing." Thabara "Well.. you could say that Nergal kicked us all out under a false pretense to have some alone time with you on the day before he left was a dead giveaway there was something going on." There was a mischievous twinkle to his eyes for a moment - it had been so terribly hard to not sneak back and take a peek that day - but his features quickly grew serious again when he became aware of the sadness that tinged the goddess' voice. How long had Nergal been gone now? Over a month now, nearing two almost - and so far there had been no word from him, no message. No wonder she was worried. "No going out for a walk today I guess," the aoide muttered when the first roll of a thunder in the distance reached his pointed ears. "Wouldn't want to get caught up in the weather." He made a face. Rain and thunderstorms had used to be fun before Destruction came along and screwed everything up. "Uhm, there's something I've been I've been wanting to ask you for a while now.. The other half of this house - it's currently not being used by anyone, is it?" He leaned back against the counter, his wings wiggling a little nervously. But this was probably as good a time as any to step forward and present the idea which had been lurking in his mind for a while now. "Just asking, because.. well, see, my Lord has not yet chosen a residence of his own. I very much doubt he'd take up lodging in the Pantheon unless he absolutely has to, so I've been looking around a little. There are more than enough vacant residences - thanks to our Evil Overlord - but I think.. I think he'd like to live close to you, Lady." He blushed a little and looked down, wondering if he had been too forward with his suggestion. Zero Dream "Oh, did he ? I had no idea." It had probably been the best thing to do, with what happened back there. "But there is still nothing definite." She said, deep blue eyes returning to the beastmaster. "Until some... things are staightned out... There will be nothing but friendship between us." After all, if Ishum was going to babble, let him babble the right thing. "But don't tell him I told you about that, will you ?" A hint of a smile formed on her lips. Sometimes she forgot that Ishum was in fact an aoidei, one not in her service at that. But in despise his running mouth, he made a great confident.
She let him speak his thought completely, repressing her giggle as clear skin started to turn beet red. Oh, Ishum... what a sweetheart. "I do not see why not." She finally said, pondering a moment. "I have offered it to the boys multiple times and they all refuse to take it. And I doubt they are going to change their mind anytime soon. But some work will need to be done there, some dusting at least. It has been inhabited for over a year now, hm. And a fresh coat of paint would not hurt, but that can wait." Thabara "I know.. it's about the Mistress isn't it?" Ishum sighed heavily. "I.. wish there was something I could do.. But don't you worry, not a word to him. My lips are se-- sealed. In fact I am most honored that you would chose to confide in me so." He flourished a bow, hoping the goddess hadn't noticed the tiny pause in his choice of words. He beamed when he heard his idea was approved of - he had so hoped it would! "Well, some furniture wouldn't hurt, I guess," he suggested cheerfully, "and some things to make it look nice. And there's no reason to not repaint the walls, I'm quite sure I can scrounge up everything needed." The aoide nodded enthusiastically. Zero Dream Her right eyebrow raising sightly was enough sign to tell that the goddess had, in fact, noticed. But she seemed to quickly pretend she had not - it wasn't her business anyway, and it did not seem like the beastmaster would be keen to speak of it.
"Oh, I do not worry about it." After all, Ishum seemed talented with finding almost anything he wanted. "And... I do not think there is anything either of us can do, beside watching and letting things follow their course..." She sighed softly. "...I miss her." Thabara "I miss her as well.. I wonder what happened back then, why She never returned.. Or maybe She did - I wouldn't know since I.. haven't been around til the very end," Ishum admitted quietly, apparently ashamed of what he had just confessed. "Lord Nergal.. When it became apparent that the Underworld could not be saved by any means.. he told us to flee, to save ourselves. Which I did. Maybe I shouldn't have? But maybe then I wouldn't be here now.." He looked at Echo, his eyes filled with uncertainty. He picked up one of the cats, cradling it against his chest and petting its soft fur. "As for my Lord's dwelling.. How about you compile a list of what is needed, and then we all go looking for it once the weather clears up? It might be fun - and who knows, inspiration might finally strike you while we are looking for a, uhm, a sofa for example! Then you could write a song about furniture, or something." He smiled and winked, obviously joking. Zero Dream Echo remained silent for a moment. "Well... I believe you did the right thing, Ishum. I... think I would have asked the same if something similar was to happen, even if I doubt any of them would have listened... Beside, it wasn't for nothing, no ? I certainly would be sad without your company." And Nergal would have had one less to rely on in a time where he definitively needed it - admit it or not, the beastmaster had proved himself very useful, but she decided it was better not to speak for him. "You where told to do something, and you did. I doubt anyone can hold it against you."
She couldn't help it this time - a low, musical giggle escaped from her throat. "A song about furniture, you say ?" She tapped the side of her face with a finger in fake-thought. "Oh, oh mighty sofa, he who seat our behinds constantly without a care... ...Doesn't sound quite right, does it ?" She could barely finish her sentence as laughter took over, sounding like a thousand of tiny, melodious bells. Thabara "You are too kind, Lady." Ishum smiled, but he didn't look entirely convinced. "It's just that.. he might have been all alone, when he.." The aoide's voice trailed off before he finished the sentence, but from the context it was fairly obvious what he would have said next. Faded. Died. Perished. There were too many words for it.. It was hard to stay solemn for long though, once one heard Music's laughter. "Well, there's still songs about dusting, or painting, or--" He flinched when the room was suddenly lightened unnaturally bright by a lightning and his last words were drowned in thunder. He hadn't noticed how quick the dark clouds had moved towards town while he had been chatting with the goddess. "Geez, that was close." Zero Dream "....It is possible that he might." She said, unable to find anything to really counter that. "As I might have been. For all I know, I might have sent them away. Would you blame any of my aoidei for this ? If not... then you should not really blame yourself." Echo continued, softly. "And with this, he was not alone in rebirth, where each and any of us need a little bit of guidance, even if we like to admit it or not."
The goddess was definitively startled by the thunder and lighting, her "wings" taking on rather unusual spikes for a moment before returning to normal. Most of the cats had poofed up into upset fluffball and taken refuge under nearby furniture. "Oh dear...." She sighed. "I am glad you made it before the storm began. This one looks particularly nasty." With everyone accounted for under the roof, at least she didn't have to worry. Too much. Thabara "I.." For a little while the aoide visibly struggled to find the right words. "Thank you," he finally mouthed quietly, giving the goddess a shy smile. He thought back at how long and desperate he had searched for his lord, only find him counsciousless and severely injured from a deep fall. If he had not been there at that time.. "I think you are right." "I guess I'll better go check on Aria," he said, after glancing out of the window once more. The goddess was right, this storm did look nasty - he sincerely hoped Nergal was way out of its range right now. "She's probably off to someplace safe - wherever she goes to feed, I guess - but still.. Just to make sure." Cerberus and the two siirae would no doubt be alright - weather like this never bothered them much. Zero Dream Echo only smiled in answer, glad she did something to at least lessen the aoide's doubt. She hated to see Ishum worried, or sad... He had grown to be a close friend of hers, and she would do about anything to see that smile.
"Yes..." She answered at least, worry etched on her soft face. "But... be careful, please ?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:06 pm
An Old Record Shop It hadn't taken long for the aoidei to talk, and Ishum's "discovery" to manifest itself : a old, dusty shop hidden at the end of an alley that had gone unvisited for quite some time - the shop had closed years ago, actually, as far as anyone could tell, and held something that was bound to interest the goddess - music. "Lady Echo, why not let us bring them home instead of you coming all the way there ? I fear this may be quite dangerous..." "Shhh. I doubt anything is going to attempt to eat us in a old shop, Tempo. But do stay close, if you prefer." Echo answered softly - having passed on long silk gowns for the time being and instead went trough Zero's old clothes, wearing a simple tanktop and capris - and looking surprisingly mundane as she reached to open the door carelessly. Being outside of those four walls only could do her good... and thankfully the lock had already been taken care of, Ishum's work, probably. She still had to thank him for the discovery - as soon as Alto had informed her, she had changed and went straight out the door. She peered inside as soon as she had enough space to poke in her head, ignoring Alto's pleading to just be careful - she was way too excited and curious to think of safety of all things - and paused for a moment, only coming inside as her bodyguard nudged her to continue on, staring blankly. There where boxes, countless boxes, colorful cardboard envelopes of some kind, some strange machines she couldn't recognize... and dust, fact that made her wrinkle her nose. She blinked for a moment. By "music shop" she had expected - what else - instruments, books of sheet music... But the goddess wasn't quite sure what to make of this. Eventually her lovely features turned into a downright childish pout. "That's no music shop..." Finally, she stepped inside, taking one of the envelopes, blowing the dust off it, and extracting a black disk from it. "And now what is this..."Thankfully, the aoide was more informed as far as more... modern means of distributing musics where concerned. Modern being used loosely of course. "Actually, my lady, it seems like this is a record shop." "A record shop ?" The goddess echoed her servant's last few words, peering at him curiously. "What do you mean, Tempo ?""What I mean is that there is actually music on those disks. These are an old model, but it is a relatively recent human invention that allows one to record music on those, well, records, which can afterward be sold and be listened at will without the need of a musician to come play for them." "Oh, kind of like Zero's little box that plays music when you push a button, but bigger ?" She flipped the record in her hands, inspecting it as if expecting to see notes engraved on the plastic. She seemed a bit septic of this whole thing. "But there's just lines... Where are the notes ? Where are the instruments ?"Alto had to resist rolling his eyes. Oh, sometimes... the lady could be a bit... clueless. Mostly when things like this where presented to her. "Just let me show this to you, if those players still work..." He dusted the nearest one with a long sleeve, extending the other hand as Echo handed him in the record and went over the counter where the player sat, not bothering to dust the stool before she sat, peering at the record player as if it was the strangest gizmo she had seen yet. And to think, they where nowhere near cassette tapes and cds yet... And she still could not figure out just how her host's mp3 player worked beyond "push the button and it plays things". The goddess watched on, and her sapphire blue eyes widened with surprise as notes came out of the old machine. Those mortals could be so crafty... amazing, even ! She had never thought about something like this... "Wonderful ! Oh, that is amazing." She spoke, closing her eyes to listen to the music, head bobbing sightly along the tune. "What the h-" Tempo coughed to cover up the word that almost escaped. "What -is- this ? It doesn't sound like an instrument at all !" "But it is music, no ? Where did you take it ?" She opened her eyes, peering at the stands. Thankfully, they where all labeled for their convinence (and probably for the convinence of the former customers.) She pointed at the one that said "Techno". "Wasn't it there ? Maybe they are labeled by type of musics ? Techno, uh...""I would seem so." After all, he recognized a few of those terms. "If I remember well from Alto's studies... You know, he tends to go to libraries in his free time ? Well, he said that records tend to be still popular with some artists even as they where replaced by newer, "better" technologies - it would make sense that some of those might be more recent." That and it wouldn't surprise him if there was a section with cds in the second room he could see - doubtful a shop like this would have gotten this big selling only records... "There's so many of them..." Echo almost seemed like she hadn't heard a thing her aoidei had said, stuck in awe. So many different areas, mediums... Some with words, some without. Then, it hit her. This was it. This was her goldmine. She could learn from what was in this shop, learn what people in this age enjoyed and thus... Bring them happiness. Bring them hope. And, who knew... bring herself some new followers. Create a new age of musical creativity. This was just it. This was the perfect place to start. "My lady... ?" Alto's voice was what broke her from her daydream. "Are you listening ? We should go home, I fear another storm is rousing." "Ah... yes, you are right." She stopped the record player with a sigh. This music, this "techno", was great listening, usually a loop of the same notes used differently, and she found it created a rather non-obtrusive background for thinking. Nodding to Alto, she headed toward the door, not willing to leave, but not really wanting to be caught in the storm. But it didn't matter now. She had a plan.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:08 pm
The Plan Forms Itself The day after, she was, once again, back to that abandoned store. Alto and Tempo followed suit behind the one they served - their younger brother had decided to go with Ishum to help find paints, furniture, and supplies to help with the cleaning and filling of the inhabited half of her house. She had not yet peeked to see what was going on inside, but she had complete faith that the two would accomplish something great. She still had a look similar to a child approaching a toystore as she opened the door and slid in with great care of not knocking anything down the selves, or to make sure not to bump in any boxes. It looked almost like the owner was packing before something... happened. Echo was doing her best not to think too much about that one detail - with the amount of dust, the owner's fate seemed nothing positive... Knocking those thoughts out of her mind, she watched as the two aoidei, in turn, discovered their surroundings. Alto expecially, has he had not been there, and the mute aoidei seemed very amazed with exactly how much things there was in there. He then set off to open a box and figure out what was inside. "Why, instead of keeping on coming here.... Why don't we just carry a few of those records and disks home ?" The black-haired aoidei mused. Echo, of course, was focused - she often only left when darkness had felt, and he could forsee this becoming dangerous. "There are alot of the machines used to read them - we could take one of each." From his little corner-box, Alto nodded. He'lld love to explore this in a familiar setting ! "But..." The goddess bit her lip, as she was setting one of the huge black disks on the reader. "That would be stealing ! We can't really do that, can we ?""The shop's obliviously abandoned." Tempo sighed. She was being all righteous again. "We could leave money behind, but it's going to be of little use if no one's there to take it. And if we see the shop ever re-open, we can make due then." Echo listened while finishing her work, lip in a pout. She was sure she had remembered how to do this. "...Maybe you're right." After all, the boys where doing something very similar with the furniture and that didn't bother her one bit. But she forgot all about it and beamed when the device finally produced sound. Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, Now it looks as though they're here to stayWhat it is ? Alto signed with obivious interest. "It says "The Beatles"" Tempo said. "It's pretty good, for mortal music." "Oh, yush, you're obiviously spoiled." Echo winked at a now speechless aoidei. Now it looks as though they're here to stay, Oh, I believe in yesterday
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be, There's a shadow hanging over me. Oh, I yesterday came suddenly...Echo closed her eyes, focusing on the cords behind the words. It was a relief to see that there was still most guitar-driven and softer things - most of the "techno" thing where computerized sounds - not a bad thing (even if Tempo would protest) but nothing really in her range. Music was more that it used to be - it had gone trough an evolution of distinct kinds instead of what was now considered classical. There where new instruments, new ways to mix things, technology mingled with art. And, strangely, Echo did not feel like it was a bad thing. It might have evolved outside her control, but it was still music. It still convived thoughts and emotiions. The very soul of her art was still present. And she was glad. She could do this, she was assured now. All that she had to do was think. Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say, I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday... "Yes..." The goddess spoke to herself as the two servants eyed each other, clueless of the thoughts that emerged in the mind of the one they served. All she needed was a place. A public place, of easy access. Then she needed time, and inspiration. She strongly felt like she held the final point right now. Hours passed, and Echo had listened to various records (mostly those Beatles - she seemed to like them) while the aoidei where packing boxes to carry home - obliviously she had finally cracked and allowed herself to take a small sample. They would carry a little bit of every genre home, where she could sample at will as she would write. Inspiration coming for art itself - it all seemed strongly fitting. She would create something new, now knowing what mortals now expected of her. Still, she found herself leaving a few coins on the counter after her companions where out the door, and the way out, she hummed to herself. "I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday..."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:09 pm
You never dreamed
you'd have to love your life so guarded,
cause they'll find a way
to make you feel discarded
"Tommorow" - SR-71 Learning The Hard Way It hadn't been a good idea, she realized now, as she tried to navigate in the pitch darkness. She had acted on impulsion and now she was paying the price. She had been so restless - the aoidei gone to find furniture and paint for what would become Nergal's own place, and being alone with the cats had turned out to be boring. She was only going to the record shop, after all ! Nothing could happen, right ? But she had gotten so involved with the music that she had forgotten the time. What had been an early afternoon had turned into a late night and she was trying to find her way home, mentally cursing herself for not even bothering to change beforehand - long, silk robes are beautiful, but not especially practical in this case. But being alone at night was rarely a good idea, especially at the height of the age of destruction... Echo only noticed too late that she was being followed. The intruder bid his time, and then he striked, and the first thing the gentle goddess knew, her side met with a stone wall, and there was a knife on her throat. Paralyzed by surprise and fear, she didn't think about even resisting at all. She could feel his other hand searching trough her form, visibly looking for something.... but what ? She could hear him finally grunt in disapproval. "All this hunting and you've got no money ?! Disappointing. But..." His voice lowered, and the goddess could feel the man's breath at her neck, and the feeling of the cold blade caressing her cheek. "But I've still got you, don't I ? I guess I still got lucky after all." He purred, letting the blade wander down her arm, almost as if he was sizing her up like a nice piece of meat. She tensed then, tried to fight it, but then she felt the blade sink in her arm and screamed before a hand went to shut her up quite roughly. "Shhh, toy. If you scream, ill have to cut your pretty throat and we don't want that, do we ? Just stay put, cutie. Just stay put and you can go." A lie, he knew. She would have to die like all the others, less she go blabbering. It would be a shame to tear apart her fancy robe - he could probably at least sell that for a lovely amount of cash to make up for her having none on her person - so he slowly started to slide one sleeve off her shoulder... *** This couldn't be happening. This couldn't damned be happening. She couldn't have been so careless... Yet, it was so possible that she had been, too absorbed into whatever she was doing to notice. If it had been daytime, Tempo wouldn't have been anywhere near as worried. After all, he had found no worry into letting her go to the nearby pantheon and back as the mood caught her. But it was night... And Echo was nowhere to be found, and even if he had an idea of where she was, he couldn't help but panic. She was a goddess, yes, but she was not a fighter. She was lovely, fragile in his mind, almost like a porcelain doll. There was a pit in the bottom of his stomach that kept growing as he ran down the street, having lost his brothers and Ishum somewhere in his frantic street and alley-searching, but the hounds followed his trail closely - Cerberus might have been able to smell her down, hopefully - and then he stopped, blood freezing in his veins as he heard the scream. He could have recognized that voice, that pitch, among millions. His eyes narrowed, both hands went to twin knives (he had been lucky to find them in a abandoned weapon shop) and darted in the direction of the scream, momentarily thanking his goddess for the keen hearing he had developed along the years. He would not fail again. He would die before he would fail again ! *** She felt so weak. So useless, yet anger started to boil, deep inside her. Mortals didn't look like they where worth saving now. But then one small part of her mind remained coherent and whispered. They're not all like this... Remember Melody. Remember her father. Remember Memi. Aislinn. Aislinn. Nergal. What would Nergal do if he saw her gone ? It had been so easy to guess the man was lying about sparing her still mortal life. It was way too stupid for him to allow her to live, if he had her way. Had she come so far, sacrificing a human soul to be reborn, only to die here ? What about Alto, Tempo, Concerto ? Ishum ? Revei ? Kishara ? No, she could not die here, and fear was suddenly replaced by blind determination and survival instinct. You are a goddess. Defend yourself !And then she screamed. Not a scream of pain, neither a scream of rage. A scream so high-toned it was unnatural, banshee-like. And deafening. The man staggered back, and Echo listened to her instincts - she kneed him in the stomach and ran. She ran as fast as she could, doing her best not to trip in her dress as she did so - she could already hear him regain composure while muttering curses. She knew it too well - if he caught her, it would be over. She wouldn't have another chance like that. She had to stop thinking about the deep gash in her arm, and how the side that had slammed on the wall stung - this would leave behind nasty bruises - no, no, DON'T THINK ABOUT IT ! Then she tripped. That was it. It was over, wasn't it ? But instead of landing on hard cement, arms caught her, and in her daze she did not recognize the markings, nor the clothing just yet. Where they friend or foe ? She didn't care at the moment. It was over - in one way or another. She buried her face in the stranger's chest and let the events unfold themselves. She had no strength left to give. Que sera sera. Then there where sounds, crystal clears. Hounds rushed by, and suddenly a scream followed by sounds that threatened to make her stomach turn. Bones snapping, skin pulling. Clearly this man would no longer be terrorizing anyone. But, hounds ? Ishum ? No... There where no telltale golden wings and pale hair. Her savior was cloaked in black. Tempo. She sighed, sigh that was soon followed by his own. Relief. "Can you walk, my lady... ?" Tempo tried to stay calm, but his panic swiped trough his voice. Echo swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. She had allowed herself to be so careless... "I- I believe so. H-Help me home, please, Tempo... Oh god, Tempo..."The porcelain doll was cracked, but at least she still stood. The aoidei wanted to scream, ask precisely why the hell she had done this - but then he saw his goddess, his lady, his life, shaking in his arms, and he knew now was not the time. He stood and he carried her home, even if she had said she could watch, fleeing the bloodied alley where the Cerberus devoured his prey.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:10 pm
I feel
guilty
My words are empty
No signs to give you
don't have the time for you
"Guilty" - The Rasmus Broken They had made it home, eventually meeting with the others on the way. There where rushed gasps and panicked voices asking her if she was okay, then silence, silence until they made it home and Tempo started to bandage the cut on her arm. She winced as it was disinfected, and let the stained robe drop to the floor. She was vaguely aware of Alto coming by and leaving with the garment, hopefully to erase all trace of the blood. But right now she didn't care about it at all - she had escaped with her life. She also did not feel awkward standing only in underwear in front of her aoide - there was little to no modesty in between them, especially now. The jewel over her heart glittered, thankfully unshattered and still present at the very same place her host had decided upon years ago. The silence was deafening, especially to her, and finally she gave in, rushing for comfort in his arms as she erruped in panicked sobs. "Imsorryimsorryimsorryim...""I know. Shh." Tempo said, softly. "Stay still. Im almost done with this." One last bandage to cover the last bruise. "There." The aoidei then let his lady nest herself as she wished around him. She needed comfort, and rank held no matter in this time of need. Alto would be able to do so much better, he knew, but then it was not to Alto the goddess felt like she needed to make amends to. "Shhhh...." He whispered soothingly in her ear. "I didn't want this to happen... I, you where all gone and I felt like I needed to keep going and I didn't see time pass and night came and-" Her voice choked with a sob again, and Tempo lowered his face to look into her sapphire blue eyes, and wipe one tear away. "I know." He answered. "I know you feel like you've done nothing, my lady. You want to try and do something about the current situation and - if I may venture there - I know you also seek mortal followers. This is perfectly normal and is not something you should be ashamed of. You are a goddess, my lady, and gods requires worship of the lesser races in order to thrive. And I wish to see you rise. But there is no reason to rush like this. Rushed work is never good work, no ?" "I know. But sometimes, I don't.... think." She shook her head. "And..." Tempo paused for a moment. "...While you definitively demonstrated that you could defend yourself..." Oh, that banshee scream was now imprinted into his memory for the rest of his immortal life. It had almost stunned him as well. "...You are not yet at the height of your power, and it is still dangerous. I worry, my lady." "I shall try to be less excitable and careless." It would be easy to blame it all on Zero's traits, as her young host had been much like this - but she had to take responsibility. "Can you forgive my foolishness then, my servant, my friend, my bodyguard ?"Being finally called by his title almost made Tempo puff up in pride. "Always. I shall always. But, you need to allow us to help you.... Please ? We are here to serve, and we have duties. We know that you are still closely attached to the mortal side of your reborn self - and it is not really a bad thing - but we are there for you. We are servants, in past and future both. I live so that you may not get hurt, but... my job would be easier if you did not run off at random like this." The aoidei said with a teasing grin, as Concerto entered with a freshly washed nightrobe for their lady. "You should rest, now. After an experience like this, you would definitively need it, lady." "I would have to agree. Thank you, Concerto - thank all of you." She sighed, took the offered garment and changed as the two brothers took off. "She is going to be alright, yes ? Alto is starting to wear down a circle in the carpet with all his pacing.""Yes, it could have been much worse. I believe the lady forgives that she is still mostly mortal." Tempo sighed. "I was scared I had failed." "Tempo... You can't keep eye on her day in and day out, you know. She needs space to breathe, also. I don't think she'll be pulling out something like that again anytime soon.""She didn't do it on purpose and planned to be back before we even came back here, I know... But I worry. I think I shall always worry..." Concerto shook his head in silence. "There are many things our lady forgot, my brother. And it is possible she may never remember them completely. This is just like the beginning, isn't it ? Do you remember ? She needs to learn anew what her rank truly mean, as well as the limitations of her mortal body.""Oh lord. Yes, this is just like the beginning." Tempo groaned. "Venturing in the Underworld alone..." "Mingeling among mortals without a care of her own safety...""Dear lord, so little changed, now that I think about it." "She's a creature of emotion. And you're the logical root that tries to make her behave a little.""And you're the voice of reason. Nothing changed." "Psh." The pale aoide stifled a laugh. "Come on. We all need sleep after it, and doubtless the lady is going to venture out in the horrible wildness again and be in need of her knight in a shiny armor.""Now you're exaggerating things." Tempo grumbled. "I am not *THAT* overprotective !" Maybe in your mind... The third brother joined in in signs, a silly grin on his face now that the worry had faded away. "Oh, HUSH you."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:11 pm
A Lady In Need Zero Dream Thankfully, there was no storm today, which left Echo free to wander as she pleased. And wander she did, a bit dusty from her excursion to the record shop, carrying a kakhi messenger bag (which seemed to have seen better days) full of records and cds. The goddess herself was pretty much incognito, wearing her hair up in a ponytail and wearing one of her host's hoodies and jeans, looking much more like a diseveled artist than a proper goddess. That, and it hid the bandages. Which was the whole point - to attract as little attention as possible. Alto followed not too far behind, looking even more twitchy than usual - Echo would tell him he was being paranoid, but with the recent events, could she really blame him ? That was the price to pay for her carelessness.
That, and his presence was most reassuring. The wounds - physical and emotional - where still too fresh. Thabara
Nergal had not really been expecting to meet anyone in this part of the town, at least not someone he knew - after all they were still a good distance away from both the Pantheon and Echo's dwelling - so he was rather surprised to lay his eyes on a familiar figure when he led his small entourage around the corner.
Alto he recognized at once, after all he had spent a significant amount of time in the aoide's presence when he'd given him lessons in sign language. And the other.. Oh.
"Lady Echo," he said quietly, accompanied by a polite nod. His ears felt like they were burning out of embarassment he hadn't recognized her right away despite her current attire - but it was just so different from those flowing silk gowns and robes she usually seemed to prefer.. midnight_medea  Lien had kept constant vigilance as she rode on the back of the strange horse. Her eyes taking the time to wander, taking in more of her surroundings than they had in the past. Yawning a little she could eel exhaustion seeping in once more. She was safe now, nothing was going to happen. Still, she forced her eyes to stay open and on the road ahead.
As the woman appeared in their path a nervous smile slipped across her lips. She looked so ... normal. Rather than a comfort that put Lien on edge a little, her smile faded a little and she felt herself withdrawing.
Nergal's aknowledgement of the woman told her that this must be his 'friend'. With weary eyes she watched them both carefully.Zero Dream Alto was quick to give a respectful bow to the Underworld, which his goddess seemed speechless and surprised for a moment. Was he already back ? They where not even done with painting yet ! And with what had happened... Oh dear, he would worry if he ever learnt of it. And there she was, in front of him... looking wholly inadequate. Her cheeks reddened sightly at that realization. My, weren't things going lovely today.
"Lord ?" She said, visibely still a bit surprised, but eventually sliding in a smile. "I am glad to see you, I honestly did not expect to see you so soon..." She peered over his shoulder then, to the young woman behind them. She seemed a bit weary... of what ? "And who might me this lovely lady ? A friend of yours I have yet to meet ?" Thabara
"My return does not come at a time too inconvinient I hope?" He offered her an apologetic smile, and stepped aside a little to allow the goddess to get a better look at his travelling companion.
"Echo, this is Lien Dao Mei. I met her on the last day of my journey back and I offered her to travel with me seeing as she was exhausted and ill - and heading for this city anyway." He fidgeted with Falada's reins uneasily. "I.. do not wish to burden you any more, but I was hoping you would extent your hospitality to her. She has gone through quite some hardship and is in need of a place to rest and recover." He knew she wouldn't be able to say no, least of all to him, but that didn't make him feel any better about asking yet another favor of her. And he hadn't even gotten to the matter of Aristogeiton's lifeless body yet..
"Lien, this is Lady Echo, the.. friend I mentioned." midnight_medea Lien watched the exchange with interest and sat back on the seat of the horse. At his request of hospitality Lien bowed her head deeply.
"Yes, I gathered." She said wryly at Nergal's words. How could she not know, he was practically dancing on the spot with discomfort.
"It is nice to meet you Lady Echo, I don't want to be a pain, just give me some time to recover and help me find my feet. I will repay your kindness when I am able." Zero Dream "Oh, no, of course not." She said with a smile. "Only a bit of surprise, perhaps. But I am glad."
She still felt a bit silly, in front of him looking so unlike what he was used to see, but it was what was safer. She honestly did not dislike her hairs put up this way... It had been Alto's idea, and she might need to experiment with more hairstyles eventually. She listened then, the only sound being the hum of her "wings", before she nodded.
"It is not a burden, nor a pain, and don't you worry... there is more than enough place for all of us, and for as long as it is needed. Alto, would you be so kind as to go ahead and prepare the guest room ? We will come home soon enough."
The aoidei gave no hesitation - Nergal would never let anyone touch even one hair off her head - so he nodded to both guests and went on his way with a wave.
"You will be safe here, do not worry." The goddess said with a nod. "Take all the time you feel that you need." Thabara Nergal nodded slightly and then tugged on Falada's reins, starting to lead the way, following the same direction Alto had headed off to. "It is not far from here now.. Soon you will be able to rest," he said to Lien, glancing at her over his shoulder with a small, reassuring smile. Right now the prospect of having a bath and being able to sleep in a real bed seemed like heaven to him, and she must be even more travelworn than him.
"So," he said, turning his head towards Echo as he walked besides her, "how have you been? Has anything happened while I have been away?" midnight_medea Lien smiled and bowed her head at the pretty woman once more, seeing that she was not 'normal' as she had seemed.
Relaxing back she watched the exchange between her rescuers. Their polite and awkward exchanges amused her. To Lien Romance was an alien concept and to be honest she did not see the point, men were dangerous and unreliable. She had lost count of the wedding rings she had seen on past customer's fingers.
Allowing her eyes to roam the desolate landscape she kept half an ear on their conversation to see if anything of interest would be reavealed. Zero Dream What was she supposed to answer to that ? She could explain what had happened, f course, but with Lien there... The young lady had nothing to do with all this, and Nergal was sure not to be pleased... Later, perhaps. Maybe.
"Not much, really. I have been writing a bit, and... preparing things." Her eyes gave a small, michevious twinkle at the thought. Oh, she wanted to see the look on his face as he saw all they had managed to do !!!! "I've kept Ishum in line. There are now more cats in the house that there is human heads." She laughed a bit, not concerned at all. "Most of them are strays that come and go, but a few actually stayed. Oh, miss Lien, do you like tea ?" The goddess suddenly thought. She had done much like the mother and cut down on it, but if she had a visitor... "I need to go buy some more bundle of leaves..." Thabara
"I see." Nergal nodded solemnly, completely missing out on the mischievous twinkle in Echo's eyes. "I am relieved to hear that you have been apparently well." No news were good news in these times, after all. That 'preparing things' might have something to do with him not even remotely crossed his mind.
"I will have a word with Ishum about those cats - if they are a bother to you..?" He raised a quizzical brow at her - she obviously rather liked cats, and what she'd told him didn't sound much like a complaint. On the contrary - she seemed rather amused by it.
"Later.. once I had the chance to wash off the travel dust and settle down a bit.. there is quite much we will need to talk about," he let the goddess know more quietly, voice hopefully low enough for Lien to not overhear what he said. "About what I found.. but also about her." His glance darted towards Lien, only for a moment, indicating that there might be more to her than merely being a weary and sick traveller. "Later." midnight_medea Lien smiled as she was addressed and nodded politely to the calming woman.
"I do like tea." She said, running her thumb over the leather of the reins. "And cats." she smiled, having been listening to their conversation. They were by far her favourite animal.
She could tell there was a lot unspoken between them, their eyes spoke but their mouths did not open. As she fell silent to their whispers she began to wonder just what they were and what they were up to.
"Has the world always been like this?" she asked, turning her eyes away from the firey skies and back to them. Zero Dream "Oh, do not worry." Echo waved her hand in a dismissive motion. "They are no bother. Ishum has helped me much, in many ways, ever since you where gone. Without him, I fear I may not have made the little progress I have accomplished." Soothing words, perhaps, but completely true to the end.
She glanced back at him when his low voice reached her sensitive ears, an eyebrow raising a bit in curiosity, but no word escaped her mouth. Only a small nod let the other knew she had understood. Something about her... ? she couldn't help but ponder.
"That is quite a thankful thing." She managed to push the questions toward the back of her mind for a moment, focusing on her guest. "The cats are quite cuddly and social, most of them at last. They're sure to enjoy having another pair of hand available for pettings."
She felt in silence then, at her last question, turning toward the windows of an asian-looking shop to inspect the tea leaves in the stand and bite her lip. What was she supposed to answer ? Had Nergal told her exactly what they where, or was she clueless that she was in the company of reborn gods, not yet having regained most of the height of their power ?
"It wasn't always this way, no." She finally answered, turning back to face her, sapphire blue eyes unable to hide sadness and pain. "The sky used to be blue, and the trees green, the pavement barren of ash... ...I can explain it to you in detail once we reach my home, if you wish. The story is quite... complicated." And hard to believe for most mortals, she realized.
"But in the meanwhile, do you have a favorite flavor of tea, lady Lien ?" midnight_medea "Cuddly, cunning and independant. I think we can all learn from them." She said with a smile, looking out over the landscape once more as she listened to Echo talk. It was funny, mankind had a nature for destruction it was only a matter of time before nature punished them as she did in this land. She was suddenly glad she had left her world. If it would soon become like this, nowhere was safe.
"That is sad." she said simply "And I would like to hear if you have the time to tell me." She rode in silence for a little longer until Echo adressed her once more. "Tea, hmm, i like Lotus tea." She mused, "Though I know it is hard to come by. My grandmother used to give it to us as a treat." Zero Dream "I agree... But there is little we can do about it right now. But i'll see if I can find some of this tea... It won't be long." She announced, taking a few more steps and entering the store.
The gears in her mind wouldn't stop turning as she explored the aisles. That woman was from another world as well... maybe not Zero's own, but another world nonetheless. Pulled in this one for a reason or another, but, why ?
She shook her head, focusing on the task at hand, looking at the assortment of pouches until she found what she looked for. Smiling, the goddess took the pouch marked as lotus and headed toward the cashier. At least she could offer the girl the comfort of her favorite tea in a foreign world. There weren't enough leaves to make a flower - they where obliviously rare, as the young lady had said - but at least there was enough for a few cups, which was better than nothing.
She finally rejoined her companions after paying, pouch safely tucked in the messenger bag she carried. "It isn't far now - a few block down." She studied the woman again - she seemed to have a build similar to Zero's. An asian as well ? "I can lend you clothes if you wish to change, I have plenty over. Surely a warm bath will be welcome after your journey ?" Thabara
Nergal had been content to quietly listen to their conversation, slightly reliefed that he wasn't required to partake in it. Yes, he thought, it would probably be a good choice to let Echo handle the task of breaking the news to Lien - Gods, Gems, Hosts, Age of Destruction and all.
Idly he glanced at the displays of the shop Echo had entered, wondering if they offered coffee as well.. Probably not, he figured. It was amazing that even tea was available still, and Echo would probably end up paying an outrageous price for those lotus leaves, just to please her guest and offer her some comfort.
He must have 'spaced out' he realized a little later, for the goddess returned far sooner than he had expected. "She can use the guest room," he added with a faint smile once Echo had pronounced her offer, "I will be content to sleep on the couch." This wouldn't help at all to alleviate Lien's view of him being a gentleman, but thankfully he was oblivious to it. midnight_medea Lien liked Echo she decided. The woman had a nice calm air about her, she felt safe and warm.
"I can't think of anything in this world or any world I would like more than tea and a warm bath." She smiled softly, looking between her saviours. "And thank you, more appropriate clothing would be welcomed very much indeed. I really am thankful for your kindness Miss Echo." She smiled and bowed deeply on the horse, the only gesture she could make to show her gratitude. Zero Dream Echo gave a warm smile in answer. "The pleasure's mine."
A few minutes afterward, she eventually stopped in front of what was still one of the most kept-together houses in the area - divine influence and all. There, she oversaw her guests inside as she signed to Alto to go prepare a warm bath for the young lady.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:12 pm
At Your Service ! Zero Dream Now this was an akward situation if he had ever been in one, the tattooed aoide couldn't help but think. He hadn't really trusted Ishum when he first blabbered about it - wasn't Rio a man anyway ? How do men get PREGNANT ? Nevermind that Echo seemed to quite believe it, and when she heard he had no aoidei of his own, of course she would decide something like this.
It wasn't so bad, but the lady had just been trough a rather disturbing experience... He wished to remain at her side at this time of need, but there was little he could do against an actual order, especially when she gave so few of them. It was easy for him to figure out why he had been singled out for the task - Ishum was spread in between two goddesses already, was not in her own service, and his master was back in the picture to boot. Alto's muteness, while something they where all used to, would have probably proven difficult for the love god to handle. Tempo would have went... kicking and screaming bloody murder. Especially after the recent events. This left only him.
And the whole basis of a pregnant male god already foretold that the experience might be... interesting. At least the lady had described him as a pleasant individual, easy to get along with - it would be a whole different matter if he had been assigned under someone... unpleasant. And they where almost done with Nergal's side of the house, anyway - the remaining 3 would be able to pick up the slack.
He brushed the ash off his shirt as he entered the pantheon, wings twitching nervously as he pondered, guitar on his back and a bag full of clothes and other needed items hanging from his shoulder. How should he handle this ? He was well used to formal exchanges in between gods, but never before he had been assigned to another's service... and it had been so long anyway. What if he chose the wrong words ? He clicked his tongue in his thought, not daring to take a peek at the fridge even if he was quite thirsty and instead went upstrairs almost immediately.
It was now quite easy to understand how Ishum felt... only his dispatching was no punishment. (Even he did not really consider Ishum's predicament a "punishment", surely if Nergal had wanted to punish him, he would have done MUCH worse...)
Finally, he reached the door that the chatty aoidei had told him about, and knocked, fiddeling with his shirt and hair as a last minute preparation. He had to look decent to the god he would become in service of for the next... heaven knew how long really. Meepfur Rio had been sitting on his bed enjoying a snack of delightfully cheesy, bright orange chips out of a bag that he thought was woefully small when the knock on his door came. Who on earth could that be? Orin almost always came in the window, after all, so it probably wasn't the wolfman, unless he was bringing something he couldn't climb the tree with.
It could be anyone, really! So the god licked the powdered cheese from his fingers and rose, opening the door with a smile ready for whoever his visitor turned out to be.
...why, it was no one he knew at all! They reminded him vaguely of Ishum, however, so perhaps they were someone's aoide? "Oh, hello!" he said cheerfully, "Is there something I can do for you?" Zero Dream Concerto was still fidgeting with his hair when a very... pink god opened the door. He probably should have expected that, anyway, as he told himself as he tried to get the butterflies in his stomach to quiten down.
The first thing he did was give a respectful bow. "Greetings, lord Desiderio. I am Concerto, one of lady Echo's aoidei." He started. "Given that my brothers have all returned and that Ishum has informed my lady that none of your own servants have come to you yet, she has asked me to remain with you for as long as you wished, should you accept my aid."
...Well, that sounded good enough, at least. There was a bit of nervosity present - it had been ages since he had done this kind of thing ! Meepfur Oh, goodness! Love looked quite pleasantly surprised, as well as touched. Music had sent him one of her own! She'd worried for him, and sent him aid. Aid, he had been coming to realize, he was in sore need of as his pregnancy progressed. Not to mention someone to talk to!
Rio brushed away a happy tear, even more easily moved than usual given his current state. "Your lady has a heart of gold, truly. It would be my pleasure to accept, Concerto." He gestured for the aoide to enter the garden that was his room, positively beaming with gratitude...and promptly gave him a brief, gentle hug, saying with absolute sincerity, "Thank you." Zero Dream Well, he did seem to be easily touched... Perhaps this was a pregnant thing, no matter if you where a male or a female. Not that he had ever dealt with any of that.
"The pleasure is mine." Concerto gave a warm smile as he stepped inside. "My lady speaks very strongly of you... She was growing a bit worried for your well-being, alone in here."
The hug, however, did kind of catch him by surprise. After all, Echo wasn't really all that touchy-feely with them, and neither did his brother. In a sense, it really did drive the point home as to why he was here, as to how much that god needed him right here and then.
It was odd, in a sense, to not have two others to fight with for attention. Not that he had ever truly minded.
The garden-like interior was surprising, a sharp constast to the outside. Echo had been unable to keep any plants alive on her own - perhaps the closeness to the lady Gaia helped them flourish, even now ?
"Lord Desiderio ? Where should I install myself ?" The question came to his mind after a moment. Meepfur Rio's wings fluttered happily, and he continued to beam as Dinah toddled out from her haven of snapdragons, small feline nose wiggling as she sniffed in the aoide's direction. "Just call me Rio, please!"
"Ah, that's easy!" He motioned to the open door that led to a smaller version of the main room, bathing pool and all. "That used to be my room when I was Ea's guest; he lives at his temple now, of course, and was kind enough to give me his rooms when he moved out." Zero Dream Rio was certainly very cheerful. The kind of infectuous cheerful that kind of took you over very quickly, at that. "As you wish... and that will do quite nicely, thank you."
He went to put both bag and guitar inside the room, then came back and croutched near the curious feline, offering a pale hand for sniffing. With the hordes that Ishum had been bringing home, he was starting to really get used to cats. "Hello there, little one..." Meepfur A guitar! How charming! Rio hadn't noticed at first, but of course it made lots of sense. Of course Music's servants would be musically inclined. Maybe he could get Concerto to play for him sometime?
"That's Dinah," he explained when the aoide returned, smiling at the young feline. "She'll probably come and visit you when you sleep, you'll just have to hope it's not after she's been swimming!" The god chuckled. Having a wet cat walk across your chest wasn't the most pleasing of ways to wake up. Zero Dream "Swimming ?" Concerto seemed puzzeled for a moment. "I thought cats did not like water... At least the feline horde Ishum keeps on bringing home does not. One of the kittens felt in the bath once. While I was in it." He let out a soft laugh as he reached out to scritch Dinah's ears. "I've gotten nasty clawmarks from this one..." Meepfur "I don't know why, but she loves it! I think it's almost her favorite thing, next to being scratched behind the ears." He smiled affectionately down at the strange, spiky cat he and Alex had found in an alley. "Goodness me! Sounds like a terrible surprise for both of you!" Zero Dream "Oh yeah. I can't say it was any pleasant." The more this was going, the more Concerto found himself at ease, really. Rio wasn't as formal and... well... godly-acting as he had expected he could have been. A bit like his own mistress, but not quite either.
He gave a few more pats of the feline's head before standing again, unsure of what to do or say now. Meepfur "Well!" Rio clapped his hands together. "Is there anything I can do to help make you feel at home?"
Glancing around the room, he suddenly remembered something. "Oh! Don't be too startled if someone ever comes through window, it'll just be Orin." Zero Dream Shouldn't *he* be the one offering to do something ? So odd.
"Oh, no, everything will be fine." He announced with a bright smile. "Is there anything I can do for you ? Oh, and noted." ((Unfinished))
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:13 pm
Je sais pas si tu savais
Que le ciel t'appartenais
T'es l'idole de tous mes rêves
Au creux de la nuit, oui
Tu m'fais grandir et découvrir
T'es le plaisir dans mes souvenirs
T'es la flamme au fond de mes yeux
Et dans mon coeur le feu
-- "Comme Une Étoile" - Kain * For My Star Zero Dream It had been a few hours since they had made it back home, and as far as the goddess knew, everyone was asleep. Lien was safely tucked in her own bed, she had finally managed to let Nergal take the guest room (or so she thought...) and she contented herself with the living room. But sleep wasn't coming easy - she was used to sleeping on her sides, and one was bruised, and the other held a knife cut that still stung lightly. And the couch, as comfortable as it was, wasn't that comfortable. So, instead, she found herself sitting on the ledge of the biggest window, staring outside. She couldn't see the stars under the thick fog... she sighed.
She ran an hand through her hairs, careful of the bruises that where starting to be apparent on the side of her neck - she hadn't really bothered to change out of those street clothes yet - and listened to the music which reached her ears from the headphones, finding herself softly singing along.
"When you're gone, The pieces of my heart are missing you... When you're gone, The face I came to know is missing too... When you're gone, The words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it ok... I miss you..." Thabara "You know," Nergal spoke softly into the silence which spread after the song had finished, "if the couch is too uncomfortable for you, there is still the bed in the guest room. You know that I do not require much sleep."
Unlike Lien he had not allowed himself the luxury of taking a bath, but instead washed off the dust and grime of his travels under the shower and changed into clean clothes - loose fitting fishermen pants in a washed out shade of blue, and a simple gray shirt. He had lost some weight on his journey, but certain female shapes left over by his host still quite showed if one knew where to look.
"However, if you simply are not tired yet," he held up a steaming cup in each of his hands with a wry smile, the scent of tea and aromatic spices filling the air, "there is quite a bit we need to talk about." Zero Dream Echo tilted her head with curiosity as she saw him arrive, taking off the headphones and letting them hand on her lap. A smile drew on her face when the various scents hit her nose, and she accepted the cup gladly.
"I am not tired yet." Well, it was partially the truth anyway. "And you're right, there are a few things we do need to talk about, no ?" She was so excited by their work on the other side that it was hard not to jump up, grap his hand, and run him out to have him see everything, even if they where not quite done yet. There was only one room which needed paint and furniture, and their hard work would be done. Maybe it wouldn't hurt if he saw it before they where quite finished....
Ah, but she should probably let him talk first, no ? Thabara He nodded, taking a small sip from his cup. The masala chai he had found at the far back in the cupboard was much more to his taste than the lotus tea Echo had prepared for Lien earlier. He had recognized the scent instantly - shame only that there had been no milk to go with it.. He let out a small sigh and massaged the root of his nose between thumb and index finger for but a moment, as if to try and shoo off a momentary headache. Another bit of random knowledge that had popped up thanks to his host, no doubt - it seemed to happen more and more often as of late. It seemed the time where he could no longer avoid to deal with the remains of that woman's soul was inevitably drawing closer. But that was his own problem to deal with, and none of her concern.
"Well.. the perhaps less complicated should go first, I think - Lien." He leaned against the side of the back of the couch, not quite sitting down. "As she mentioned she is not a native of this world - she was drawn here, to this city.. for a good reason: One of us has chosen her." He glanced out of the window. If it hadn't been for a lit window or two somewhere in the far distance one might have thought the world had been swallowed by darkness.
"There is a jewel in her possession which no doubt holds the essence of one of us. I was not able to divine whom it might be though." He shrugged, seeming a little awkward and helpless. "Even having been one of the Oldest before the Fading.. I was only ever familiar with very few of the Pantheon, I think." Zero Dream Echo took another sip while he spoke, and she finally recognizing the flavor with a small smile. She was so used to have the drink with milk that she hadn't placed it for a moment.
"There was something... an air... something familiar about her. I don't think it came from the stone she holds or familiarity with the god or goddess within... I think she may have come from the same world Zero had came from. But I might be wrong, of course... It was just an impression. But then I... She remembers things differently. Not the same time period, maybe... but I am rambling." She said, a bit sheepish.
"Have... Have they fused yet ? Does she know ?" Those questions where are the front of her mind. "As much as I long to see one more of our kind reborn, I would prefer her to decide her own fate with all the informations in hand." Thabara "The way she was dressed, perhaps, since you are right. She said she was originally born in Vietnam but that she has been living in Japan for several years before she escaped there 'from a bad person' and ended up here somehow." He hesitated but for a moment before he added: "From what I gathered she has been a prostitute."
"No, she knows nothing yet. The last time I saw the gem was when she put it back into the sleeve of her gown." He sighed and gazed down at the cup in his hands as if he might be able to divine the answers he needed from the depths of the steaming liquid. "She does not trust easily so I thought it would be wise to not overwhelm her at first, to wait until she had a chance to settle down and recover for a bit. In fact.." He glanced up, his storm gray eyes meeting the sapphire blue of hers. "In fact I would be grateful if you were the one to tell her. Back then, when I told Plague's host of her fate.. I do not think I handled it very well," he explained, shifting uneasily,"and I would not be surprised if I were to find out that she still holds a grudge against me," he added sheepishly. If she should actually still be around, that is. Zero Dream "Definitively the same world at least. Zero came from Japan." She mused a bit, the words seeming well thought out and almost forced - it was so hard to dissociate Zero from herself anymore... She had to consciously think about what she was saying.
Maybe it was the youth's impulsiveness and courage that saved her...
But then he continued on and she found herself frowning. "I see..." In all likeness, the goddess seemed about ready to start world-hopping to break a few faces. It was easy to see, even so early on, that she was at least a bit protective of the young lady.
"Me... ?" Silence followed. Thoughts. "I've... never attempted it before. Beryl was the one who explained everything to Zero." She couldn't help but bite her lip. "I... I can try, but I can't promise anything. I will not force her if she does not wish to go trough with this, I... I cannot." Thabara "You speak as if she had a choice." Nergal's voice was perfectly neutral, containing neither blame nor bitterness. But there was a hardness in his eyes which showed very clearly what he thought: Once you had been chosen by a god, 'choice' was naught but illusion. "You will do fine," he said, gentler now, trying to reassure her, "But please.. do not make the same mistake as the Allmother." Do not become attached, was the warning which lingered behind the words of his advice, Because, inevitably, you will have to tell her farewell - forever. Zero Dream But then, of course he was right. After all, had she ever heard of an host refusing a gem ? Of course not. But still, that small illusion of choice kept her from thinking that she would be the one to lead the young girl down a path of perhaps self-destruction. But perhaps, if she always walked into it knowledgeable of what will happen, just like her own host, perhaps... perhaps the guilt would go away.
The illusion that -she- had given her own host a choice had kept her from really thinking about it.
Odd that she had taught nothing of it before, but now that she was trust into the position of making it all happen...
She turned to stare out at the window, toward one of those few, distant lights. It was the only thing she could focus on, in the absence of stars.
"Maybe she doesn't have a choice. But I will give her the facts and let the rest happen. There is something... soothing to a mortal to think they have a decision in this, perhaps. I do not want to make her upset... I can see she suffered much already."
Am I getting attached ? Perhaps. But I was attached to Zero. But then, in the end... I never really let her go... Did I ?
"I... I just don't know how to do this. I am sorry, I... I shouldn't be dropping all of this on you. The last few days have been... odd, and I havn't been sleeping much."
Ah, the weaknesses of the mortal coil. Thabara "Did.. something happen while I was away?" Nergal asked concerned, inwardly hoping it was 'merely' the strain the Age of Destruction put on her, and nothing specific. The urge to bridge the distance between them with a few steps, to hold her and comfort her, was strong - but he stayed put where he was. Zero Dream She could easely have dismissed it, but then... could she, really ? He looked so worried, and... it was all about trust, really.
"Well, yes." She sighed. "I was careless really. I stayed somewhere far too long, and had to return by nighttime, and someone..." She paused, trying to calm down her frazzling nerves. "Someone attacked me. Nothing's broken, but I was so scared...." Just thinking about it, she looked like she could start crying again. "Im sorry. I promised you I would be careful, but..." Thabara His hand clenched so hard around the cup as he listened that it seemed almost like a miracle that the frail porcellain object didn't break under the pressure. Once her voice faltered he was beside her with a few quick steps, setting down the cup on the the window sill with exceptional care and grasping the goddess' free hand with both of his own, just as careful.
"Are you alright? Were you harmed?" His face displayed genuine concern and worry. "You should not apologize, you are not the one to blame.." His tone was soothing, calm. Too calm, almost. Right now the only indicator for the inner uproar behind the controlled facade was the manifestation of his wings, seeming almost real at this moment, the large outer feathers looking dangerously like blades. "But your aoidei - it is their task to protect you, where were they when it happened?"
They would need a real good excuse to escape his wrath. Zero Dream "some bruises, some cuts, but nothing's broken. Im... im mostly fine."
Of course it was easy to see the bubbling rage trough the calm mask - wasn't Echo used to dealing with emotions, anyway ? She used the following silence to pull herself together, to smooth her voice out before continuing. "Concerto is currently in Love's service until he is no longer needed. Alto and Tempo where somewhere else, tending to a task which I had ordered them to take care of. I was supposed to wait for their return before going to the place I mentionned, but I was so excited that I did not. It is my fault, my responsibility. As soon as they saw I was not home, they came running." Her face was serious. His wrath might become redirected, but she was not going to let them be punished for something they had no control over. Thabara "That was a foolish thing to do, Music." Nergal took a deep breath, trying to calm down his inner turmoil. "Foolish. But I am glad at least nothing worse happened. And.. you have learned to be more careful, I hope." He paused, unable to simply subdue his anger - but if she claimed her Aoidei were not to blame.. "What became of the attacker?" Zero Dream "Yes. I have." The floor was extremely interesting to look at right now, she had to admit. If only... if only she wasn't so weak. None of this would have happened.
"Tempo found me, and apparently Cerberus followed him. He's not going to be hurting anyone else." She didn't want to think about what would happen to the man's soul if Nergal ever found him, even if it was well-deserved. Thabara "Ah. Cerberus." Nergal nodded, seeming satisfied with that man's fate for now.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked, gentler now. Zero Dream She still didn't dare to look up from the floor just yet, unsure if the storm had stopped brewing yet.
"It's alright." The goddess answered softly, letting herself slide off the windowledge and fall on her feet. "I am going to be fine, but ill have to pay for my stupidity in the meanwhile."
She paused. "There is... something I would like to show you, if you feel like it ?" Thabara "Certainly." Nergal nodded, finally succeeding in setting his anger aside for now - if Cerberus had devoured him, it would be a piece of cake to track down the attacker's soul at a later time. "What is it, a new instrument of yours?" he asked, only half joking. "A new song?"
The matter he had originally wanted to talk to her about - his journey, Aristogeiton, Panacea - was all but forgotten for the time being. Zero Dream All seemed to be well now, at least, and she finally dared to peek up, the tears still lingering to the corner of her eyes being a sharp contrast to the smile that what drawing itself on her face. "Ah, no. I was not so lucky as to find a piano or a harp in a decent condition yet." A sigh on longing followed. "A new song, well, yes, but... that is not what I am talking about." She lightly took his hand, letting her cup down on the table as she went.
"It was Ishum's idea, actually." She said as they walked out of the building. "And I quite liked it, and I think you will appreciate it as well. After all, I do not think you would be comfortable living in the pantheon, and you can't stay holed up in my guest room forever, no ? It's not really... private, really. And it so happened that I had some unused space around... The aoidei weren't interested by it, so I figured that, maybe..."
After they finally made it outside, she lead him to the other side, and opened the door there. The scent of fresh paint was the first thing that greeted them, and Echo flicked on the light. The room was painted in cool, soothing colors.
"We're not quite done yet." She said, a bit sheepishly. "But I hope this will make up for what I've done... This is yours, if you want it." She lead him to the master's bedroom and flicked the light there. Again, cool colors, with the celling painted to look much like a dark night sky.
"Ishum told me that, way back then, you could see the stars from the throne room of the Underworld. I might not be able to bring it back to you, but... At least this is better than nothing ?" Thabara Obediently Nergal followed where the goddess led him, wondering if anything good could come from something Ishum had thought up, but.. the aoide had proved to be quite thoughtful and considerate of things, much moreso than his master in fact. If only he hadn't that fatal love for gossip..
It took him a while to grasp the full meaning behind Echo's words, that with 'some unused space' she was not refering to something within the other half of the house, but in fact the small building itself. Only when they entered, and his senses caught the smell of fresh paint, he realized. "Oh, Echo.."
Unable to say more for the time being he continued to let himself guided around by her - curiously glancing left and right, trying to peer into the darkness beyond half-opened doors. It was not quite finished yet, that much was obvious, but he liked the muted, dusky colors which had been chosen, and the furniture that had already been added. He had a vague idea now what kind of task Echo's aoidei had been working on on the day she had been attacked.
Then she led him into the bedroom, his bedroom, motioning up - and his eyes went wide with wonder. It was hard to read the god's face at this moment, it seemed to display surprise, joy, longing, sadness.. all at the same time.
"You must have missunderstood something Ishum said," he finally said, his mouth dry, his hand tightening around Echo's. "The throne room.. it was open to the skies indeed, but only to the skies of the Underworld. 'The Starless Halls' was what Endenis referred to my realm as when she told her tale. There never have been stars, not at any time. But.. I wished.." His voice broke off and he pulled Echo close to embrace her. "Oh but how I wished there were. This is a very precious gift, Lady Echo. I.. do not know how to thank you."'Should I come to my strength again, Lord Underworld, perhaps I can send some of my lights to your skies. It would be a fair token of friendship, and like jewels set in an already fair crown.' There was a sad smile upon Nergal's lips as he recalled Lucius' kind words. Who knew how much time might have to pass for this to happen, if at all? How long for the sentence to be fulfilled, for the Twin Crown to forgive? Zero Dream It was a bit too hard for Echo not to be very proud of her work for a moment. She had been the one to paint all those little stars, with Lyric keeping her afloat...
Her thoughts where cut off when she found herself pulled in an embrace, surprise taking over for a moment, and a bit of pain caused by presure on her sides, but eventually she closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax a bit.
"At least my misunderstanding still created something lovely." She commented softly, completely happy where she found herself now. Thabara "True," he said, the proud glow on Echo's face leaving no doubt about who had painted those stars. He held her frail body snug against his chest for a little longer before he let go of her, feeling a small twinge of regret. But now that he had mentioned Endenis and her tale there was no way he could..
"And this may be a better setting to tell you about what I have learned on my journey, about what I have found," he said solemnly. He offered her an apologetic look for having gone back to business in such an abrupt manner, and sat down on the bed, motioning for her to sit down beside him. "You must have been wondering about that body I brought.." Zero Dream She nodded softly, taking the offered seat beside him, pensive for a moment.
"Yes, I must admit. Priya asked me where to put it where you where in the shower, and I told her to put it in the basement for now. Is he the one you where looking for, then ? Sanatruces, wasn't it ?" Thabara "In a way. This body is but an empty vessel which was born without a soul. But Endenis.. She told me that no matter the incarnation, be it male or be it female, the features were always very similar and that there is no doubt about it that this is really Sanatruces. Or rather - a name you might be more familiar with - Aristogeiton. Sanatruces was the name he bore in his last incarnation, before.." Nergal hesitated for a moment, his discomfort more than obvious. "Before his soul was lost." Zero Dream "Aristogeiton..." she spoke out loud, before it finally seemed to to hit her. "The lord's consort... was it ?"
Suddenly there was discomfort for a moment. "So his soul is lost... Mem- Panacea went to look for him... and has never returned since..." The emotion in Echo's eyes where evident. Their mortal hosts had been so very close... and even if they had no realized then, it seemed more evident to her that Medecine and Memi had merged, just like her and Zero would do, much later. The hosts where preserved in each goddess, if only they had a chance to meet again now. Oh, how she missed her... Thabara "Yes," Nergal confirmed with a brief nod of his head. "Continually reborn to rejoin the Twin Crown's side. Only that in his last life.." He took a deep breath, a sigh almost, before he spoke on. "Something went wrong, and he was under my care, under my protection, when it began." He picked up a strand of Echo's soft hair, absently twirling it between his fingers as he recounted in detail what he had come to know from Endenis: That Sanatruces would spend one year in five within his domain by choice, the strange circumstances of his death which none of the gods had been able to explain nor to prevent, the accusations which had been voiced against him, the desperate search for that mortal's soul which - in the end - had proved to be futile. Zero Dream "Yes... There was a commotion at the pantheon, I remember that much... Many gave out accusations, but also many truly realized it was the beginning of the end. It was the moment where many realized how powerless we where all slowly starting to be. But... that was so many ages ago. He could be anywhere by now, how will we find him ? His soul could be anywhere, even fragmented or reborn..."
What a task he had been given. Once again she felt a burning desire to make herself useful, to ask once more to go with him... but she couldn't. Her stinging arm was the proof. What could she do if she couldn't even protect herself against a mortal ? Thabara "The scepter still shows a fragmented set of paths, but it is a direction too vague to follow - up." He pointed towards the starry sky painted at the ceiling with a wry smile on his lips.
"I was actually hoping you might be able to provide me with an answer as to how to find him," Nergal admitted somewhat sheepishly. "Panacea.. If she indeed went to look for him - and I know from Lucius that she came to ask for his aid just as I did - she must have had some means to point her the way--" He paused, recalling something which had escaped his attention until then. 'Panacea came to me long ago with Harmodius' own amulet, said to hold his life in the prototype manner to our own Edelsteine.' "The pendant," he added, the surprise obvious in his voice. "She had Harmodius' pendant." Strange how many things completely escaped his memories while others.. Red gold, runes of black iron, an opal showing a six-rayed star if was held into the light the right way - he seemed to remember the amulet rather well for some reason.
"Lucius.. He indeed spoke to me of there being fragments instead of one single being. What may have caused this, I can not even guess. It may simply have been the spell of rebirth failing when the Fading was starting to show its effects.. But the circumstances of his last death still make me wonder." He left his concerns unvoiced but - now that he thought about it - it was no small wonder he had been called traitor back then. The circumstances of Aristogeiton's last passing were - as Aislin would have said - 'fishy'.
Finally he noticed he had been playing with Echo's hair and, feeling slightly embarassed, he let go of it. If there'd be some hair pins around perhaps he could-- He shook his head slightly, trying to cast off that strange train of thoughts. "Do you know where Panacea went?" he asked abruptly. "Or can you think of someone who might know?" Lucius probably would, he thought, but.. that would be his last resort, if possible, for reasons he'd rather keep to his own. Zero Dream Echo went silent for a moment, trying to remember anything that might aid him. "So his soul is fragmented... ?" Even more complicated. "And what do you mean ? What had happened to him ?" She couldn't help herself.
"Pana... The last time I saw her was freshly after both our rebirths, at a winter celebration, not last year, but the one before." Almost two years.... "It was before she left, and we did not meet again before she did. I have no idea where she went to... Else I probably would have been hot on her trails a long time ago. ...But I think, if someone know where she went to, it would be Illumin, the god of light. He was pretty close to Memi - and I believe to Panacea as well. But I have last seen him trough the eyes of a mortal - even longer than when I have seen lady medicine last. I do not know if he still dwells in the pantheon." Thabara "It is just.. That he perished so quickly and that none of us - not the Mother, not Healing, not Medicine, not even Death - could prevent it from happening, nor offer an explanation. Perhaps," he added with an ironic smile, "I simply wish to be able to blame it on someone, just as many others seem to have done back then."
"Illumin," Nergal repeated, testing the sound of the syllables - but they bore no familiarity, brought up no memories. "I will seek him out then. If he dwells not within the Pantheon any longer, I will have Ishum track him down. He seems to be good at that sort of thing, and it would save you from having to adopt any more felines for a while." He raised an amused brow at her. Zero Dream "Perhaps... Or perhaps his soul had been worn by repeated rebirths ?" It seemed like a possibility to her - Harmodius's consort or not, he was still a mortal... And with the power of the gods fading... perhaps it was so.
"But..." She said with a mock-pout, giving her a childish look that was only enhanced by Zero's clothing. "I like cats." Thabara "It seems.. unlikely. But that is only a feeling I have, I cannot say for sure - I do not remember enough," he added slightly bitter. The souls of the dead were his domain to rule, and that he did not even remember their workings.. it was maddening.
He looked down, seemingly lost in his own thoughts for a while. Was it even possible to make this soul whole again, fragmented as it was? Especially now, under Destruction's reign.. So many of his kind still weak, or not even reborn.. Zero Dream Upon noticing the general feeling on uneasiness that installed itself in the room, the goddess quickly grew serious again and leaned forward to peek at his face.
"There are many things I have forgotten, as well." She sighed, having a good iidea of what had him so pensive. "But... I know it can be done. It has to be able to be done, or else..." Or else what ? Destruction eventually leading to the apocalypse ?
...
"We should probably go sleep." She quickly took the conversation in a new direction. "The paint smell is still pretty strong so you should probably sleep in the guest room until tomorrow. I fear you'll get a headache if you sleep here tonight."
you make me grow and discover / you're the pleasure in my memories / you're the flame in the back of my eyes / and in my heart, the fire
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:14 pm
How Do I Handle This ? Still after she had sent him off to sleep, she remained unable to attain such, now that there was even more things in her mind. She was already growing quite protective of Lien... she could tell. And now there was the prospective god in the horizon... and even if she felt like she should be mad or hurt, she couldn't. It was the logical progression, and such was things. A mortal couldn't really get too close to gods before it was easily chosen. But how to tell her ? Some part of her wanted to shelter her, soothe her, remove her pain, and the other wanted to tell her everything, answer all she could, so she could at least walk into this with some knowledge. There had to be an happy medium, right ? There also was the issue of not scaring her off. The young woman did not look like she trusted basely... She almost wished this task hadn't been entrusted to her, but she knew it was childish. It was like an never ending cycle of life and death - they each had to lead another to their rebirth once, she felt. But it did not give her the answer that she sought. Sighing, the goddess leaned on the window ledge to stare at the starless sky. Where they only hidden, or truly dead, as Destruction's vengeance toward the one who had harmed him had come to ? Why did things had to be so dark, so lifeless, so confusing...
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:15 pm
She's beautiful as usual with bruises on her ego and
Her killer instinct tells her to beware of evil men
And that's what you get for falling again
You can never get 'em out of your head
And that's what you get for falling again
You can never get 'em out of your head
-- "Pretty Girl" - Sugarcult Another Shall Be Reborn midnight_medea  Lien woke after what had seemed like the best sleep she had ever had. Stretching she opened her eyes and smiled as she found herself looking straight at a pair of green eyes and a furry face.
"Hello there." She said petting the kitten. She felt much better for a bath and real sleep though now her stomach was growling and her mouth felt dry.
For a few moments she did nothing, not knowing whether it would be all right to get up and get herself some water. A few minutes more she lay, staring at the ceiling before she decided to brave it. After all, Echo had seemed nice enough.
Creeping out of the room with her new friend on her heels she made her way to the kitchen she had been in the night before oh so briefly. It was quiet and peaceful so little by little she started to relax as she searched for a glass in the cupboards.Zero Dream The silence did not last for too long, as eventually the soft sound of a violin erupted from the living room, right next to where Lien currently was. Unaware of her guest's awakening, Echo played there, wearing what looked like a wide-sleeved kimono with the sleeves snapped off, with long, black gloves covering her wounds from sight, The sound stopped suddenly, then picked up again - she was setting the tone of the instrument.
Even with her hands busy, Echo couldn't help but be worried. How could she explain it all to the young lady without upsetting her ? The task in itself did not even seem possible... But there had to be a way. She just had to figure it out... midnight_medea Lien jumped as the sound of the violin reached her ears and almost lost the glass she was carrying. Breathing deeply and calming herself she poured some water from the tap and smiled as she listened to the song. It was beautiful. She thought as she wandered into the livingroom. The sight that met her eyes was like something from a movie or a picture, she thought. She loved Echo's clothes, she looked like a princess and it appeared she was a very talented woman. Smiling Lien took up a seat on a chair, her legs tucked beneath her and the glass cupped in her hands so she could listen to the pretty music. Zero Dream Echo did not notice her right away, being to lost in her thoughts and also jolting down notes on a nearby sheet of paper. Yes, that was almost it, all it needed was a little more of this...
...But how will I do this ?
Eventually, however, she turned and found herself staring for a moment in surprise. "Oh, I am sorry. I did not hear you come in." She said, a bit embarrassed as she set down the violin and snapped her sleeves back on. "Have you slept well ? Oh, and have you eaten breakfast yet ?" midnight_medea Lien smirked and looked down at the glass of water she held in her hands.
"Don't apologise, it is your house."
She took a sip of the cool water and looked back up to Echo as she was asked a question.
"No, i haven't eaten. I didn't want to snoop around too much, you know?" she said, smiling a little and taking another gulp of water. "How long have you been playing the violin for?" Zero Dream "Then, let us go get something, shall we ?" She said with a smile, putting the violin back in it's case and leading the young girl back into the kitchen.
"I've... been playing for a long time." She answered, taking some fresh fruit out of the fridge - they where growing rarer and rarer, yet Alto would stop at nothing to seek them out. She laid the bowl in the middle of the table and invited Lien to sit.
"It actually has much to do with the current situation of the world... if you are still interested to hear about it. Also, there is something else I would like to talk to you about, if you do not mind. Something Nergal told be about, but he thought it probably would be better to let you rest before you heard of it." midnight_medea Lien smiled and sat on the seat, her glass still cupped between her hands as she sipped. She listened to Echo and looked out to the world outside.
"I would like to hear, to understand." She replied, though the woman's next words caused her guard to shoot up. She shifted and hunched her shoulders defensively. She can only imagine what Nergal might have told her.
"About what I am." She said, frowning. "I'm not a thief." She said, looking up at her and raising an eyebrow. "I had no choice to be what I am ... was. I am no threat." she breathed deeply and looked back down into her glass. "Though i understand if you want my stay to be a very brief one." Zero Dream Ack, no no no ! Wasn't this starting lovingly... Great.
"While he has told me a word about that... That is not what I am talking about." She said softly, her voice calm in despise of the turmoil inside. "And I believe you. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish. What I am talking about is... Nergal told me you carried a stone with you... would you mind letting me have a look at it ? Because if the stone represent what we believe it to be, there are things I will need to inform you of."
The goddess honestly doubted that she would agree after this, but she still had to try. midnight_medea Lien looked up and her frown deepened as she asked about the stone. Why wouls she be so interested. Unless it was of value. She sipped her water and took a bite of some fruit.
"It's just a stone." She said, shrugging and slipping off the chair to go and retrieve it from her clothes. "A pretty one."
She reached out to place it on the counter and looked down at it.
"Do you think it is valuble?" She asked. Zero Dream Lien did look pretty tense, so she remained still, did not even move in the slightest to peer at the stone. She didn't need to - she could feel it from the other side of the table. She couldn't tell exactly who it could be, but it doubtless was an edelsteine. She could feel it, and she couldn't help but stare at it for a moment. She knew of course that they had all resided in gems like this, but it was the first time she really saw it from this perspective.
"Valuable yes, but not monetary. That stone is an Edelsteine. One of my kind." She clarified. "I trust you at least knew neither I or Nergal where human by now... We are gods, and goddesses, faded from power ages ago, our essence bound to gems like this by the strongest of us, our lord Harmodius. He is Creation and Destruction both, and the state of this world, called Gaia, is directly caused by the fact that his focus has switched to Destruction. This is the center of it all, but it is slowly spreading to other worlds - you may have noticed things like floods and other natural disasters being on the rise - these are Destruction's influence." She paused. "...I myself am Creation's child - I fear I cannot really be objective as far as Destruction goes." Was she going too fast ? She glanced up at Lien to gauge her reaction, well aware that it is possible that she may not believe any of it. midnight_medea Lien blinked and looked from the stone to the woman. Now her rational mind was urging her to burst out laughing and call the nearest mental institution though realisticaly she had to assess all she had seen.
Nergal was blue, they both had wings and the other creatures ... the other people she had met on the way, the death she had seen. It all added up even though the sum was a strange one.
"Okay." she said slowly, breathing in and picking the stone up carefully. "The tsunamis, the wars." She mused to herself, thinking of things she had seen on the news and even felt. So ... so let me get this right." Lien looked back up into Echo's kind eyes. "This is a god. So ... are you summoned from it?" She asked, thinking of all the anime she had seen on TV during her time in Japan. "Why does he want to destroy?" she asked feeling a million questions whir within her mind. Zero Dream This seemed to be going a bit better at least... For this she was glad. But she hadn't tackled the hardest part yet...
"Not directly. Before what we call the Fading - the event in which we all died millenias ago - each and every one of us could be tracked back to him in some way of another. Think of it as a family tree I could say. Each god was created from either Creation or Destruction. There is also Gaia... Creation's consort, the mother of all. He destroys... because it is what he is. Just like he will create as Creation. Just as I play Music... It is instinct, what makes us what we are."
She paused for a moment, gathering her words. It seemed evident that it was the first time that Echo had to explain it all to a mortal. "While we are not reborn from Harmodius directly, he creates the gems which hold our essences. The rebirth of a god does not come easy... or without a price. The gem needs a host - a mortal to give up his life, body and soul to allow the deity to be reborn. Not any one will do - often we chose a specific one. And.... it is rare that people come across an Edelsteine stone without reason, so we believe that this one might have chosen you." midnight_medea Lien listened to her, this was incredibly interesting and extremely scary. She breathed deeply as the big information was dropped.
"It wouldn't be the first parasite to want my body." She said with a snort of laughter, her defensive attitude appearing momentarily. "Sorry, no offence." she added, looking to the counter and closing her eyes for a moment. "So this god ... it wants me?" she asked opening her dark eyes once more. "It ... it wants me to give up my life for it? After everything I have been through trying to survive?"
She stood and walked over to a window, placing her hands either side of it and looking out to the dark earth below.
"Is this gem created from destruction? Is it evil?" Zero Dream She couldn't help but frown a bit at the parasite comment, but eventually shook her head. "None taken."
She felt silent for a moment, looking at the gem again. "I cannot say. I cannot even tell you what it's influence may be... I cannot really tell those kind of things, and being that it's essence is still dormant, I cannot communicate with the one in that stone. I can't tell you anything beside the fact that it is one of my kind. But..."You speak as if she had a choice..."This is all up to you. Until the gem in connected to you, it cannot do a thing to you. The fusion can be painful or not - it seems to vary. And what ultimately happens depends on the god... Some souls are given rest, others are preserved. Sometimes, god and host become the same, new entity. I... I just wanted to give you all the information I can so you can decide for yourself. Many hosts in this age are tricked, and I did not want this to happen to you." midnight_medea Lien breathed deeply through her nose and turned back to her.
"I have a choice?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I believe that. If it wanted me and it needs meto live, surely it will not let me go so easy?"
She gave a smirk that did not suit her previous gentle approach.
"Great, this is perfect you know. I live for this, I've spent the past six years of my life believing there was something better out there for me. Dreaming of freedom. I've been such a fool, there's no such thing. Say I do it, say I give this god my body. That would be honourable I suppose a vessel for something holy. What becomes of my soul? What happens if it is bad? I don't want to be responsible for the unleashing of something like that."
She breathed deeply again and looked down at her hands.
"Maybe it was really time to accept fate and give up." Zero Dream This wasn't exactly going as hoped. She gave an almost inaudible sigh.
"...Im sorry." She said, softly, knowing it would probably mean nothing. She wished she could help, but all she could do was give facts that weren't making things better in the least.
"What becomes of your soul is up to the deity. I merged with my host in order to save her from the void. Nergal's host was given peace at her request. While some gods listen to their host's wishes in that matter, I cannot assure you that they all do... that this one will." She bit her lip. As much as she wanted to soothe her, she couldn't lie. What else could she do ? "Good or bad... well, just because the god's influence is something negative does not always mean that they are a bad person. You could say Nergal's influence is a bad one on a mortal perspective... but do you think he is a bad person ? It's not always black or white..."
She wanted to get up, and just HUG her, make it all better, but she doubted it would help any. midnight_medea Lien looked up as Echo apologiesed and felt her anger soften a little. She really could not be angry at the woman.
"You don't need to apologise." She said, giving her a small smile. "It is not your fault. As Echo when on she listened and nodded, so there was alittle hope she would be able to rest. As her keen mind began to recover from the shock a thought came to her.
"If all the gods return, does that mean the world will get better? After all gods mean faith and faith brings hope, right?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. "And no, I do not think Nergal is a bad person." She gave a small snort of laughter. "I of all people should not forget that life is not all black and white." Zero Dream Echo felt silent, thinking for a moment. "Is is very possible that it will. Not only this world - but all others. This is the center, and eventually it may spread... We're also doing all we can do, in either seeking to help our lord regain balance, or at least bring a smile to people's face... Whatever it is we can do best." She stood, going to watch at the window as well. "So that the sky is once again blue and the ground no longer covered in ash... to correct this before all return to the void." midnight_medea Lien breathed in and wrapped her arm around her waist, picking up the stone with the other.
"So ... if I take this god on, I could help?" She asked holding it in her palm and watching the way the colours hit the light of the room. "How does it work?"
She watched Echo for a moment and returned her eyes to the jewel.
"How does the god become one with the person?" Zero Dream "Well... You need to decide where you want the stone to go, first. Wherever you like, but you can't move it afterward. Then you hold it to that spot and it should embed itself in. As I said, it may be painful, it may not - it depends on the stone." The goddess spoke, softly. midnight_medea Lien looked at the stone thoughtfully and then back up to Echo.
"Where did you ... I mean your host choose? Was she willing to accept this fate?" She asked, moving back to the table to take a seat once more. Zero Dream "She decided to put it right over the heart is... for some reason." Echo smiled as she traveled back as well, speaking with a certain longing in her eyes."Zero, as she liked to be called... She had no way back to the world she had been pulled from in an accident. Unlike you, she traveled both space and time... and it made going back an almost impossible task. Instead of spending the rest of her life in a world that would never be her own, she decided to accept me instead. I wished to send her soul back to her world, but I realized quickly that that was pretty much impossible for me to do, so she settled to live alongside me and act as my conscience, if you will. But then Destruction rose... I am a child of Creation, I've already said... Her soul was going to be destroyed, and the only way to save her was to become one with her. I've always asked her what she wanted, and followed her wishes... Respect was a very strong base of our relationship when we where still separate. But I still miss her voice. She was young, brash, and pretty good at knocking some sense in my head when things became overwhelming." midnight_medea Lien smiled a little as she listened to Echo's story.
"You are such a good person." She said, looking down at her hands again. "I wish I could be such a person. I suppose it should not be a hard decision for me to make. I have nothing, no one ... I am not a person who really deserves a life. Though maybe I hoped I could make up for that, to find happiness and love." Lien laughed a little and rolled her eyes. She sounded so cheesy. "Though, all is not lost, you found love. Nergal and yourself? You are lovers?" she asked, quite aware that the question was rather rude. Zero Dream Echo couldn't help but frown. "Of course you deserve a life, just like anyone else. I do not think you are a bad person. The past is the past and it's all there is to it..."
Then she asked it, and she felt her cheeks go aflame. "Ah, well... It's.... complicated, really. We're not really "together" you could say. There are a few things that need to be resolved first..." midnight_medea Lien shrugged, meer technicalities she was sure. They made a cute couple, wierd but cute.
"I'm a bit worried about what kind of god might have chosen me. Seeing as I'm not the cleanest slate ... but we'll have to see I suppose."
She tapped her fingernails on the counter a moment and looked up as if a thought had just come to her. Money, she was going to need to get by somehow.
"Um, Echo, as I mentioned I really do have nothing and, I really thank you for letting me stay here but I'm going to need to buy clothes and contribute to food. Is there any where I could get a job ... or even a job you could give me to earn my keep? I don't want to wear out my welcome." Zero Dream "I do not really think it matters... I think it works more on a physical level than anything else... A god in a jewel does not know a thing about the outside world. The god inside that jewel does not know your name, or nothing about you at all... At least, I did not until Zero accepted me."
Echo paused for a moment, thinking. "Jobs are pretty rare, keeping in mind the state of this world." She hummed to herself in visible thought. She still had Alto and Tempo to do things around here... And while she did not mind letting her stay here, and even less to provide for her, but she had a feeling it may make her a bit unconfortable...
"Well, I have no problem with letting you stay free, and provide for you at all, but... The person who is taking care of all the cats may leave soon, and as it is he is divided in between me and another goddess... So perhaps you can tend to them, if you really feel like you must do something. Also maybe some cooking - the boys don't like it all that much." She said, a hint of amusement present on his face. "You probably have seen them - Alto and Tempo, two brothers. They are aoidei - ageless servants of old who returned as we did. Ishum is also an aoidei, but one of Nergal's instead. Alto is mute, so please do not be offended if he does not answer you." midnight_medea Lien felt a little dissapointed that there was nothing of more use to be doing and had to wonder how the gods could afford their fine things. She shrugged it off. she didn't need any of that. She was safe and with kind people that was all that mattered.
"I'd love to help look after your cats, and cook. I like to cook, maybe some cleaning too?" She suggested, smiling once more. She felt like it was a long time since she had smiled so much.
"Thank you Echo, for taking the time to explain all this to me and for your kindness." She picked up some more fruit and took a bite. "Now, I think I have a lot of thinking to do." Zero Dream Echo couldn't help but let out a giggle. "If you want. They always get a bit upset when -im- cleaning anyway. You'll think im supposed to just sit and look pretty."
To the last comment, she nodded. "I am happy that I at least was able to provide you with answers..."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:16 pm
Suddenly before my eyes
Hues of indigo arise
With them how my spirit sighs
Paint the sky with stars
Only night will ever know
Why the heavens never show
All the dreams there are to know
Paint the sky with stars
-- "Paint The Sky With Stars" - Enya Painting The World The Right Shade Thabara
It was still morning when the door to the hallway opened and Nergal quietly stepped back in. If it should turn out that Echo and Lien were discussing certain matters he'd rather not want to disturb.
He had been holding vigil over Aristogeiton's body over the past few hours - allowing Priya to get some much needed sleep - and contemplating his next steps while he occassionally glanced out of the front door to see if Ishum had returned by now. Questioning the Aoide about the current ongoings within the Pantheon might help him a great deal to figure out on how to proceed best. Zero Dream The silence that greeted him told him that the discussion had stopped, and that, more importantly, that neither Lien or Echo where inside at the moment. But Echo wouldn't particularly be hard to find...
She was found into the other half of the house, putting some final touches to the star-sprinkled celling. Thankfully stars where not too hard to make... her painting skills where quite limited at best, but even she could make dots on a dark background.
But the previous event would not escape her mind. It had gone possibly as well as it could have been, and at least Lien would not walk into it not knowing what would happen. But still, her last question weighted on her the most.
Would they spend the rest of eternity like this, lovers-but-not-quite, waiting to see if one dear to both their hearts would come again ? Would this continue on until the end of time, or until they faded again ? Echo wasn't sure if she would be able to take it for yet another life, but what could she do... ? Nothing, really.
Nothing but wait. Thabara
"Ah, here you are. You had me worried for a moment." He was thougthful enough to test if the paint on the wall had tried before he leaned against it, glancing up at Echo and offering her a shy smile. It was certainly strange to see her in such mundane clothes, the long dark hair tied back, and her skin smeared with paint.
"Is there.. something on your mind?" He didn't mean to pry, but something did seem to occupy her thoughts. Zero Dream When she heard his footsteps, she let the paintbrush on top of the paint bucket and absent-mindely tried to wipe a smear a paint off her cheek, only managing to widen it. It was odd - and a bit embarrassing, really - to be like this in front of him, but it was better than letting paint drip on her silk robes...
"Ah, not really." She answered, putting on a smile. "I only have a few stars left, see ?" Thabara
"To paint the sky with stars.." Nergal's smile deepened a little. "Only a goddess such as you could do that."
"Where you planning on doing anything specific for after that?" he asked, stepping forward and holding out his right to help her down the ladder once she seemed finished with her task. Zero Dream "Oh, I think pretty much anyone with a paintbrush and the will to do it can do so..." She said, tone soft as she put on the last little dots and climbed down. The soreness in her body was finally starting to leave, but the bruises remained. Thankfully she had once again hidden them under layers of cloth.
There's no need for him to see a broken porcelain doll.
"Come to think of it, not especially." Echo pondered for a moment. "The boys are insisting to handle the rest, and Lien has insisted to do things around the house, so I am left to pretty much sit here and look pretty." Thabara
"Well, until Ishum returns there is nothing to do for me either. So.. you could do just that, sit around and look pretty, and maybe.. play the guitar for me? That is," he added jokingly, cold fingers lightly touching the smeared paint on her cheek, "after you have cleaned that 'star' off you skin and changed. And.." His hand trailed further to the side, gently touching a strand of her heavy, silky hair which had come loose from her ponytail, and he just barely resisted the temptation to twirl it around his fingers.
"I seem to remember how to braid," he said absently, brows furrowing to a confused frown, "isn't that odd?" Zero Dream Echo couldn't help but blush a bit at his touch. "Well, why not ? I definitively do need a shower first, however."
"Hm..." She pondered, closing the lid of the paint bucket. "I don't know." Thabara
"Well, maybe.." His voice trailed off as he gave the strand of hair a pondering, still slightly confused look, before he let his hand drop back at his side. No, he couldn't possibly make a request like that, he decided, already feeling his ears starting to burn - it would be just too embarassing.
Instead he stepped back, waiting patiently for her to clear away the painting utensils, and holding the door open for her once she seemed done. Zero Dream Echo, of course, had a good idea what had crossed his mind just now, and let out a small giggle as she went out the door, almost looking like a michevious child as she headed back to her half, and instructed Alto to make some coffee for him when she entered the bathroom.
Her previous outfit from the morning was still there, smoothed out. She discarded the other clothes in the washing bin, mindful of her sides as she entered the shower and started to wash out the paint, careful of the strings that enveloped her form.
She didn't take long - knowing he was likely waiting outside, and soon emerged fully clothed and clean, wearing long arm-length gloves instead of the wide, snap-on bell sleeves, hair still sightly damp. She gave a small grin and sat right in front of him, eyes twinkling. "Well ?" Her grin widened a bit. "Im waiting~~" Thabara
Her mischievous giggle had warned him already that there would probably no escape for him now that he had brought it up, and that suspicion was confirmed when she sat down and glanced at him expectantly.
"You are teasing me," he complained, his embarassment all too obvious. His ears felt like they were ablaze when he ran his fingers through her damp hair.
"Uhm. I will need a brush.. Or a comb.. And something to put it up," he said with a helpless motion of his right. He'd never seen Echo do much with her hair, so maybe, if there weren't any hairpins to be found, he could still wiggle his way ou-- But Alto already grinned and - after forming an OK sign with one hand - darted off into the bathroom, only to return a little later with the requested items and a selection of hair pins and clips which looked like they'd never been used.
Nergal sighed, surrendering to his fate. There was no way he'd be let off the hook now, that was for sure. Zero Dream "As if I would do that, my lord." She gave her best cat-that-ate-the-canary smile. In truth, she did love having her hair played around with, but she had little talents for such things, and neither did her aoidei.
Alto sat nearby and peered at the two, visibly intending to learn how to braid from this little adventure. He was quite thankful he had no voice, else he probably would have found himself giggling at the scene. Thabara
"I do not want to hear any complaints," Nergal grumbled, "neither about pulling to hard nor about how it looks. And," he added, sending a scathing glare at Alto, "does he have to be around?" He'd rather not be watched messing up Echo's hair.. Zero Dream Oh my, someone was grumpy. Echo nodded in answer, and waved Alto off, at least.
The winged servant did as he told, but not without giving a soundless pout when neither divinities could see him. Damn. Thabara
Nergal relaxed visibly once the aoide was gone from his sight, and breathed a small sigh of relief. Now, what would be the best way to go about this, he wondered, his fingers touching the still damp strands of Echo's hair ever so slightly. Brushing it first would probably be the right thing to do, he figured, to remove any knots or tangles that might have remained after it had been washed.
Her hair was soft as silk to the touch, and when the light was right, he noticed, it shimmered in hues of dark blue - it made him wonder how much she would change still before she would have grown to become her old self once more. She would be glorious in her rebirth, no doubt, and beautiful beyond words.
"I.. have done some thinking, last night," he announced, working through her hair with the brush one strand after another. It was a soothing, calming task in a way. "I.. will go see Harmodius, I have avoided that meeting way too long anyway. I should have presented myself before him to thank him for my rebirth long ago, and now.. He should know what I have found, and also.. I need to know what His thoughts are on what happened back then, when Sanatruce's soul was lost. If He thinks of me as a traitor.." Nergal's voice trailed off and he was glad his fingers had something to do to keep them busy. "I need to know," he added after a while, and there was a strange sense of urgency to his voice - clearly telling how much he was bothered by what Endenis had told him. After all, if the Twin Crown Himself considered him traitor - how could he still be trusted to fill his responsibilities then, as the one to harbor and judge the dead? Zero Dream She listened, doing her best not to let her inner fear show itself at the announcement. Seeking Destruction didn't seem like a good idea, and... maybe he would not be happy to see the past unearthed. But then... But then, it may also help. Who knew.
"The only time I have truly seen him was... well." She wanted to shake her head, but forced herself still to make his task easier. "It wasn't... in the best circumstances. And I was not yet myself... I still have to present myself to him also, but..." A soft sigh escaped from her sigh. "As much as I understand that Destruction needs to exist, that a balance needs to be met, it would not feel... right to present myself to him for such a reason." And there was the actual danger...
"Well... Surely, if he consider you traitor, then I doubt he would have allowed you to be reborn ?" It was simple logic, really. After all, surely, a new one could have been created to fill their places... That was quite a disturbing thought. "Surely... I hope things will go well, nonetheless." Thabara
"At the time of Lucius betrayal, was it not? I think you mentioned it when we first met in this new life." He laid the brush aside, reaching for the comb instead. To untangle her hair had taken up less time as he'd anticipated. Echo's hair was longer, but straight and easier to work with, while hers had been curly and--
Whose?
For a moment Nergal's movements paused and he blinked, seeming slightly puzzled, before he continued with the task at hand. "To live under Destruction's reign.. It must be a great weight upon you and the others who were born from Creation's domain, to struggle and try to strive under His opressing influence. But for others, such as Sh'khin or young Lady Caolan.." His voice trailed off, and he wasn't quite sure on how to continue, what it actually was he'd wanted to say. It was natural he'd feel closer to those who were born from Destruction's realm of influence, after all he was the one to reap what they sowed. But..
"There must be a time for both sides of the coin, I guess," he finished uneasily. "As for myself.. I cannot imagine for the Underworld to be anything but strictly neutral in such struggles." Absently, without even thinking about it, he started to part the goddess hair into strands, clipping some of it up to have it out of the way and starting to braid with the rest as he considered her argument.
"I have wondered the same, but.. I still have to be certain. And there is something else I need to know." Zero Dream "Yes, it was then. My host was unconscious and I took over. It was...." A battleground. It almost felt like the apocalypse in a sense. "...It wasn't really easy. There was little I could do before what little strength I had gave out."
She pondered a moment. "I understand that." It didn't mean she had to -like- it. Caolan... wasn't she one of Wind's daughter that she mentioned in her last visit ? "But there is no balance. Destruction has reigned for what seems to be years, but it may be my weariness talking." So unused to keep track of time, really. "It is exactly as how the complete absence of Creation would feel to them, in a way. The absence of either can be disastrous... At least this is how I see it. This is how I manage to go by. But I fear... I fear what may happen if balance is not restored, the most." The end of everything. It was quite silly tfor a goddess to fear death, perhaps it was a vestige of her host, some part that ingrained itself. And it seemed even sillier to admit it in front of it's lord.
"I can understand neutrality, also. After all, if there was no life, there would be no deads to worry about." A complete absence of everything... "It is easy for me to accept those things. Perhaps because mortals have weaved my art in the ceremonies they hold in honor of their dead..."
But lord was it ever so good to have someone playing in her hairs. It was definitively a weakness of her. "Just... please be careful ?" It seemed like a stupid thing to say, but it was out before she could keep it in. Thabara
"The End of All," Nergal uttered the goddess' worst fears aloud. "It will will not come to that," he added firmly. He had nothing to base this confidence upon, yet he was firm in his belief that the worst would not come to pass. Perhaps it was this incurable optimism of his which made him think that way, perhaps it was sheer stubborness. Anyway, as long as it was possible for Echo to draw strength from his words..
"I will be careful," he assured her, trying to allay her fears. "I merely intend to pay my respects to Our Lord and hopefully get some questions answered - if He is willing. I certainly do not wish to challenge Him."
He looked down again, about to add something that he hoped she'd - one day - compose new elegies, new laments to see off the souls of the deceased during the rites of Funeral.. But then he finally realized what his hands had been doing, elaborately weaving strands into each other with an ease that could only be explained by the practice of having done so countless times before, the half-finished shape clearly resembling that of a--____Crown
The silken strands slipped from his fingers as his hands dropped limply to his sides, and the god trembled slightly, unable to withstand the memory which had assaulted his consciousness so unexpected.____Yes.. Countless times he had set this crown upon her brows, this tiara lovingly woven from her locks with his own fingers..____Countless crystals held the heavy braids into place, glittering like a myriad of tiny stars before they were hidden underneath her veil..____She had them comissioned herself, from Forge, a small compensation for the stars he longed for so much, she had joked..____It had been their last moment of intimacy and rest they'd shared each day, before each of them set out to take care of their duties..____Ko.. re..
His lips quietly formed her name, but still there was no face to go with it, no further memories, only a disturbing sense of emptiness where she was supposed to be.
"I.. am sorry," he murmured, trying to keep the strain from his voice as he started to hastily undo the half finished braid with trembling fingers. "I will have to start over.. This.. didn't quite turn out as it was supposed to," he added apologetically, hoping the lie wasn't too obvious.
Yes, there definitely was something else he needed to know from Harmodius. Hopefully he would have the courage to ask. Zero Dream She knew something was wrong the second his hand brushed her side as it felt, limp and lifeless. Her first reflex was to turn around sharply, knocking down the chair in which she had been sitting and reaching out to hold him should he fall - pure instinct dictating her actions. He looked like he was looking through her, and that was quite worrysome, and she couldn't bring herself to stop shaking. Only when he suddenly snapped out of it did she realize what had happened - the exact same thing that had happened to her before he had left, the strength of emerging memories taking away all notions of the present. Where her own experience had left her a sobbing mess in his arms, he mutely spoke.
And of course, she picked it up.
Kore... Yes. Yes, it was you...
Her eyes betrayed her worry, even as she went to nod, as she went to follow with his badly-constructed lie. "It was about her... wasn't it ?" There was no jealousy, no hate, no animosity in her voice - where many would have grown to resent the other, her rival for the affections of this one man. There was only a want to understand. A want for the best to happen.
And be damned if the best was that her heart would break and that she she would remain somewhere in-between for all eternity. Always, he was so much important than her.
As long as he was happy, she could pretend to smile. Thabara
He paused, and after a moment's hesitation he nodded, face still pale.
"Not much, only fleeting images.. Something she said, and.. her crown. She always bore a crown woven from her own hair, I remembered this much from dreams.. before.. But I was not aware that I had been the one to.." He broke off and shook his head, a wistful smile flitting over his face for but a moment. "At least it makes sense now that I would know how to braid. But still.. Where she should be, in my heart and in my memories, there is only.. emptiness." A void which was, in a sense, just as frightening as the one he had found beyond the gates which used to open into his domain. Zero Dream Void. That much have been a frightening thing. Whereas her memories was lacking, she knew, deep inside, that feelings at least remained, dormant, waiting only for the right time to awaken... While she was not sure about her memories, she knew full well that this part of her was complete. Just... asleep.
"Would you rather stop, then ?" But of course, that, she had never had an idea off. It might be better to back off, if it was a gesture reserved for her only. Thabara
"Thank you, but no." He shook his head, offering her a hesitant, yet warm smile for the consideration she displayed. "It is.. I will be alright. I will just have to think of something else." Zero Dream She nodded softly, then, letting the matter drop as she picked up the chair from the ground (and felt relieved that the sound did not alert the aoidei) and sat again, trying to contain her worry. Thabara
"It is alright, really," Nergal insisted once more, the quiet words directed more to himself than they were to her.
He undid the elaborate braid he had started before completely and, after taking a few moments' time of consideration, he started anew. For Echo something less regal was in order, he thought, instead perhaps something more.. playful. Surely she was a powerful goddess in her own right, but he could not imagine her referring to herself as a queen.
The task was calming him, soothing his upset spirit, and soon enough his fingers ceased to tremble. "Is there anything you remember from the past?" he asked, when the silence seemed to stretch too long even for him. "A song perhaps?" Zero Dream "A few melodies." She answered. "I... rarely remember things in a clear fashion. I forget names and faces, but I remember... I remember mostly feeling and voices. It is a bit wierd."
I want to see him one last time...
Then it dawned on her. With all that had happened, she had forgotten all about that...
"Actually, on that. I... have a favor to ask of you." Would she be asking for too much... ? "I... am searching for a single mortal soul of my own." Thabara
"Truly?" Nergal raised a brow, intrigued. This was the first time Echo had mentioned something like this to him. "Who is it? I will help if I can, but I cannot give any promises - my powers are still very limited, as you know." It must be someone of importance if she was making such a request, he mused. One of her followers from ages past perhaps? "But I would certainly be grateful for a chance to repay your kindness." Zero Dream "He.. It is very likely that he has passed on by now. This may make things a bit easier..." She then felt silent for a moment. "But he is not of this world. His name is Tadashi Hazuki.... I would like to talk to him, if it is at all possible to find him." Thabara
"Tadashi Hazuki," Nergal repeated, filing the name away into his memory. There was something vaguely familiar to it - not as if he'd ever heard it before, but more like the sound of it. "The chances that I may be able to find him now are fairly slim, but.. once things are returning to their set order and I find a way to call in all those souls which have gone astray.. Sooner or later every mortal will have to appear before my throne. I will keep an eye open for him."
He finished a small braid and pinned it up, moving to the next one and slowly starting to have fun with his little task - at least as long as he managed to ban the mental image of the woven crown from his consciousness.. "Is it someone related to your host?" he asked after a little while. "The name.. it has a slightly familiar ring to it, that is why I am asking." Zero Dream "He is her father." She said, softly, to answer his question. "She has expressed a desire that I meet him, to at least provide some kind of closure - for him and back then, I believe, for her both." She gave a soft sigh. "They had not seen each other in years before I even came into the equation, being worlds apart and all that... She wanted him to know what she had become, at least." Thabara
"I see." Some tiny piece of information was tugging at the god's consciousness, trying to beg for his attention - something Echo had mentioned just recently. What was it? It did seem to be of some significance..
Ah.
"However.. I am not sure if you have been referring to Lien or to your own host back then, but.. when we talked about them possibly being from the same world, did you not mention something about a different time period?" Zero Dream "A different world and a different time period." She precised. "If we're talking about my host, that is. This is what made her way back home so difficult." She couldn't really say impossible, even if it would have seemed so, at least to the teenager. "Lien... I am not quite sure, even if some things seem familiar. She does not seem to have time-traveled, at any rate." Thabara
"Ah." So, hosts had been drawn to this place not only through space but through time as well.. "Well, if it is the past your host came from, I do not see a problem. However, if it is the future - you may have a chance to still meet him alive." He raised a curious brow. Zero Dream "That is quite possible... I must admit that I do not quite know how these things work." The goddess gave a faint giggle. "I do wish that he is well. I must admit Zero's fondness of him might have carried over. This was a strong part of her... I figure that if I do meet him, I may be able to also figure out exactly where I stand in all this, as myself and not one half of myself. Am I making any sense ?" Thabara
"Yes and no. You are making sense, it is just that.. I cannot say I comprehend. But that is certainly no fault of yours," Nergal assured her. A shortcomming of my own rather. Or a strength perhaps - I do not know.
He finished the last of Echo's braids and pinned it up in a loop like he'd done with the others, leaving most of the goddess' hair to flow freely down her back.
"There, I am done," Nergal said, stepping back. He felt a faint twinge of regret when he had to let go of the silken strands, and at the same time, deep within, a sadness and longing he could not explain. "Go see if you like it," he told her with a gentle smile, but it did not quite reach his eyes. Quote: "Perhaps this is a thing only I can understand." She pondered out loud, then nodded softly as he spoke, happy and sad both. She lingered a bit before going to find a mirror, however.
I wish I could bring her back for you... and for myself, as well. She sighed. Thabara "Perhaps," Nergal murmured indecisively. He did understand Echo's reasoning for having merged with her host's soul, but still.. The idea of doing so seemed strange to him, foreign. Almost revolting even, though he would never have admitted so to the gentle goddess.
Slowly he started to pick up the remaining hair pins and clips, wondering if Echo would like what she saw in the mirror, if he would get another chance to braid her hair. Because, even despite the unsettling assault of memories of times long since past, he had very much enjoyed it.
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