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 Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:11 am
Delivery ! Zero Dream  Getting to his dad alone was either going to be very easy, or very complicated. Thankfully for the young boy, he knew the secret to getting dad all alone.
And that secret was to wait. Eventually everyone else would fall asleep, leaving only two awake - the one who barely slept, and the one who didn't sleep at all. That is, him and Nergal.
In the meantime, he had double-checked everything. He'd unrolled the parchment, made sure all the letters were even, made sure there wasn't even the hint of an ink spill anywhere. Made sure there was no errors in the words that he could discern. Then he rolled and tied it again, as neatly as he could manage it. Everything had to be perfect - even at a young age, Lament was a notorious perfectionist, rarely truly satisfied in his own work. Even now he wasn't not completely, but redoing everything all the time was a vicious spiral - it had to cut it off and call it 'done' somewhere.
And really, this had waited enough.
During all these preparations, the household had felt quiet, and that was when Akakios came out of his room, carefully closing the door behind him. Not that Liddell was likely to escape her hiding place, but...
His first thought was the study - Nergal was almost always where. He walked the short span in between his door and that one, trying to quell the butterflies in his stomach with little to no result.
Stage fright is normal. Echo had once told him, patting the top of his head. It means you care about what you're about to do, and you want it to go well. It's not about if you have it or not, but how well you hide it.
Some part of him wished his mom was here. It wasn't so much stage fright per-se, but he figured it was similar. Truth was, Kios was striving oh-so-very-hard to come out as remotely mature. And then, finally, he rose his hand and knocked.Thabara  There was no immediate response. But then, once a few seconds had ticked by, the massive door soundlessly opened a gap just as wide as a finger. A coincidence, or an invitation?
“Enter.” Nergal's deep, somber voice sounded from within.Zero Dream To anyone else, it might have seemed like a scene ripped straight out of an horror movie - but Lament simply pushed the door open and slipped inside, before closing it again with his foot.
He had never really been in the study much - even when his father was in it. It was dark, save for the light of the wisps, but getting used to it wasn't so bad - there hadn't been any light in the hallway either. No, it was the voices that had the most effect - there was suddently so many of them and he now so sheldomly heard them that he wasn't used to it anymore.
"Dad." He called out, trying to ignore them the best he could, and focus. "Are you busy ?" Thabara “Not as much that I would not have time to spare for my children.” Upon his remark, more whisps were brought fourth than the few which had dimly lit the room so far for his own purpose. They were unusually still, small ghostly lanterns, floating mid-air almost motionlessly instead of their usual randomly flitting about. Only the Lord of the Dead could make them behave like that.
Now the vast chamber slowly filled with their gentle light, revealing the massive desk and seating accommodations, book shelves, and rows of small niches set into the wall, like a columbarium. While the room certainly was still part of the Pantheon, it also had a distinct feel of being underground to it.
“What is it?” Nergal inquired, marking the page in a rather large and important looking tome and closing it, turning to face his youngest son. Zero Dream Oddly enough, once alight, the room seemed even bigger than it actually was in reality. Or was it ?
It was hard to tell.
It did little to bother Kios, who just stepped forward, trying to tune out the other voices the best he could. "You told me you wanted a copy of the lament I wrote with Crys." Maybe this wasn't the smoothest introduction ever, but here it was. "Had it done some time ago... but I forgot." Better to just admit it, really, as he handed the rolled parchment over.
Hopefully ill't be good enough. Thabara “Indeed, I did.” He'd never quite forgotten about the little task he'd given to his youngest son on a whim, but he had allowed for the matter to drop below his horizon, as it was hardly something of Great Importance. Though it might well be for Kios, he realized. Tactful, he reminded himself.
“And I am most pleased to find you have gone through with it.” With great care Underworld unrolled the parchment to study its contents. “Your penmanship has improved quite a bit,” he complimented. “You must have been practicing – a lot.” Zero Dream Kios waited, kind of going back and forth from one foot to another, fidgeting - so much for the mature image he was trying to project, really - while awaiting the verdict on his work.
And he all but beamed when it came. "I worked on it forever." He said. "It took me hours."
Ah, childhood innocence. Akakios would one day likely come to find that hours were such a short length of time, spiraling away all too quicky - but that had been the longest he'd ever worked on a single thing in one sitting ! That had to count for something, right ? Thabara So eternity equals a few hours now? He quirked a hairless brow, but said nothing on it. “It is obvious you have put a lot of effort into it. I am honored. I certainly would like to see more of your writing.”
With care he rolled the parchment up and stored it deep into the folds of his robes. Deeper even, as – within the span of a mortal's breath – it was gone from this world. Zero Dream "I have more." Lament all but beamed happily. "In my books, though, not on parchment." He could certain go get said books if dad wanted, just as long as dad didn't follow. He didn't feel like prying Liddell down from the ceiling, really. She certainly was shedding enough as it was - it was all over his room, no matter how hard he tried to get it out - though he'd managed to have it off his clothes, at least. Thabara Nergal nodded, thankfully giving no indication that he might be in a hurry to read Kios' other creations. Instead he glanced about, trying to find something to give to his youngest as a reward. He had never planned for anything, but given how much effort the child had apparently put into this, there should be something- Ah. That is perfect.
He rose from his seat and stepped to one of the many small alcoves which lined the wall, like pigeon holes, most of them empty. He picked up a small object from one of them, holding it close to his chest while he infused it with his Power. The object was old, and already tainted with his influence, so this was surprisingly easy to do.
“This is for you,” he said, holding out the small artifact for his son to see. “A token of my gratitude.”
It was a perfectly round … mirror of sorts, its obsidian surface highly polished. The corroding frame had darkened with age, but must – at some point – have been silver. The runes embossed on its withered surface were still quite visible.
Zero Dream Kios had actually been just about to turn and go fetch his books when his father's voice stopped him, and his eyes went wide. Something for him ? Really ?
Being the youngest of three, well, Akakios had learnt very quickly that most of things that were his were also likely his sibilings' as well, beside the things neither Soto or Crys held interest with. Like, books. But this was completely different !
...Through he would likely let his big brother and big sister use it anyway. Still, it was his and, eyes still wide as he traced one finger carefully on the runes, he looked up at his father. It was that look, that only meant... questions. "It's pretty ! What do it do ?" It had to be special. It looked - and mostly, it felt special. Thabara “It is a scrying mirror,” Nergal explained patiently. “Something used by mediums as a focus to perceive their visions, to divine the future or the past, the secrets that lie within themselves or others … Or gain insight from the dead. It was given to me by a young lady who had inherited it as a family heirloom, handed down for generations … She said she did not have the 'gift', and thus wished for me to give it to someone worthy. It is very old, by mortal standards.”
He paused, and then clarified: “This one is attuned to the realm of the dead, of course. You, being of my blood, should be able to make it work. You might be able to talk to your 'invisible friends' through it.” Zero Dream "Ohhhhh..." This was even better ! Akakios loved things that had stories about them - and even more so that his dad found him worthy of something like this. Old things were even better, in the aspect - they had so many secrets that could be left to discover.
It was, perhaps, a little odd that someone so new was so fascinated with the old, but the thought never even entered his head.
"Who was she ? Was she nice ? How does it work ? What do those runes mean ?" Lament looked up at his father, all eagerness and excitement, his previous attempts at looking 'grown-up', as well as the mentioned books, completely forgotten.
The onslaught of questions had began. Thabara “Her name is Muirne, and … well, I figure she is nice. She aids in the construction of my temple, and also offered a helping hand with this year's festivities for the Day of the Dead. If you wish to meet her, you should ask Xingyuan – she should know of her whereabouts.”
“The runes, I think, may be merely decorative – I feel no true power from them. But it has been handed down through generations of Seers and Mediums, and such artifacts tend to gain somewhat of a … 'soul', in a way.”
He paused, wondering how to best explain to make the mirror work – especially as he himself certainly had no need for such crutches to commune with the dead.
“You use it as a focus, to empty your mind of everything else … Similar, perhaps, to when you compose your poetry – nothing else is important, nothing else is allowed to distract you. The dead may sense your presence then, through the Veil which parts them from the living, and respond to you. It should work well now, now that the borders are thinning once again. The Day of the Dead is close.” Zero Dream Akakios listened intently, more than willing to absorb anything his father had to say about the mirror, just like a little sponge. But then, Lament was like that with anything that remotely interested him - he had to know everything, all about it. Had he had a tail like his older brother, it would have been waggling with sheer excitement.
"So the closer to the day of the dead." He started. "The best it work, and the furthest it is from it, the harder it is ?" He blinked at that question. "Why is it like that ?"
Maybe he would go see Muirne. And drown the poor unsuspecting woman in questions. Thabara “Because …” Nergal paused, wondering how to explain something which he himself only knew by instinct. “Because the border between the domains of the living and the dead grows thinner as the Day of the Dead draws close. I cannot say why that is, though. Perhaps because I made it to be a part of myself now.” After all, the dead could not leave without his permission – not all of them at once, like this. “Or perhaps it is because of the mortals' belief and expectations, after what took place last year …” Zero Dream "Ahh." He seemed to find this explanation acceptable, thankfully - and he looked down at the mirror once more. He would try it - not right now, not in front of dad, because some part of him was pretty certain he'd mess it up, and messing up in front of dad ? Embarassing ! Messing up in front of mom was bad enough !
He started to trace the runes again. "They remind me of something." He couldn't shake off that feeling. "Must have seen them in a book somewhere..." But which one ? He'd read so many books ! Thabara "I wouldn't know ..." Not that he didn't do a lot of reading himself, but his own lecture as a rule consisted of heavy tomes about law, and burial rites and traditions. Which led him to wonder: "What do you read, actually?" Stories and poetry, he presumed, whatever was suited for children of such young age. Zero Dream Hmmm. Perhaps this would have been an easier question if Nergal had asked his youngest son what he didn't read. "Stories... Like Alice In Wonderland ? Crys loves it." He read it to her, often. "And uh... poems. I found a book on cats once, but I havn't found it again. There was this one about... history of old mortal civilisations once ? I... didn't understand much of it." He pouted. "Then there's all the books in weird languages I can't read."
Needless to say, if it was in the Library and within his reach, he had probably attempted to read it. Thabara “That is … quite a lot of books.” Underworld commented. Stories and poetry, he had been right. Mostly. He hadn’t suspected his youngest son to be interested in man’s history as well.
“Not yet,” he said upon the matter of ‘weird languages’. “It will come to you, as you grow older and more into your power. You are a god, after all.” His pale fingers gently touched upon Kioses’ lavender locks. Would it, really? Whenever he rose to visit the mortal realms, he found he understood and spoke their languages just as naturally as breathing was to them.
But what of the old languages, the people that were long since gone?
These, and their knowledge, were solely within his jurisdiction now (and possibly Gianfar’s).
“If there is a book … any book of particular interest for you, perhaps I could find someone to translate it for you,” he offered, painfully aware he was possibly making a promise he might be unable to keep. “Maybe,” he added, just in case.
Still, the possibilities that now were at his fingertips … He still was getting used to them. He could summon someone, anyone among the dead to tutor his son, he realized. Wise men, sages, philosophers and great writers … there were a great many who hadn’t passed on yet. Zero Dream "The library has so many books." So it was like heaven, really. At least, as far as Kios was concerned, it were. The young boy chewed on his lip thoughtfully at that - he really hoped that Gianfar wouldn't be mad that he'd gone here while he was gone... Wherever, really.
Had he inadvertently pushed his teacher away ?
"Gianfar said he would teach me, but I havn't seen him for a long time." There was sadness in the boy's tone, even as he leaned into his father's touch. The rest of his worries, however, he kept from himself. "That would be nice." If not, then... Surely he'd find a way, a book buried deep within the library, only waiting to be found ? A book that would teach him how ?
He just had to dig deep enough to find it.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:14 am
Brothers Reyna Crelos  Sotiris was bored. This was never a good thing. It typically resulted in his doing bad things he wasn't supposed to. For the most part he intended to behave. Mostly. Dad was present after all, but currently Dad was pre-occupied with his sister whom had pitched a rather large fit as she was often wont to do when things did not go her way.
There was no way in hell, heaven, or earth he was going to spend his day with the aoidei so that left him with one person to pester other than his puppy: Akakios.
He knocked at his brother's door tentatively. He waited for a moment that seemed like forever and a day before opening the door and peeking inside.
"Hallo, what'cha doing?" he asked, "Can come in?"Zero Dream Akakios was also bored. This was also never a good thing, even if then younger brother was less prone to mischief than the older. Sure, he was reading - but he'd read that story so much that he knew it by heart already. But his cat wasn't budging from under the desk, his sister was with dad (something about a fit, though he had been conveniently out of the way of said fit as he often tended to be), and he had no idea where his brother was.
Well, he hadn't had an idea where his brother was until a few seconds ago. Akakios perked up at the sound of his door opening, from where he had been laying down on his bed.
"Nothing." This was partly true, given how little his reading had held his attention. "Sure, come in." Normally he might have added to be careful not to let Liddell dash out the door, but there was no need to worry about [i]that now, thanks to dad.
"Sis' still with Dad ?" Reyna Crelos Sotiris sauntered his way in and quietly shut the door behind him with a backwards glance to make sure no one else was following him in. "Yeah," he answered, "I think I heard her screaming. Still." He giggled quietly under his breath at the very thought. Their poor father probably had no real idea as to handle his daughter when she was in one of her moods.
He flopped down onto the bed next to his little brother and peered curiously over at the book. "Reading a book?" he murmured tentatively. He fell silent for a moment as he gazed levelly over at his little brother. "Show me how to do that," he declared as he tapped at the page with one hand. Zero Dream "Still ?" Kios kind of winced at the thought. He could quite sympatize with his dad, right this moment - he wasn't really too sure how to handle an angry Crys, himself. Which had much to do with him 'magically' not being around when it did happen.
"Yeah." He answered, but then was a little surprised at his brother's sudden request. Soto had certainly never been interested in books before. "I can try..."
How had Gianfar taught him, again ? Oh, yeah.
"Words are made of letters... So you need to learn letters first. Then you put the letters together to read words." He slid off the bed, wandered to his desk, took a pen and some paper, and flopped right back in his initial position. "Like this..." He started to write down the letters, explaining them.
He was keeping it shorter and sweeter than Knowledge's version had been - due to his own inexperience in teaching, and also because, really, there was no telling how long he would have Guardian's attention. Reyna Crelos "Still," Sotiris replied with wide eyes. His sister's anger had only ever been directed at him once, and he just assumed that he not put himself in that position again if he had his way. He turned his attention down at the letters that Kios wrote down and grinned.
"I know this one and this one," he pointed out, "And this one. Spells my name." He was certainly vain enough a creature to figure out how to properly write his own name. He had a basic grasp of letters and he liked to imitate his baby brother when no one was looking, but instead of parchment he typically scrawled things out in the dirt and then wiped it away so no one else could see.
He snatched up the pen from his brother and wrote out his own name in surprisingly neat letters. "See. Spells S-O-T-I- ... whatever this one is... I-S.." Zero Dream This would likely evolve into a very amusing picture in the future - the two brothers doing their best to escape their sister's wrath. Now that Kios had even truly been on the receiving end of it. Being the baby brother sometimes did have its uses.
"Yeah." That was more than he thought Soto knew, really, which made things easier. When his older brother was done, he took the pen back. "You're missing the r." He scrawled it in-between the two i's of his brother's name. "It looks like that.
The younger boy tapped his pen against the paper, then wrote out another word. Puppy. "Can you read that ?" Reyna Crelos "Yes, yes!" Soto exclaimed, "That's the one.. R." His puppy dog tail wagged with his excitement and he squirmed to settle himself down into a more comfortable position. It was obvious that his little brother was now stuck with him for some time. There would be no escape.
"Pupp.... pupppp..." the child said as he attempted to read what it was his brother wrote. His brow furrowed into worried lines as he contemplated that strange looking letter at the end. He traced it with one finger before shouting excitedly, "PUPPY!!!" Zero Dream Thankfully, for Akakios, this seemed to be a good thing. See, he knew how distracted his brother could be, and the more he kept his attention, the more he'd be able to teach him before Soto wandered off to cause trouble once more.
"Yeah ! That last letter is a Y." This was working, in spite of him not knowing how it would really go. now he could pinpoint what letters his brother had issues with, which ones he didn't, and go deeper into those that required deeper analysis.
Letter made words - that's what he was focusing on for now. Then he'd start to make sentences with words and see how that would do.
He wrote another word - Crys. "And this ?" He kept to familiar words for now, things he knew Soto know. Gianfar had taken such steps with him, and he figured there had been a reason, so he mimicked the god who had once been his teacher. Reyna Crelos The green child stared down at the paper, brow furrowed in concentration. He traced the C and then looked over at his brother as he rested his chin in one propped up hand. "Crr.... Cry..s? CRYS. Haha. Baby sister," he laughed, clearly pleased with himself. He shot his brother a sly look and smirked. "Think Sis is still yelling at Dad?"
Their poor father. He hoped not. He sensed to some degree that their father was a bit stressed being surrounded by all the servants and people in his wife's stead. His daughter throwing a fit of epic proportions hardly helped matters any. Zero Dream Kios perked up at that question, letting his eyes fall closed. But... no go. He couldn't hear anything at all. He lacked the amazing hearing of his mother, or even of his sister's. Or perhaps he had inherited it, in a way, with how he could hear ghosts where they were around. "I dunno. I can't hear anything." And then, after a moment of thinking. "Im not going to go check."
Dad probably wasn't going to be in a good mood after he was done. Better to stay all holed up and safe, yes ?
Lament then took a moment to ponder the next word he would have his brother attempt to read out. He wanted something more difficult, but not too difficult. Maybe... Ah.
Then he wrote out his next word - this certainly looked more like a game than any kind of teaching. And so he wrote out cookies. "This ?" Reyna Crelos Sotiris laughed outright. "I'm not going to go check, either. I am not that crazy," he joked before turning his attention back towards the paper his brother was writing on. He hummed under his breath in quiet thought as he contemplated the word written before him. There was that C thing again and two O's. He eyes brightened once he had sounded it out in his head.
"COOKIES!" he shouted in excitement. He bounced up and stood in the middle of the bed. "Let's go get some!" he declared, "Crazy face aoide with lots of arms was baking some this morning."
He grinned and bounced off the bed and onto the floor with a hop to his step. "Come onnn.... will be an adventure," he teased, "See who can get there the fastest and not get caught, eh, eh? Can snatch them up and run outside!"
It sounded like a perfectly flawless plan! Zero Dream So much for Soto's attention span, yes ?
But Kios knew very well what this was. It was a very open challenge. One did not back down from a challenge like that. That made one a chicken, and he wasn't a chicken ! He shoved the paper and pen in his pocket and was off his bed in the next second.
"What do we do if we get caught ? Run away ?" Akakios badly needed a mischief 101. Reyna Crelos "Well yeah," Sotiris chuckled. He ruffled his brother's hair playfully and grinned. "We have to be .. shh... quiet," he went on, voice dropping in volume as he spoke. A sly smile stayed upon his face. "Everyone is busy right now since Mom is not here."
This was potentially going to be the most perfect cookie heist in the history of the WORLD... or so Sotiris was convinced. Distracted aoidei, distracted Dad with screaming sister -- he couldn't have asked for a better diversion!
"Okay. So we run quietquiethush to the kitchen, right? Stuff cookies in my bag and then we RUN some more to get outside, okay?" Zero Dream Akakios was smart - of course he was - but it wasn't the kind of smart that resulted into successful cookie-filled escapes. So he just listened to his older brother, a kind of conspiration-y look on his face. "Okay." He whispered back. Sneak, stuff back, run outside, be quiet. Sounded simple, right ?
Lament was very good at quiet. It was always how he had managed his own escapes when he wasn't supposed to go out. Slip out under everyone's radar, which was not always an easy task given the sheer amount of aoidei. Reyna Crelos It was true that Sotiris was by far the sneakiest, and perhaps the most conniving, of his siblings. His brother taught him a bit more about reading, and in return he unconsciously was teaching him how to get into trouble without getting into trouble.
"Come on," Soto whispered as he grabbed his little brother by the hand. He moved in almost complete silence with a grin plastered across his face. Getting to the kitchen would be easy enough. The hard part, he knew from experience, would be getting the cookies and then getting back out again undetected.
"Watch for aoidei, kay?" he told his brother in a hushed tone as they skittered into the kitchen. Zero Dream Kios gladly followed alongside his brother - he was doing good on the silent aspect himself, really, and he positioned himself to be able to look out for anyone that might be incoming without being seen too early, nodding along to his brother's question. He'd keep an eye open, but... Oh, how was he supposed to warn Soto if someone was coming if he was supposed to be quiet ? Uh oh... Hopefully there wouldn't be, through - everything was silent beside Sotiris' rummaging in the kitchen, and he didn't see anyone yet, either. Reyna Crelos Sotiris pulled himself up on the counter and glanced over towards his brother. Good. He was watching. He stuffed as many cookies as he could into his satchel as he possibly could without squishing them, hopped off the counter, and ran to his brother. Mission half-way accomplished!
"Let's go," he said as he nudged Kios out the door. He paused with a wide-eyed look when he spotted Mandara. "Runrunrunrun," he said in an urgent whisper. Of all the aoidei the could possibly run into, she was by far the worst what with all her many arms. Zero Dream Doing good so far, really ! Soto had gotten the cookies. When his older brother got back to him, he just nodded along and went to follow, but then... Oh, disaster ! Why did it have to be Mandara ? If it had been Ianthe, he might have been able to sweet talk his way out of trouble. Ianthe had a weak spot a mile wide for him, and he knew how to take adventage of it. Mandara... well, was so cheerful that it sometimes scared him, really.
So the best idea was indeed to just run, and he did just that, launching ahead in a suprising speed for a young child who sat all day reading books. Not as fast as Soto did run, but hopefully fast enough for him not to get caught ! They couldn't get caught after going that far ! Reyna Crelos Mandara did indeed spot them, but Sotiris couldn't hear anything she might've said to either he or his brother over his own manic laughter. He grabbed a hold of his brother and rushed him through the main entrance of his family's quarters, and then they were free! Sort of!
"Keep going!" Sotiris declared, still laughing all the while, "She'll follow us!" He knew that from personal experience. She would after a while give up and return to the main quarters lest she be needed by someone within the household. Zero Dream Akakios wasn't laughing. He looked a little terrified, even. Just a little bit. Certainly enough to allow full freedom to his brother for dragging her around.
"We can hide." He whispered. "Under the cushions in a teahouse." He was never going to win another game of hide and seek again - but it was for a good cause. For cookies ! He could live with that loss. Reyna Crelos Sotiris fell silent and all that could be heard from him was the sound of his feet hitting the tile flooring. He kept a firm grip on his brother and hauled him along. He paused only briefly to hide around one corner. He pressed one finger to his lips to signal to his brother that they needed to fall silent.
Faintly he could hear Mandara call, "Oh young masters, do wait!"
He snickered under his breath and darted around the next corner with Akakios in tow. "To the teahouse," he declared in a hushed whisper as he took off at a dead run just again. Hiding under the cushions, eh? That hadn't ever occured to him. He filed that away as a good hiding place, and it was true -- Kios would never win at hide and seek again. Zero Dream It was for a good cause, he had to keep on reminding himself. For cookies ! And mischief ! Yes.
Akakios continued to follow his brother, only answering with a nod. He was a silent as he could be without being... well, their father. Or Silence himself. Reyna Crelos Sotiris hid there for a time with his brother once they had reached the teahouse. He idly peeked out from underneath one of the cushions before bursting free with a gleeful noise after deeming that they were safe and sound. No aoidei in sight! Success was theirs!
He moved to get himself more comfortable to sit atop the cushions and delved into his bag. Wordlessly he handed Akakios a couple of cookies before snatching one up for himself.
"Mmmm," he hummed in pleasured as he chewed on his thoughtfully. "Good times," he declared with a brash smirk. Zero Dream "That was fun !" Really, that had been ! The younger boy accepted the cookie and took a bite of it. Mandara had came across like three times and had never found them ! Really, teahouse cushions were the best hiding places ever.
"How long do you think she'll look for us ?" He said, a little amused.
Turned out that the aoide wouldn't give up, and the boys simply turned it into their own game, keeping them well-occupied until the scent of cookies finally lured them back.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:15 am
Assessing The Great Library Syrie Endiovar took a steadying breath - he never liked putting things off unless he had to (doing so just made things worse) - but going into Gianfar's Sacred Lair, his Library...to see the damage to all of Knowledge's prized possessions had been something that he couldn't quite make himself do.
Yes, he and Revei wanted very badly to clean the Library for their lover, to save what could be save - and perhaps save some things that almost couldn't? - so that when Gianfar returned to them, he would at least have a neat place to think and to start anew from.
But it was still going to be painful. He missed Gianfar dearly - not in the 'missing a piece of my very soul' sort of way that he now missed Universe (though he'd never realized the place Lucius had held until he'd been Eaten) - and being surrounded by so much of him would only press that loss deeper.
'Oh come now, wasting time. Colin would be disappointed with me - time to bite the bullet.' Thus girded, the God of Silence brought one elegant hand to the door before him. How long had he been standing there, poised to enter the Library? How long with Hue standing there, ready and attentive to anything his Master wished? It didn't matter; time was irrelevant. He pushed, opening one of the two great doors; his senses were immediately assaulted by the scent of dust, parchment, ink...and Gianfar.
Broken shelving, books turned to dust...a realm in filthy chaos greeted his searching eyes. Even just at the entrance, it was disheartening. So much so that he actually spoke aloud: "This is going to be even more work than I first thought..."
Hue followed his Master, eyes wide at the destruction Gehenna had wrought upon the Library - he'd seen it, before. This was horrifying! Zero Dream It turned out that the library wasn't as empty as Silence was expecting it to be - the clues were all there, scattered for the god to notice after he recovered from his shock - footprints in the dust, tables that were wiped clean now starting to one more gather dust again.
Whoever dwelt here hadn't been taking much care of the place, but it would make sense once Endiovar saw just who it was that had occupied the library while it's owner hadn't. A sneeze and a cloud of dust later, a pale-haired head darted back from a row of bookshelves. This... hadn't meant to happen, though thankfully most of the books that had remained there had already been damaged - he remembered, what seemed forever ago now, that most of the books and tablets that had been pristine had been moved close to entrance by Gianfar. That had been the day of his first lessons.
And then, only a few lessons later, Knowledge had all together vanished. Had it been Akakios' fault, he wondered ? Had he been a bad student ? There were no answers to these questions, but he knew that not all the non-damaged books where near the door.
And Lament had become determined to find them - even if it sometime got a little hazardous. "Whoops..." He said to no one, not yet realizing that he had company. Syrie As quiet as the Library was - and as empty as it had seemed initially, Endiovar did indeed begin to see the signs of occupancy left by an unknown inhabitant. He paused, one hand reaching back just slightly to keep Hue from speaking - the Aoide hadn't yet opened his mouth, but Endiovar had felt that he would and wanted to arrest the delivery of unborn words into the world. 'Look, Hue...but do not speak. Can you see the footprints? The disturbances in the dust and the stacks of books that are more ordered than others?' Yes, there was someone else there - but who?
His eyes caught a glimpse of pale purple hair and his ears the sound of a sneeze and feet padding about. Ah, a child then! Definitely small and light enough to be a child...but what was a child doing in the Great Library? Moving forward, towards Lament's slender frame, "Hello, young scholar. Please, don't be startled. I am Endiovar, God of Silence...companion of Gianfar, this Library's Master." Although Endi would have much preferred not speaking aloud, he felt that once more a voice was necessary to communicate. Jade-green eyes swept over the child and he sent out a tendril of magic, trying to discern whom he was speaking with - if was familiar, but nothing he'd felt before.
An answer would simply have to wait until the dusty child answered him. At least Hue wouldn't be afraid that some child was going to harm his master! The Aoide could be so stuffy and fretful when it came to things that might take Endiovar away again...but who could blame him? Poor fellow. Zero Dream As Silence and his aoide came closer to the child, the reason of the 'whoops' became a little more evident - a shelf had caved in, sending up a cloud of dust, both the normal and paper kind. Most of the books on this self, apparently, had already been beyond hope of doing much with them.
Akakios shook his head to clear some of the dust away, and it was then that he noticed something unusual - he was no longer alone, and was now looking at Endiovar and Hue with wide eyes.
There was familiarity in the name, and Lament drummed his fingers against the side of his tunic before it seemed to come to him. "You're dad's friend !" He said. "Im Kios."
He tilted his head to the side, inquisitively. "Is Gianfar okay ? I haven't seen him in a long time." Syrie In the slowly sinking dust, the child sat, big eyes wide and startled - not just from the falling shelving, but also from seeing someone where he had obviously not expected to see another. Closer than before, Endiovar could feel that strange familiarity even more strongly and wondered but that he didn't already know this child in some manner.
"Ah! That explains much." Golden curls caught bits of paper and dust as the taller God knelt, bringing himself closer to Akakios' height. Now that he could place the parents of the fair-haired child before him, it made sense to him why Kios would seem familiar to him despite the fact that they'd not met prior to this. "Yes, and you may call me Endi, if you wish." He smiled at the diminutive godling before answering the last question.
"Would that I knew with certainty...I believe he's gone off on one of his trips, gotten sucked into Knowing. Gianfar does that, from time to time." What Endiovar didn't say was that he and Revei had no true idea as to where their lover might be, but that they felt he was okay. "Kios, have you been cleaning in here? Do Echo and Nergal know that you've been alone in the Great Library?" Questions, gently put without the tone of an adult going over a child's head; Silence was beautifully fair about things: he tended to treat children as small adults, not as inferior creatures to be guided without regard for their own wills or wishes. Zero Dream Oh, so it hadn't been anything he'd done... ? Oh, that was a relief ! He really hadn't wanted to scare his teacher away.
So that was kind of like when he read for hours and hours without noticing until everyone else was asleep ? Except longer than that.
"I've been trying to move the okay book to the front." Kios admitted, nodding at Endiovar. It was much better this way ! Why did everyone else need to be so tall, anyway ? "Gianfar started on that when he first taught me, but I don't think he finished. I found a few books here that arn't falling apart." Not cleaning, and perhaps a bit of a selfish journey.
He said, however, nothing about if his parents knew what he was doing here, which was in itself quite telling. Syrie All of the thoughts running through Kio's mind were - to use a very apt pun - an open book to Endiovar, but he tried his best to avert his eyes and not read the child. It was hard, something akin to ignoring someone screaming their secrets with a bull-horn during a prayer at church, but he always tried.
"You've done a wonderful job, Kios. Gianfar would be very pleased to see how well you've done for him." He couldn't help chuckling at the child's lament at the tallness of the shelving in the Library; for a child it would absolutely seem distressingly loftly. "Some can be fixed with an application of magic...some we will hold together with magic just long enough to copy them..."
Knowing that he would gain nothing by remarking on it, the curly-haired God of Silence kept his mouth shut about his companion having left his parents in the dark as to his whereabouts. 'Having you helping would make this much easier on me...' He gave Kios a thoughtful look before continuing, "Revei and I are planning on cleaning up in here...and saving what we can. Would you still be willing to help?" Zero Dream It wasn't that Kios was genuinely trying to be an open book - he simply was. Like most children, he simply lacked the idea of such body language restrain - and the thought of controlling his thoughts and body to such a core level simply never crossed his young mind.
No matter how much the boy thought and would pretend otherwise, there was still plently of child-like innocence in him.
He beamed at the paise he got, again much like any child would have - who didn't like to be told they where doing good, after all ? He didn't understand the whole magic thing, but that was fine.
"Sure !" The boy nodded his head for emphasis. He'd be very glad to help ! Syrie For all that he was no child, Endiovar hoped beyond hope that Kios and his siblings would remain children for as long as possible...there was just something so beautifully refreshing about the bald innocence of children. Unfortuantely, in all worlds, such precious attributes rarely suffered to last long...it was the nature of things.
Kios' obvious pleasure at being verbally rewarded for his work shone brightly and warmed the God of Silence, leaving him with the sort of fuzzy feelings that some associated with adorable puppies or kittens.
"Wonderful. Today I'm just going to look around and take stock...I know it will be a big job, but I'm sure we'll be able to get it taken care of." Kios was, of course, included in the we Endiovar spoke of; there were others: servants to Endiovar and Revei...and any other mortals or immortals that they were able to conscript or cajole into aiding the cause.
It was not long into his walking the varied sections of the batted Library that another would join them: one with an over-powering aura of magic. A creature with nightmare proportions and fur so plush and inky it seemed to absorb the light around it.
The Dragon King, Yu Five Claw made his way into the Great Library via the door that Silence had left open upon his entrance. He sought Gianfar in the Library, but swiftly acertained that the grey dove was no where in the flesh, though his signature could be found on all things inside the Library, save Akakios. His multiple eyes narrowed; the child-scent he did not know, but the other - that one he did! Endiovar, one of Gianfar's two mates - and one that mayhap could answer his questions...after all, he too had been a party to the event that he wished information on.
Yu's heavy frame made his way to where Silence and his diminuative companion were; obviously Endiovar had felt Yu's arrival and had stiffened - while he was not quite afraid of the beastial King, he did understand that there was a fine line between violence wrought and violence restrained within the Emblem Pillar. "Greetings, god of Silence, small child of Underworld."
For the Dragon King may not have known the child, he knew the parents. At least, he knew who had brought this one and it's siblings into Being. Zero Dream Take stock. This wasn't exactly something Kios was very knowledgeable about. For all his good intentions, he lacked in organization... unless he was writing. This, however, wasn't writing, so he'd simply gone wherever he wished that day and rummaged though remains.
Before he could answer the god, though, something happened - a large black beast with many eyes, something seemingly out of the wildest nightmares. Had Kios been older, he might have had the sense to reach out to feel this other's mana, figured out that Yu was a deity - but this was not the case. Lament froze, and when the dragon king came closer, downright bolted behind silence, clinging to whatever fabric he was able to reach.
Kios looked sideways in a mix of fear and curiosity when the beast actually spoke, but only offered a barely audible "Hi." as answer. Who knows, he might get upset if he didn't answer, and that would certainly be a bad idea.... Syrie Endiovar inclined his head regally towards the Dragon King - he knew this Dragon! Not well and certainly not in a friendly manner, but at least he had some sense of who Yu Five Claw was; reassuringly, Silence reached down to touch Kio's shoulder. "Greetings to you as well, Yu Five Claw. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company today?"
Yu was intimidating, but he wasn't going to have Akakios being afraid of him - after all, this Dragon King was the one that was at Creation's side nearly always...Kios would likely see him often - it was best if the child learned that Yu would not harm him. Endiovar took a moment to wrap tendrils of comfort around the child, buffering him from the abrasive Dragon as best he could. 'Do not be afraid, Kios - the Dragon King will not harm you. He is Creation's guard, His mouthpiece.'
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Oh, but if Endi only knew! There were times that Yu felt the Fragment's nature surging to the fore, begging him for release...begging to be allowed to devour children or mortals - to hunt without prejudice. Thankfully, Yu was stronger than the left-over urges from the Fragment! Instead of trying to devour either of his new companions, Xia Lu Ling instead closed his eyes briefly and chuckled.
"Kios, is it? Be well child, I will not harm you." His long, thick tail swished behind him, causing dust and paper bits to move once more. "I have come seeking Gianfar of Knowledge. There are questions that I wish answers for." Before Endiovar (or Akakios) could inform him that Gianfar was nowhere within the Great Library, he made a rumbling sound and cocked his great head to the left and gave Endiovar a long look, sizing him up.
"Knowledge is not here...it seems he has not been here for some time-" The mess told him that much, as did the faintness of Gianfar's energy-signature. "But you, oh Mute Swan...perhaps you have the answers I desire. You were there as well; smaller part played, but a part is a part." Yu's words were enigmatic and obtuse; they made Hue and his Master give the Dragon King a pair of frowns.
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Nearly invisible wings twitched, feathers making no sound even as the feathers rubbed together, distorting everything behind and around them, "Whatever you wish to know, Dragon King, I will gladly tell - if I can recall. However, I would ask that we walk the Library...Kios, Hue and I have much work to be done." With Yu's acquiescence, Endiovar would usher Kios beside him on one side, Yu on the other - if the bestial God had questions for him, that was fine - but he wasn't going to waste time just standing around talking! Zero Dream Ah... Well.
Kios didn't seem to certain of that, and he fell into step easily once Silence started to walk. He listened, the only sound created by the child being the one of his bare feet walking along the floor, but curiosity seemed to be slowly winning - he was listening rather intently, whenever something or other didn't catch his attention. Syrie As they walked, Endiovar kept his body between Akakios and the Dragon King - no matter that Yu Five Claw had spoken his amiable intent, Silence knew there was a barely restrained violence about him; definitely one that he did not trust. Especially not when one took into consideration that the child was one of Nergal's brood. With searching eyes, the curly-haired god took stock of the Library's over-all condition and with well tuned senses and ears he took in the tale spun by Yu.
Long ago, the Grigori we know as Samyaza entered Harmodius' court; she wormed her way into Gianfar's graces (though he was known by different names in that time), spending much time with Knowledge & Law...learning all she could. Because Knowledge did not Know her, he assumed that she had been created by Harmodius and he spared no details when teaching her...including the very delicate nature of Names. During this time Knowledge also was holding many secret meetings with some of the other True Gods; plotting against Creation and the Imperial Monarchy by which All was ruled.
He and his band of Gods believed that All should not be ruled by the whims of One Man, but should be ruled in a more democratic manner. In order to do these things and not be "sniffed" out, they had enlisted Silence's aid - he provided them the shelter necessary to hold their meetings, to allow the conversations to flow freely within that small group. Silence was devout and did not actively participate...but his aid did make him a party to the horrors that happened.
Samyaza, once she had exhausted Knowledge's teachings, had gone after Creation. The Dragon Kings, of course, stepped in to defend their Master; the end result being that several were severely injured by the Void the Grigori wielded. Void-rot left gaping wounds that even Creation was hard pressed to assauge.
There was a trial afterwards - Knowledge and his small band of Gods were brought up on charges of betrayal, mutiny and insurrection. And, of course, of causing harm to Creation's beloved Dragon Kings...something that caused immeasurable sadness and heartbreak within that opaline breast. Over the trial presided the ever-fair Creation - had it been Destruction, those deemed guilty would not have faired so well.
It was here that the Dragon King's deep rumble came more haltingly and held a questioning tone; clearly he didn't recall - these were all things that had been told to him previously. It was the punishment meted out he felt he wanted to know - as well as the whole of the damage done. Gianfar of Knowledge hadn't told him - but he thought that Endiovar might be able to. WOULD tell him. Endiovar read that from the lines of Yu's furry body and felt a little twinge of trepidation. What would the bestial King do if he were unable to deliver? What of Akakios then?
Endiovar's brows knit as he tried thinking back; though he felt incredibly worried about the outcome of whatever was - or wasn't - said, Silence couldn't help but give as much aid as he possibly could. Unfortunately, the blond couldn't recall much at all...and certainly nothing that was going to be spoken before a child. "Yu, what I can recall isn't much more than what you know...my own punishment was not overly harsh but...the pain I felt knowing how badly He was hurting was far, far greater than any punishment He could have given. Whatever punishment Gianfar suffered, you can be certain that it was more than enough. You need not be overly concerned in this time, Dragon King."
The answer wasn't satisfactory to the Dragon King; he skinned his lips away from his teeth and let a low growl rumble up from deep in his chest. "Insufficient, oh Mute Swan...but well you knew that before I spoke the words." Even so, the blond merely pursed his lips together and gave the Dragon King a long, steady look. Yu didn't appreciate that look, but he didn't say anything as they walked a bit further along the Library - he didn't need to; without words, Silence could understand him perfectly and he knew it. But Akakios couldn't and that was important...if he'd spoken aloud, the child might have been frightened and run off...or accidentally injured himself.
"I concern myself, Endiovar of Silence, because I am missing woefully large chunks of my past. You can return to old memories and draw them forward nearly like new, but what was left to me could but fill a thimble. I thirst to know...but not for revenge or anything you might believe." Zero Dream Endiovar spoke of all sort of odd things - Grigoris, Samyazas, and many other things - it was a nice story, and he was easily able to follow it, though he certainly did not understand, and simply couldn't link it to the one grigori who had showed up to wound Destruction before he had even been born.
For the child, this was simply a story, and it was perhaps better for it to remain that way for the time being.
Akakios did not understand even the undertone, though he could feel the tension slowly rise - through not to a point where the boy truly seemed worried yet - but then, they passed a row of books that he hadn't seen before.
....Silence and the scary-dragon looked like they weren't paying attention to him... and so Lament started to tip-toe his way into that row of shelves even as the two other deities continued their march. Oh, he'll find them again before they were too worried... later. Syrie The Silent God glanced at his diminutive companion and was relieved to see that Kios believed it all to be some fairy-tale or fanciful story; it was best to not flood such a young one with things that didn't matter for him, and the time Before the Fading was so far past as to be 'ancient history'. The story, as it were told, was from the Dragon King's twisted muzzle, not his own, though he had cushioned it some to soften the effects of Yu's harsh voice.
Now, they continued moving, talking back and forth - Endiovar being quietly firm, not backing down and Yu Five Claws being demanding, his voice rising and falling as he gestured with sharp claw-tipped hands. Akakios was able to tip-toe away from them without drawing attention, though both elder gods knew he had done so; Silence knew the child would be back, once they were done with their 'boring talk' (he wouldn't have wanted to stick around for that either if he wasn't involved!)
And yet, he could not but wish that there were others in the Library to temper the bestial Dragon King's manner - Idhren, perhaps...and her god? Their energy signature was everywhere, strongly, but not freshly present - a day, perhaps two days ago? It was no matter; he was here and this was now and Yu wanted information that he didn't really have to give. 'The past truly is the past, Yu Five Claws...I would think it better to ask Harmodius the questions you seek answers to than I. Surely He would not deny one of His beloved Dragons?'
"Your pint-sized friend has left you to the wolves, O' Mute Swan." The Dragon King's tail lashed behind as they walked, his deep rumbling laughter carrying across many shelvex, aisles and scattered debris. "It is better this way...Creation is busy returning All to it's proper state. Far too busy for me to n** at his heels over bits of ancient history, dear as it is to my peace of mind." His eyes opened and closed slowly, tail stilling near to complete - Endiovar's words were soothing in manner and meter; also they were true. But he had his reasons for coming to Silence - answers were there, oh yes - answers like ripe fruit waiting to be plucked and consummed.
"Share what you know, Voiceless Voice, lest I grow tired of fencing words with you and strike that pale cheek to pink and red."
A mild threat, delivered with mellow tone; promise in every line, curve and syllable. It made Endiovar blanch, ever so slightly though Yu read no fear in his companion. Just mild distress - what a brave creature to be such a...seemingly useless creation of Creation - no, of Destruction. 'There is some hidden thing in you, Mute Swan...something I cannot see yet. Yet. I will see, one day. Oh, yes...and I will know too - all that I wish and want!' An unholy light gleamed in Yu's sapphire eyes at the thoughts running through his heavy head and his fur twitched with anticipation and pleasure; Yu wasn't precisely tame with the Fragment's blood coursing through his veins! There were times when he felt irresistably drawn to the 'darker side' of things - not all bad, really: he was support to both aspects of the Twin Crown: Creation and Destruction. In other times, he'd been known as Metatron to God...and to the Devil.
It was that devilish side, the darker side, that was pooling beneath the surface, waiting to come out and strike - wanting badly to do damage if refused.
'Do not threaten, Dragon, when asking works just as well. I will not be pushed around, even by you, O' companion to the Crown! I would think being so near unto Him would grant you better manners and more patience, but I see that is not to be.' He was mocking Xia Lu Ling ever so slightly, but it set the other aback and blue-eyes narrowed, then closed as yet more laughter rumbled from Yu's throat - laughter joined, after a moment to read the intent (purely amusement and a relaxed sort of respect), by the Silent God himself.
Truly, Silence was a kind God and would have told Xia Lu Ling all he wished to know that was available via memory without any threats to coerce his participation, but...being ordered about in such an autocratic manner just made him want to balk and keep the information to himself. Still...he could well imagine how difficult it was for the Dragon King, not having his memories - the Past was the Past and had little bearing upon Now and the Future, but having it was comforting.
'All that I know, I will tell you - but not today, Sir Dragon. Today is for the Library. You may come to my rooms in three days and I will share with you all that I know - for now you must leave me with Akakios, we have much work to do and I have spent enough time with you.' Endiovar would brook no argument from the hulking Dragon; no amount of fang or claw would change his mind either - this was something Yu could tell in the lines of his body, in the proud way Silence held his head; in the very air around him.
Yu agreed with the terms, mostly - "I will seek you out, but if you do not see me three days hence, come to me, Silent One. There is much you can share and my patience only stretches so far..." Teeth flashed red and the beastial Dragon turned, hair spinning out as a cloud behind him, tail a banner of scale and fur. Yu left the Library quickly; returning to his Master's side or to make his 'rounds', either way.
Endiovar shook his head a bit, watching Yu Five Claws retreating form. After a few moments he backtracked to search out Akakios again, calling gently for the young Lament. Zero Dream By the time the conversation in between the two older gods had taken place, the young Lament had wondered pretty far away from the two of them. It would take a few minutes for Silence to track down his current companion, who was trying to reach the top shelf toward one of the heavy tomes without much in term of luck.
Really, little of the reborn pantheon had to deal with being so short. Akakios frowned to himself, then attempted to reach out again, standing on his tip-toes as if it would magically make him any taller. Syrie By the time Endiovar relocated Akakios, he'd managed to take pretty good stock on the condition of that section of the Library as well as mentally extrapolating the fairly uniform deterioration for the balance. Truly, this was going to be a herculean task! Labor of love from him and Revei...and from everyone else? Well, there would be some sort of reward for anyone that assisted the god of Silence; he would make sure of it. Nothing motivated mortals quite like the promise of a reward! For the gods...well, the Library was fairly important for them, having (once) held their histories and the sum of all written Knowledge.
Along the way, he'd picked up a few items along the way: scrolls not yet crumbling to dust, tomes that remaind bound and a small assortment of other salvagable items, so when he found Kios on his tippy-toes trying to reach a rather hefty object high above him, he dropped everything (as gently as possible) so that he could go and help. "I think you'd best let me get that down, but do not worry - height will come in time. Your father is quite tall - I'm sure you will be too." Endiovar wasn't excessively tall or anything, but he was a good bit higher up than child-Lament. He plucked it down with careful hands and then felt it's weight, felt the frayed edges crumble slightly under his touch and decided he would carry it if Akakios agreed to help carry some of the other items he'd dropped.
'Can you carry the things I dropped? Not all, I will cart some of those along, but this book feels fragile...and even weaving mana into it won't hold it forever.' He'd have to make a copy...somehow. Soon, perhaps. Or he could ask Creation if He had any ideas on restoring the badly abused Library. Zero Dream Akakios pouted - in a particularly adorable way - but eventually relented and let Silence reach out for the tome. He wanted to be tall now, was the problem ! Really. Being so tiny really wasn't handy at all...
He did, however, scoop up the discarded scrolls and books. It looked like he would be able to carry most of it, save for a few of the heavier books that Endiovar or Hue would need to take care of themselves.
Even with the small pile he was carrying, Akakios' frowny face was clearly seen. That wasn't good ! "I can rewrite it if you hold it together for me ! I write really, really well." The little godling all but puffed up with pride. Syrie Ah, children were so wonderfully open - bold and guiless, they hid nothing (even when they were trying to. He fought to keep from smiling, knowing that if he did that would only serve to make his companion upset/angry - how many stony silences had he known from children under those selfsame conditions? Countless. Endiovar gave a wordless command and Hue stepped in only once Akakios had gathered what he could; the Aoide collected the remaining items and straightened, falling into place at Silence's side.
"Can you? That would be wonderful, Akakios." 'It needs to be done soon, perhaps you would be willing to start on that while Hue and I continue taking the measure of the Library?' By stretching himself out beyond form, he could do so easily - Yu had reminded him by pulling the past to the fore of his memory - especially as it would not be the first time he'd tried it in this incarnation (nor the last). "I will hold it together for as long as you need, my young friend. Hue will fetch anything you need."
Even as they continued back to the entrance of the Great Library, Silence felt out the breadth of the space; each nook and cranny unfolding to him in it's quiet. It was a bit like seeing the world in 360 degrees when you were used to the normal range of vision - disorienting, nauseating and uncomfortable to process immediately; once he was used to it again, the discomfort eased and he quickly had an idea as to just how far and how deep the corruption had gone in Gianfar's beloved space.
Prognosis was bad, but not impossible. With the aid he'd managed to gather...it should prove to be a strenuous - but not exhausting - task. Now, holding the tattered tomes together long enough for Lament, Dream and himself to copy the information within...well, that was another story entirely!
Definitely a labor of love on their part. Zero Dream Kios padded after Silence and his aoide, following with no objection howsoever, though every now and then something seemed to catch his attention and make him stop for a few seconds before he noticed the two were still going, and scrambling along to catch up, careful not to drop any of his burden.
Typical child-like behavior, mostly.
"I can ! Is there some paper around ?" Paper, he knew, was a somewhat rare thing - fragile, easily undone by the narrowly avoided end. Syrie He knew each time that the child stopped to look and loiter, but merely slowed his steps so that the child would not have to go quite so far on his smaller limbs to catch up. At Kios' question, Endiovar smiled. 'Yes, near the doors I will have Hue set up a desk with all the paper you might need. I will leave him with you to attend your needs - but please do not overly strain yourself Akakios. You must stop when you are weary and rest. The Library will hold by my hand for as long as we require.'
There, not fifteen steps (his steps) ahead the doorways loomed; Hue moved quickly with his burdens, setting them down and then running off to compile the things Endiovar requested from outside the Library. Ten minutes later, the Aoide returned with a sturdy desk and all the writing utinsils that Kios could ever require - naturally, he had been unable to cart it all back and had drafted Piallo, an ice demon, as well as a demoness Aoide by the name of Alaska.
'Ah, Alaska, Piallo - before you make your leave, this is Young Lord Lament, Akakios. Son of Underworld and Music, Lord Nergal and Lady Echo. Kios, these are two of my trusted companions, Piallo and Alaska.' The ice demon winked at Kios and then bowed deeply before poofing away in a cloud of snow (the Library was far too hot for him to remain comfortably) and the siamese-colored Aoide Demoness bowed, her large breasts all but falling out of the skimpy top she wore (much to Endiovar's disapproval), and greeted Kios properly by his title.
"Ain't you just the most adorable little thang? Lord Lament, I'm atchur service!" Zero Dream "Uh uh." He nodded, absent-mindedly - sure, it was easy to agree now, but given a task, and well, that child-like want to impress... Well, it was probably better that someone kept a close eye on the child.
Oh, more people ! The little godling seemed a little surprised for a moment, reverting to his more shy demanor, which turned to total wonder when Piallo all but poofed in thin air.
How had he done that ?!
"Hello !" He said, nonetheless. Syrie Endiovar knew these things - he may not have had children of his own, but between the clear-read on Akakios and the memories left to him from Colin on how kids could be told Silence plainly that Kios would need help and looking after for such an ardous task as the one that lay before them. Naturally the boy-god would not be alone with his task - Hue would help, the other Aoide....Silence and likely Dream too. They would all help with getting as many of the battered, near-destroyed tomes renewed, with dusting and carpentry...fixing the Library, cleaning it and all the other varied tasks necessary.
There was no part of Endiovar's plan that said "half-assed is good enough". Oh no, they would do a good job of it, that was guaranteed. Mana, blood, sweat and tears, mixed with love and great care - that was the plan, loosely speaking.
"Akakios, I'm going to walk the Library again...I'm leaving Hue and Alaska here to help you...I'll be back shortly." After speaking aloud, he left Akakios with the two Aoide, introductions made, so that he could return to his former task of taking stock and perhaps figuring what areas needed the most attention, especially with repairs. Cleaning wouldn't be terrible...but the Library needed to be whole and hale again before that sort of action could be taken.
Alaska and Hue settled in with Akakios to work on the books - Hue more than Alaska, she was far more interested in the adorable "kid" with the strange eyes. "Hi sugah, so you're gonna help fix aaaahll these books?" But Alaska also caught the boy's mild awe at Piallo's dissappearing act. "Oh, don't mind him, it's too hot in here. He does that a lot, goes and sprawls out in a freezer or something." She was so helpful, wasn't she? With her horns and swishing tail. Zero Dream ...The pretty lady did talk funny ! And... didn't she kind of look like Crys' kitty ?
Well, she certainly wasn't Crys' kitty, so no matter. "'Kay." Was the answer Endiovar got before his attention settled fully on his two aoide helpers.
"Yeah ! We're gonna fix allll of them." Ah, childhood naiveté. Of course they'd manage to fix everything, how couldn't they ?
...Why would anyone want to sprawl in a freezer ? Uh. Akakios pursed his lips in thought, as if pondering where to begin. "Hmmm..."
Oh, this one looked pretty, but... Sure enough, the lavender-haired child walked to the bookshelf and, stand on his tip toes all he wanted, could not quite catch the tome he wanted to reach. Syrie Akakios' child-like enthusiasm was a wonderful thing to see and it would no doubt be of great use to the persons working towards reclaiming the Library and making it as close to it's former splendor as it could be. That enthusiasm would help to carry them along when they came to particularly nasty sections: where the shelving rotted clear through and all of the knowledge once held upon said rotted shelves decayed and turned to so much dust.
Working to clean the library was not going to be an easy task, nor would it be one that was completed quickly, but those involved felt a strength of purpose that would hopefully be enough to see them through to the very last board, nail and line of ink upon parchment or page. If not, well...then the final finishing steps would likely be done by Endiovar and Revei, with their servants, alone. This had, after all, started as a labor of love between the two for their dear, missing god of Knowledge, Gianfar.
Alaska and Hue would keep Akakios very busy during the days and weeks to come; Endiovar would also spend much time with or near young Lament, but he was most often touring the whole of the library as a sort of overseer; taking care to see that each "hiccough" and/or "issue" was corrected as they happened, as well as making certain that each of his groups of volunteering helpers had what they needed to continue with the renovations. While he spent much of his time touring and taking care of things in a managerial sort of way, he was also expending a great deal of energy and mana to strengthen the remaining books, tomes and various other surviving artifacts - it would have been thoroughly exhausting, but Endiovar did have the help of Revei and - very occassionally - Xia Lu Ling. Akakios also put mana into the books that he worked on, he just didn't think about it, but the intense concentration and effort he put towards each one also tagged it with a bit of Lament's own mana.
There was absolutely no doubt but that this was an extremely daunting task for all involved - and one that gave a great sense of purpose and accomplishment: the whole point in these times was to rebuild: be it this Libaray or the growing Marketplace just outside the Pantheon proper, be it mortal numbers or whatnot...each time a goal was met, it improved the moral of the whole.
Even so, this was a task that would take quite a stretch of time and effort - but they were ready for it.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:16 am
New Aoide And New God This was something he hadn't seen in so long, ever since the ceremony with all the lotuses. It was similar, with all the gods gathered – so many of them – and dragons ! So many dragons ! He spotted his godfather quite easily, but it didn't look like the Worldshield saw him – which made sense – Tian Yue was so big, he was so small, and there were so many people that he had to be careful not to get bowled over. Everything happened quickly, it seemed, many things which the young lament did not understand. The dragons did things, and Harmodius eventually left, riding one, and carrying so many things. The talks of a council were completely lost on him, and that was when he decided to wander away, disinterested by the 'grown up' talk. Maybe there was some food left at the table ? He did wander that direction, seeking out some fresh fruit, or maybe some water ? Really, he was just bored now. That was when he saw her – a lady with light green hairs, but... she had no legs ! She had a tail, instead, with scales that sparkled all the colors of the rainbow. He quickly decided that she was pretty, and thus this warranted more attention. She was also more or less coiled around herself, looking more than a bit.... lost. ”Hello ?” He stopped in front of her, blinking. ”Are you alright ?”She finally looked up when he did speak, blinking right back at him, as if trying to figure out just who or what he was. ”I am fine, young lord. Simply... Disoriented.”Oh, she recognized him for what he was ! This was pleasing, really. Extremely pleasing. Many looked at him and saw only a child, and not, well, a god, even through he was both. He extended his hand for her to take, and she seemed to hesitate a moment. Finally, through, she accepted it, and was careful to use his grasp only to steady herself back on her own tail and not for support. ”Who are you ?” He asked. She felt... ah ! ”Are you an aoide ?””Yes...” she blinked, as if struggling to recall. ”Yes. My name is Tasia, and I am... aoide.” She still looked so lost, so confused. ”Who's your god ? Maybe I know them.” Maybe it would help her, too ? ”I don't... I don't remember, young lord. I do not think I have a master.””You don't ? I thought all aoidei had gods to serve !” Odd, very odds. The three brothers had always served his mother, as did Mandara, through she seemed to like bugging Soritis more. Ianthe had been his father's, same with Ishum and the demon lady that dad seemed pretty adamant to not let close to him or his siblings. How could she not have a master to serve. ”Did you forget ?” It was the only thing he could think of. ”No, no. I was... I was born after the gods...” She trailed off, and Lament understood. ”I have never found a god to serve.””I don't know much about all that.” He admitted. ”I wasn't there, before the fading. I didn't exist.””You did not ?”He nodded. ”Then maybe it is fate, that brought you to me.” She said, a small smile crossing her features. ”Who are you, if you would allow me to ask ?””Akakios.” He answered. ”I am Lament.””Then... Lord Akakios, I would like to serve. If you would have me.””Sure !” This was amazing ! Really ! An aoide that was actually really, truly his ! He loved Ianthe, dearly, but... Ianthe was still his father's, and he might need to go back to the Underworld should Nergal need him. But not Tasia ! Tasia was his aoide ! Really, truly his ! It seemed like such a Grown-Up thing that it made him feel almost like his brother at his most cheer-filled. But he had to be a good master, too. ”Come on, Tasia. We'll get you something to drink. You look like you need it...” And so they did, and later on, it was together, newly matched god and aoide, that watched with awe-filled eyes as the sky came back into being.
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 3:57 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 4:12 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:40 pm
Storytime Today had been a nice day out. A lovely day full of sunshine – a thing he only barely started to know of in truth – and delicious, freshly picked fruits. He'd gone outside with Ianthe and Tasia, looking for familiar faces – Adrienne, Enkepe, Nissa, or maybe even another god he didn't know – but found none. His siblings had been busy with their own things, and he understood that. Still, it seemed like too lovely a day to spend it wholly inside the library. He would go later on, of course, after night fell and replaced the bright blue sky by darkness that wasn't true darkness, like the sky had once been, but canvas for hundred and countless little bright dots. Stars. Each of them a different world, perhaps. That was where the nagging began. He knew the sensation well, by now, knew what it was. It was words wanting to come out. The sensation had been weird, awkward when he'd first felt it – scary, in it's own way – but now he knew what it was, was used to it. So they all returned back home, both aoidei going on whatever daily business they occupied themselves with when their young master had no need of them. Akakios did not particularly care what they did, as long as they where present when he felt like he needed their company. He was an easy god to serve, given his age. He stopped only to greet and hug his mother, then did a beeline for his room. The words were getting restless, the nagging unrelenting. Nothing that out of ordinary in itself, so the godling didn't even give it a second thought. He entered his room, gave Liddell a quick pet as he passed his bed, which she used more often than he did, in all honestly. He went to his desk, sat, and opened the notebook he kept there at all times, one of many. The cat, for she was no longer a kitten, relocated on the desk, close to her master, to watch him write as he often did. Lament reached for the quill and the ink, and started to write. Words came easily and freely, released from his mind and into the white paper in front of him. It was the start of a wonderful poem, really, and Lament was pleased. There was a nice potential here, wonderful potential indeed. He would need to revisit it when the first 'rush' stopped, which was probably going to happen soon, from experience. Except it wasn't what happened. Page after page after page filled up, until he had to blindly reach for another notebook as the first filled up. Eventually the poem lost it's meaning, and even he wasn't sure what was coming out. It seemed... random. Pointless. Chaotic. And he couldn't stop. That was the scariest part. Try as he might, to put his own mind against his own power, he simply couldn't stop writing. This wasn't how it usually happened. Usually he could stop himself, if he tried ! Except now he can't, couldn't even find the words to speak in the mad rush that overtook his mind, and his hand trembled, the script growing shaky, almost like the smaller hand that had written it's first words what seemed to be so long ago, now. The barest blink of an eye, for an immortal, and yet... Immortal he was, but he was still too young to know exactly what immortality felt like. This continued for what seemed like forever – filling notebook after notebook, in a way that made him fear that it might never end, that he might stay like this, forever, until someone finally came looking for him, until finally, it did. SNAP.He looked down, confused and startled by the sound, which had seemed so much louder than it actually had been. Liddell meowed, loudly, and yet he barely seemed to notice. The quill had snapped in two under the pressure of his frantic writing. Bits of feather now laid against the bare wood of his desk, and a dark spot of ink stained the page of the notebook. For the shortest moment, he dared think that it was over. It wasn't. The words came rushing back, drowning out his mind – only now he had no outlet for them – he reached out almost blindly, for another quill, a pencil, a pen, anything – but found nothing. There was nothing. And he felt like his mind was drowning, drowning in a flood he simply couldn't stop... Hands went to his head, to his ears, in a fruitless attempt to block out the 'noise', but nothing did. He stood, quite suddenly, and Liddell meowed again, taking off and hiding under a dresser. He didn't notice, didn't hear her. Something was wrong, something was very wrong. He felt all sorts of odd, like his body was on fire. Like if the clothes he was wearing were too tight. Suddenly, they actually were too tight. Something inside pushed and stretched, and he was only vaguely aware of his own screaming. Hands reached out to help tear the cloth that had him trapped, too tight, too tight, growing more constricting and breath-cutting by the second until it did, finally, break apart – leaving him free again. But the pain didn't stop – legs, torso and arms lengthened, hands grew bigger. Tears fell freely from his eyes, and streaked purple on their way down. Those tears clung to his lips, turning them purple as well. They pooled around his eyes, leaving the same color in their wake – leaving him with eye markings similar to the ones his mother had, through at the same time different, thanks to the tear-streaks – also a slightly lighter shade of purple. His hair suddenly shot down, lengthening with little warning, soft and fine He'd lost his balance some time ago, as the room simply wouldn't stop spinning. He supported himself with bigger, stronger hands and arms and tried to get his bearings straight, tried to understand what had just happened, but the answer escaped him. The skin on his arms darkened, and he frowned – through he couldn't quite tell what it was, as his vision was still blurred by tears. There was definitively something, through, dark gray against his skin... The door to his room opened – the light seemed blinding, so bright, too bright – and two entered. The tail on one of the women made it obvious that it was Tasia. The sound made it obvious that the second was his mother. Of course, he'd been screaming, they must have heard, he'd been... ...What had he been doing ? He registered, faintly, Tasia's voice screaming his name, but he was far too gone to do anything about it. Far too worn, of mind and body both, and instead he just let the darkness take him over, drag him away from the pain of aching bones and joint. The words, finally, were gone, silent.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:12 pm
Tasia's Gift The silence was gentle, soothing, enveloped his mind in a cocoon and allowed him the rest both his mind and his body needed so badly after the ordeal both had undertaken. Everything had stretched, bigger, wider, even what was unseen. Minutes became hours, hours became days, days where Lament did not move from his slumber – odd, for one who barely slept, usually. He was rarely alone, through, with Ianthe and Tasia taking their turns watching over him, when Echo was unable to do so herself. It was Tasia who was present when Akakios did finally start to awaken – the soft sounds of awakening pulling her attention from the bundle of lace in her lap, one she had just finished working at. A sign, perhaps ? If she dared hope... ”Lord Akakios ?” The aoide asked, as if uncertain if he was truly waking... or if he was simply dreaming, and required more rest to recover. Tasia's voice broke through the soft haze, cut through the silence, words entering his mind and making him flinch a bit, unconsciously. But these words did not change into a flooding torrent, did not grap and thug at his mind, and he just as subconsciously calmed. ”My Lord, are you awake ?” She asked again, uncertain. ”Hn...” Wait... Who was that ? Who had talked, just now ? Lament recognized his aoide's voice, but he did not know that other voice. That strange, deep voice that only reminded him of his own on some surface level. One eye opened, followed by the other, and he looked up at Tasia, expression full of confusion, mind still slightly fogged by the sleep that had overtaken and blanketed his senses. ”Tasia... ?” Wait, this wasn't right. The word had been his own, and yet it was the strange voice that had spoken it. And there was no one else, save for Tasia... Tasia, and himself. ”Are you well ?” Tasia did not look surprised, through. Why wasn't she as confused as he was ? ”You've slept for days... Your mother left, in hopes of contacting your father...” Days ? Why should he sleep for days ? The events of earlier were slowly filtering back into his mind, the crash of words in his mind, the struggle in trying to control his own power, and then... Then nothing. Only silence. He moved to sit in his bed, wincing as his tired muscles protested the sudden movement. There was... too much hair against his back, and his arms... What was on his forearms ? One finger moved to try to rub off the ashes, but they seemed to come back mere seconds afterward, as if the ashes had never been disturbed. How... strange. Still, it was the fact that he was sitting at eye level with his aoide that truly did it in. ”What happened to me... ?” The strange voice was his own, Lament now realized. Older, stronger, much like the rest of him was. How many times had he wanted this moment to come ? And yet now he was... confused. Akakios hadn't expected anything like this, anything this sudden and painful to happen. ”I am not sure, beside the obvious... We heard you scream, and by the time we got here, your mother and I, you were like this.” She eyed the lace in her lap, making Akakios follow the motion with his own gaze, curious as always. He hadn't noticed that, busy as he had been with trying to understand the new form he had taken. ”I have gathered some of your father's old clothing. With some mending, they will fit you for now.” But this wasn't what this was about, no. The colorful naga turned nervous, careful not to tear at the fragile lace with her claws. ”While you were sleeping... I made this. For you, my Lord.” She gathered it carefully, and it became evident what it was – a veil. ”It would be my honor, if you wore it... As it is my honor to serve you, as your influence spreads.”He was silent at first, puzzled, not quite daring to reach out for the veil and touch the lace... That is, until he noticed it was not white. No, it was not white and pristine as snow, but a gray similar to the ashes that adorned his arms now. It was only with that realization that he moved to touch it, the lace soft under his fingers. Soft, and beautifully crafted. He was lucky to have her, to have Tasia, Akakios realized now, in a way that had not occurred to him before. Luckier than he'd ever expected. She could have chosen from all the other reborn gods, and yet... She had chosen him above all others. He would have to make that choice worth it, he decided. Akakios said nothing, and instead inclined his head forward, so that the naga aoide could easily put the veil on him. He felt something in him, something like a heart, perhaps, skip a beat when she finally did, the touch of her fingers light, the claws running against his skin lightly as she afixed the veil behind his pointed ears. There was more meaning to this veil than was apparent – this was her devotion, and he would wear it, proudly, as much as he could, through he would not allow damage to come to it. Just like he hoped that the aoide's devotion to him would never waver. The weight was unfamiliar, the lace obscuring part of his vision strange, but everything was strange and unfamiliar now. Akakios would get used to this, as he would get used to everything else. Still, a tear fell free, rolled down his cheek and fell onto Tasia's hand. ”My Lord ? Are you well ?” She asked, but Akakios just smiled. ”Yes. I am fine.” More than Tasia expected he could be, most likely. ”Where are those clothes you spoke about... ?” Really, he probably wouldn't look his best in them, and while that was important, it would do for now, until there could be something made just for him. That and his mother, possibly his father as well, would want to see him well and on his feet when they did finally see him. And, in a way, mourn the little boy he had once been, because Lament already was no longer that boy, just as much as he would always be that boy. It might have seemed to be a contradiction, but it was reality.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:33 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:34 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:36 pm
Little Big Brother Reyna Crelos For the most part, Sotiris did an excellent job at being as antisocial as his father. Things were far less complicated when he kept to himself. He had also been particularly moody as of late for reasons he couldn't quite put to words. There was a deep rooted restlessness in him that he couldn't hardly stand. It was like his very soul was being eaten away at which each passing moment he lingered within his family's quarters. And yet, there he was, stuck inside the Pantheon and being herded about by aoidei that all had the very best of intentions for him. With a grumbling, growling noise, he stomped from his room to the kitchen to raid whatever cookies there were. He knew Mandara had been baking earlier in an effort to appease him and lure him from his room. The effect was generally temporary, and while he found her to be annoyingly cheerful all the damn time, he could not deny that her baking skills were quite superb. He paused around the corner of the doorway and glanced about to see if she was still there. If the multi-armed aoide was present, he was just going to dash back to his room, and try again later. What he saw was most certainly not an aoide. At least he didn't think so. Puzzled, he moved to stand a little further into the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. Who the heck was this weird person in his kitchen with crazy markings on their face and long purple hair? It certainly wasn't his mom. Mom was prettier than that. It was... His eyes went impossibly wide. " Kios?!" he blurted out, effectively disturbing the silence and giving away his presence there in the doorway. Zero Dream Likewise, Akakios had been rather scarce, but for entierely different reason. There was a library full of books to re-copy and restore, after all, and he had been a rather determined worker even before he had grown. Since there, however, Lament was more and more often gone, for actually the same reasons his elder brother felt - while their mother had adapted well enough into giving him his space, the aoidei... Well. His own knew better than to bother him, but Echo's had not seemed to have gotten the memo.
He could certainly handle himself well enough, thank you very much. Now, he had dropped in right after an all-nighter at the library to prepare tea, as he often did. He knew at which times the others usually dropped by, and he liked to be ready for them. He rarely did drink the tea he brewed, but he had never minded. His veil had been taken off to facilitate preparation, as this was a blend that his mother had told him Endiovar enjoyed quite well.
It was one voice, a very familiar voice, that shattered the silence, and made him look up. Apparently his older brother had the same idea than he did - crawling around in the early morning to avoid rude interruption of whatever they were doing.
...Through, this was honestly awkward. He'd certainly thought to take advantage, given how Sotiris loved to torment him, but now that they were face to face, Akakios was too dumbstruck to take advantage of it. Really, he had once been that tiny ? No, tinier even. Soto had always been taller than him.
...Until now, really. He was still only a few inches above Echo's height, but Soto could have made him feel like a giant. "Trying to avoid crazyface ?" Yeah, he was not a fan of Mandara, through he found he'd liked the aoide much better once she could no longer scoop him off the floor as she wanted. Really, he was just trying to take it cool - Soto was bound to be... well. Unhappy. And he saw no need to state the obvious. Reyna Crelos " Mhhmm," Sotiris grumbled as he walked directly up to his brother without further comment. He clambered up onto the kitchen counter with grace and agility that belied his child-like appearance. He reached out and grabbed a hold of Kios' face and pulled him closer so that he could look at him eye to eye whether his brother liked it or not. " What'd you do to your face?" he demanded, hissing in irritation, " And how did you get bigger than me?" This seemed so wrong, strange, and foreign in every possible way. He was the eldest of his siblings. His brain could not possibly comprehend how it was that Akakios of all people had come to power before him. The very thought made his tail visibly bristle and the wispy glowing orbs that were his eyes crackled like lightening. Zero Dream This was the proverbial no-win scenario. A deific-scale Kobayashi Maru, He had read about that once, in a book full of spaceships and stars, and it seemed utterly and completely fitting. Heaven knows he knew all too well that there was only one way this could possibly go - straight down. Trying to calm Sotiris would anger him more. Taking a step back and watching his older brother face-plant, while possibly quite satisfying... Well, there would be hell to pay later. And that is, more hell to way than he was going to get on principle.
"Nothing." He huffed, crossing his arms. "Ir just happened." It was obvious that he was rather displeased, though... Well, even grown, he hardly looked intimidating. He was, indeed, much too... pretty for this. The slightest balm on Guardian's ego, perhaps. One finger tapping on his upper arm, leaving faint black spots behind. That was a perfectly valid answer for both questions, really. "My power just kind of... did things without me telling it to do it. And it happened."
And it had hurt like hell, but he saw no need to admit that. He already had the crybaby reputation - he saw no need to bring attention to it for things that ultimately did not matter. Reyna Crelos Sotiris relinquished his grip he had on his brother before he did something stupid like bash his face into the nearby counter. He didn't truly ever want to cause anyone harm, particularly his family. He was Guardian. He was meant to watch over and protect those who needed it, but it was infuriatingly difficult trapped as he was in the form of a child. He wanted more than that. He wanted to show his siblings, his parents, and the god forsaken aoidei that he was Guardian, and not simply a child that needed looking after. He growled, snarling in irritation as he jumped down off the counter and stalked off. He had nothing more to say to Akakios. There was nothing that could be said that could currently soothe the frustration he felt. It wasn't his brother's fault, and he knew inwardly he shouldn't take his having grown to power before him personally. "Oh, young master!" Mandara called, "There you are." She moved towards the young godling, but stopped short at the fierce look upon his face. "Ah... is.. is everything okay? I .. baked cookies for you?" " NO," Sotiris hissed, venom in his voice as he stalked past her before taking off at a run towards his room. He slammed the door behind him, and slid down to the floor in a crumpled heap. He felt utterly defeated and impossibly angry. He wasn't certain if he wanted to scream or cry. Possibly both. There was only one thing he was positively certain of: he needed to escape the Pantheon. He was never going to grow if he was constantly smothered and catered to as a child by his family's servants. Zero Dream Akakios might have gotten a word in edge-wise if Mandara had not chosen this precise moment to emerge. From there on out, the whole thing was a bust, and Lament was left rubbing his temples in a way that was meant to be stress relief, but... Well, was not really working.
And, really, he was not sure he wanted to go to the library anymore. Not today, not right now. "Good freaking job." It was unclear who that was meant for, himself or Mandara. He was not even sure if he meant it for himself or Mandara.
Still, he turned tail, forgetting all about the brewing tea and the poor, confused aoide. He was just... going to vanish into the city for as long as he possibly could.
That sounded like a good plan.
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:37 pm
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 12:18 am
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:14 pm
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:02 am
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