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 Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:40 pm
Seeking Sacred Song - Part Nine
The voice - his host's? - echoed around him, at the center of a sea of white light.
"You told the shadows to go away... and they did... but you and I are one... no shadows for me.... then no shadows for you."
And then, voice and light were gone, the radiance dimming down to a frighteningly dull level before flaring up once more. The throne of crystal stretched before him again, but the light was less bright than he remembered it being. Not a lot, but enough to notice.
And there was Light-In-Glory, pacing up and down the honey-colored flagstones, his glow shining off of the mosaic of mirrors that lined the mortar between each stone. "Where... is the power? I will not fade. I WILL NOT FADE! Millions, millions praise the Light each day... I hear their voices... where is their power?!"
The muttering was low, and looped. The same phrases, spoken over and over, until other footsteps sounded behind Illumin and the pacing god ceased his movement.
"Eliam! Report!" The command was barked across the hall; the dragon-winged Aoide quickly sped up and dropped to one knee before the god.
"Radiance..."
"What is happening?!"
"The worshipers... the others..."
And again, as with Sosiqui's memory, the scene slipped to the side, dissolved, and changed. Changed to a riverside temple with tall columns - Egyptian, by the look of them. Brown-skinned, whiteclad worshipers filled the hall, moving in a delicate dance, calling upwards a chant.
"Hail unto Thee who art Ra in Thy rising, even unto Thee who art Ra in Thy strength..."
"They call my name, or one of them," Light-In-Glory hissed, and Illumin turned to see his past self hovering alone above the crowds. "Why then do I not receive their power?"
"Because," came a voice like the crack of a whip, "they are no longer yours. They are mine!"
A figure was striding towards them through the air, unseen by the worshipers who continued their dance below. A familiar figure - one of the Aoide Illumin had seen before. One of his Aoidei!
"What do you mean, they are yours?" Light-In-Glory raged, his power blazing blindingly in a wild storm of light that seethed around his body. "They are mine! You are my avatar!"
"You never came here!" came the bitter, angry retort from the Aoide. "All you cared about, my lord, was power. Your power. Not them. Hah! And so they turn to the one who was the only face of god they ever knew..."
The Aoide raised his arms like a benediction.
"... me."
And the sunlight gathered to him, flying from Light-In-Glory to surround the ascendant Aoide in a halo of radiance.
"Hail to me, who has become Ra in his rising," the Aoide shouted, and from below, the worshipers echoed. Hail unto Thee who art Ra in Thy rising, even unto Thee who art Ra in Thy strength! The chant brought another surge of power to hover around the Aoide.
Light-In-Glory was trembling. "No. NO. I would know. I am the Revealer of Secrets... you were mine!"
"If you had tried to keep me beyond being a slave, perhaps that would still be true," the Aoide said, with a savage edge to his voice.
"I AM LIGHT!" came the response, like a crack of thunder, and the worshipers stopped, and looked up - but by then, Light-In-Glory had lunged at the traitorous Aoide and -
- the world melted away into light again, a world of pure light.
"Face me in my domain, traitor," Light-In-Glory snarled, releasing the Aoide and stepping back, sliding into an easy combat stance. "You cannot defeat me in the Heart of Light."
"Perhaps not. Even an Aoide ascended is but a demi-god-"
"Hah! You admit your failure. Return my people to me," Light-In-Glory hissed.
"... but many demi-gods may bring down even those once exalted." The Aoide snapped his fingers, and with a sudden flare of light, there were a half-dozen, no, more, Aoidei in a circle around Light-In-Glory.
The god's eyes widened in shock. "You.... and you... and... all of you?!" His breath was quick, hyperventilating.
"My lord, you may call me Apollo," said one of them with a cruel smirk.
"And I am known as Yhi," came the voice of another.
"Xiuhtecuhtli."
"Palk."
"Bel."
"Gibil."
"Arama."
The names marched on, each one making Light-In-Glory shrink back as though struck - and with every spoken name, the radiance of the Heart of Light and of the god himself shrunk, and the bright halos around the ascendant Aoidei brightened.
"You.... were... mine," Light-In-Glory gasped, panting out the words, folding in upon himself as power leeched away like blood from a fatal wound.
They converged on him, light blazing.
"But now... you are ours."
Then there was a scream, a scream that tore apart the whole world - the light draining away into darkness so fast that it shocked Illumin to the core. And then he was pulled away, shrieking in fear, into the all-too-familiar whirlpool - oh, this, this he remembered much, much too well - the crystalline prison, the loss of being, the entrapment, the....
... the end. The end of power, the end of freedom, the end of divinity.
The end.
Illumin drowned in darkness.
No shadows for you.
What?
I said, no shadows for you! Listen to me!
His host's voice cut through the night - bringing along with them the sudden, searing crack of dawn.
Desperate, Illumin reached up... and took hold of the frail light, lifting himself up on it.
That was then, this is now. I am free now. I am... can be... wiser now...
Clinging to the hope his host offered, the God of Light pulled himself out of the pit and back onto the threshold, scrabbling for purchase among the ashes until his hands caught on the wood frame of the door. With a desperate heave, he rolled out and onto the blessed, wonderful, damned shag carpet.
He laid there for some time, staring at the ceiling, gasping and panting, his heart racing.
"No shadows... huh."
And that was it. The end. A pair of endings. Hers... and his own.
Staggering to his feet, the god righted himself and headed down the hallway, carrying the memories within him like a chalice on the verge of overflowing.
Carrying them - to her.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:41 pm
Seeking Sacred Song - Part Ten
She was waiting for him, standing in the center of the Hall of the Mind, ramrod-straight, trembling slightly.
"I heard you scream," Sosiqui said, quietly, as he approached. The glow around his body danced with double brightness, fueled by the burden of memory he carried.
"I heard you, too," Illumin said, stopping a foot away, taking a long, deep breath. "I believe I have found what I promised to discover."
"Have... you?" The question was halting, and she leaned towards him, eyes hopeful and fearful all at once.
"You must tell me. It was behind a... a place of much protection." Illumin reached out one glowing hand and placed it on her head.
Immediately, the light flowed outward to surround her - and then flared as she stiffened, then gasped, fingers spasming, grasping for nothing. The god looked away, even as he felt her skin twitch under his fingers; it seemed somehow a private thing, something he should not watch as she took the memory back into her conscious mind.
Finally, she bowed her head, and her hair ran through his fingers before he pulled gently away. "Ill... Illumin..."
"What does it mean? What happened?" he asked, quietly.
"I... remember." She sank to her knees, staring at her hands. "I made... made a mistake. A very grave mistake. I was an apprentice... what I tried to do was beyond my skill, but I did it anyway... and the power of time and space does not forgive." Sosiqui looked up at him, a wry smile on her face. "It does not forgive, instead, it breaks. Breaks, and scatters..."
Her gaze slipped downwards to stare at her hands. "No wonder I couldn't remember. The conscious memories must have gone somewhere else... and the power along with them. Only thought and personality for me... we were all one, once. It wasn't supposed to be this way."
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Illumin replied, and she stood up so quickly that he jumped.
"It's okay. I understand... and that's all that needs to happen." She took two quick steps forward and then Sosiqui was in Illumin's arms, hugging him tight, her tears wet on his own cheeks. "Thank you. I know now. You have more than fulfilled your promise... I am content."
The god stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. She pulled back, and laughed at him. "You never do know what to do with emotional women, do you? Not with Memi, not with Pana, not with me."
"No," he admitted.
"Pay attention to them, to their feelings - don't feel awkward. Step up to meet their needs as gently as you can... and as personally as you can. Not just for people like Pana... for everyone you meet, every worshiper you get. And, for the love of... yourself... don't be stupid!" She shook one finger at him, then laughed again, a high, giddy sound. "You'll be a wonderful god, Illumin, if you just follow that..." Sosiqui leaned forward and brushed a kiss against his cheek. "And now... I'm tired. Can I go now?"
"Go?"
"Go." She smiled at him, her head tilting to one side, and he knew.
"But... I thought you wanted..."
"I have what I wanted. This is your place now. I wanted knowledge, and a useful end, right?" She stepped back, and put one finger over his lips when he opened them again to protest. "And you promised me both. One fulfilled - now the other? Please?"
Illumin nodded slowly. "Now?"
"There is nothing more I want."
"You are sure?"
"What did I tell you about not being stupid?"
And the god laughed. "All right. Well then..." Illumin took a deep breath. "Thank you, mine host."
"Thank you, Illumin."
He reached for her, unsure as to what needed to happen - but something knew. As soon as his light hit her skin, it expanded around her, surrounding her with light. Her eyes widened.
"Oh... Illumin, it's beautiful..."
Her fingertips began to dissolve, sparking away into motes of light that blended into the greater whole as Illumin's own glory expanded to envelop her.
"Thank you..."
Illumin stepped forward and embraced her as light flared and burned, and her form crackled into brilliance in his arms. The god could feel a new strength surging through him as the last bits of Sosiqui's soul that had not been surrendered to him fell under his sway.
"Thank you." The words came one more time in a last breath, and then there was nothing but light and warmth that swirled around Illumin like a dance of moths, then curling inward and settling into his normal glow as though it had always been there.
And then, he was alone. He could feel his knowledge of the halls expand outwards as their mingled subconscious became wholly his, and his light flared through every corner. Here a door, here another - pockets of memory enveloped into his own in an instant. There were not many left that he hadn't already found, but he took them into himself -
- and let the light blaze outward as he had with the door to Sosiqui's final memory.
Wood, carpet, candles caught, burned, melted.
"This place is mine," Illumin breathed as the power from his host's last sacrifice buoyed him upward, catching under his wings and lifting him. The halls were falling all around him, blazing away in the purity of his divine light. His show of power and mastery - and her memorial pyre.
There will be statues...
The god closed his eyes and let the light carry him upward, aloft on a swirl of smoke and glory.
And then...
And then...
Illumin's eyes opened. Immediately, the complaints of his body made themselves known - a hungry stomach, cramped muscles, and other less savory issues that come with carrying a physical form. Wincing, he uncurled from a fetal position, feeling the cool of evening air flowing in from the window. Immediately, a swirl of moths fluttered in, dancing around his light.
"My lord?" Eibhilin drifted up to him, relief brightening her features. "Oh, thank goodness - you were still for so long, I feared...."
"No... no, everything is fine." The power dancing around him, he could practically see it weaving through the moths, was intoxicating. "Everything is more than fine. Water, please, and food, as quick as you can, thank you."
"My lord!" Eibhilin bowed, then turned, her tail cracking like a whip with the speed of her movement.
Illumin moved to sit on the edge of the bed and waited until the world stopped spinning, though the giddy feeling did not abate.
Listen to others... give attention... and don't be stupid, huh. He felt out for Sosiqui instinctively; felt and found nothing.
So that was it. Vows fulfilled. All of them.
"Thank you, too," he murmured as the moths danced.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:42 pm
Wake Up
"My lord... my lord Illumin..."
The voice seemed to be coming from a very long way away, and Illumin stirred, blearily.
"My lord?"
"Ugh..." He felt stiff and sore, muscles twitching as they moved for the first time in weeks, and his eyelids stuck together a bit before finally opening. All around him was light, shifting and moving like a live thing, but he could feel the cushions and pillows of his bed beneath him.
"Are you awake, Radiance?" came the voice again, and this time Illumin recognized it - Eibhilin.
"Yes... oh, ugh," the god muttered, making a face as he realized how dry his mouth was. Again. He sat up, and the light melted away around him, a cocoon falling to pieces. "How long?"
"Some weeks, lord," Eibhilin said gently, her long, legless form gliding quickly to a pitcher of water on the side table. She carefully poured into a goblet, and brought it back to him. Illumin gulped it greedily, gasping at the cool shock of it.
"So long?" Illumin remembered vaguely now. His host had given up the last vestiges of herself, and his power and mind had overwhelmed hers fully, giving him all the power of a complete god.... well, incomplete in growth, but complete in self, now. The rest would come in time.
Yes, he remembered - remembered rousing from his dive into the mind, calling Eibhilin for food and drink. Eating and drinking like one starved, knowing what had to be done. A long sleep, a time entombed in a cocoon of light, to refresh and complete the melding. He had tumbled back into his bed shortly after finishing that hearty meal.
"Yes, my lord," Eibhilin said. "I'll prepare some soup; you ought not have rich food yet."
Illumin nodded, gratefully accepting her care - she always had been like that, his Flame, Eibhilin. He carefully swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The god was not starved as one might imagine, being sustained and fed by Light... but some real, physical food was most definitely needed now.
Illumin glanced over to the door of Panacea's room - and his heart jumped as he realized there were signs that it had been opened recently, thin scrapes in the dust on the floor. "Eibhilin! Has Lady Medicine returned?" he called, urgently.
The Aoide drifted back into view, looking surprised, then saw what her master was staring at and sighed. "No, my lord... I am sorry, I simply went in there to clean a bit..."
Illumin deflated. "Oh," he said, with a sigh. "Then clean the floor out there, too, it's filthy," he snapped at her, immediately wishing he hadn't. It wasn't fair to take out his frustration on her... but he'd been so hoping Panacea was back.
The banshee shrank back, then bowed her head. "Yes, my lord. Excuse me, I must prepare the soup." Before he could open his mouth to apologize, Eibhilin had darted to the door leading to the hall and left, heading for the kitchen.
"... well, this is hardly an auspicious awakening," Illumin groaned, rubbing his temples lightly with both hands.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:43 pm
Return of the Lost
Illumin re-entered his sanctuary quickly, closing the door behind him a bit harder than was really needed. Downstairs.... downstairs was all dark glory, glory eroded, coated with ashes and blood. Literally, in a few cases. There was a taste of charred rust in his mouth, and the god quickly padded over to the side bar to tip out some cold honey tea.
He had emptied nearly the whole cup when he realized there were voices speaking in the side room.
The fact that there even WAS a side room was Eibhilin's fault - the Aiode had sounded that there was a small chamber on the other side of the left wall, perhaps a space left over from Illumin's original molding of his rooms. While he was cocooned, she had called mortal stonemasons to penetrate into the new room, and install a door leading from there to Illumin's room, as well as one leading to the main hallway - thus making herself her own chamber. Then, all the boxes and other unused items had been moved out of Panacea's room and into Eibhilin's, since the side chamber was large enough to house several Aiode and the boxes all at once.
(Reportedly, the mortal workers had fled the building pale as ghosts, after witnessing their employer and the full horror of the lower floor - but Eibhilin hadn't wanted to talk about that in any kind of detail, and turned away when asked.)
Illumin drained the rest of his tea, lingering at the base to tip out the last of the honey that stuck to the bottom of the cup, then walked quietly as he could over to the door of white wood. Yes, there were definitely two voices within. He frowned, then moved to fling open the door without knocking. "Eibhilin!"
There was a gasp from within, a sudden flurry of movement, and then a sheepish reply. "Y-yes, Radiance?"
"I heard someone else within," Illumin said, scowling. "Who's there?"
Eibhilin sighed. "When you entered your light-bound sleep, my lord... someone else came within days, attracted and brought back by the surge in your strength from the joining with your host..."
And a figure moved out from behind the boxes, a slim man with dragon wings, clad in green. In one hand, he was clutching a dark, unlit lantern. He moved in one graceful sweep to kneel before Illumin.
"Radiance... you are reborn..."
Illumin stared.
"Eliam?!"
The Aoide looked up, green hair falling away from his face as he moved. "You remember me?" He was genuinely surprised.
"Eliam..." Illumin reached out one hand, then stopped. "I remember. You were loyal. You and Eibhilin... my High Flame and my Lantern-Bearer. I am glad you at least have come. Though," he added, raising his voice, "you should have told me sooner, Eibhilin!"
The banshee Aoide bowed her head. "My apologies, Radiance. But he is here now... and you are feeling well?"
"Well, except for that what I thought was to be a magnificent court of gods has become a court of demons, to all accounts," Illumin snorted, though he felt very uneasy beneath the bravado. There was just something wrong about all that. He'd longed for the rebirth of the Pantheon, yes, so he could take his high place among them again... but not like this. He wanted something shining, clean, bright... not shadowed, dark, bloody.
"We will build a court again," Eliam reassured him, sitting up a bit from his kneeling position. He lifted his lantern up. "Radiance, would you....?"
Illumin smiled, then, and flicked one hand towards the lantern. Immediately, it burst into light, a firm, shining glow that drove back the shadows in the room.
"Thank you, my lord," Eliam said fervently, smiling as he rose with the lantern blazing at his side, as it always had been before the fall of Light-in-Glory.
"And... we will find them, the ones who betrayed me," Illumin said, his voice low. "Now that my faithful ones have returned... as my power grows, we will find them. And we will introduce them to a light more powerful than any that has ever been... one that will flay skin from bones and take them all to nothingness. And from that there will be no return." The smile on his face twisted with a dark joy.
"We will follow you, Radiance," Eibhilin murmured, and Eliam bowed acknowledgement.
Feeling a rush of hope, Illumin dismissed the two Aoide and strode back into his own room, moving to leap up atop his dais as quickly as the Hunt ever did. He stood there for a moment, looking out at the blasted gardens, then turned away.
Panacea... she would find the one to reverse all this. She would. She had to.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:44 pm
Restless
Illumin paced back and forth in front of the dais, a slight frown on his face.
Since his emergence from the final fusion, Light had not only felt more awake, more alive, and more aware - he had also become aware of a restlessness stirring deep within. He felt unable to truly settle, animated by a wild, bright energy.
I want to do something, but I don't know what to do.
What was there to do? The newly-discovered desire for vengeance was strong, but he knew well enough that he could not challenge his betrayers yet - if they yet lived abroad in the world. Far better to come upon them suddenly, in strength and glory, then to sally forth ill-prepared and reveal himself too soon - opening himself to counterattacks that would assuredly come.
No, not that. Patience.
And... the other...
Illumin pivoted on one heel, sharply, and paced back the other way. He felt like he was still breathing in blood and rust, no matter where he went. Even in his own chambers, with lights blazing, incense smoking, and candles burning... even there, it was hanging behind all of his pretense, a dull throbbing undertone to everything he tried to cover it.
But he would not leave. Could not - this was home, the Court of Gods. He had no followers yet, not even a proper starting point. His people had been stolen away from him, and their reclamation was completely linked to his vengeance. Where could he go? A temple ruin with his name chiseled over, with a betrayer's name marked atop his own? May as well be here - at least here he'd have company in his discontent.
Company.
And that was the last thing. Illumin pivoted again, and his gaze fell on the silent door to Panacea's chambers before his pacing turned him away again. Maybe it was the fact that he hadn't seen her in so long... maybe it was something else, who knew.
But he really, really missed the young goddess. Thinking about her brought an odd, warm shivery feeling - thinking about her being so far away brought a cold, thumping stone to rest in the pit of his stomach.
Illumin shook his head, irritably. He barely knew this new creature that Medicine had become, and Memi had been but a child...
But...
"Why do humans expect us to solve their problems?" Illumin muttered, irritably. "We have enough of our own!"
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:44 pm
Smudge
Illumin scowled from his perch atop the dais. He had opened his window just for a few moments... and now the white windowframe was smudged with dark ashes, and the whole room had a sulfurous air about it.
Damn this change. He knew, really, that Destruction was merely another aspect of the same God, but... it was so different for his kind. To have both aspects bound to the same being was not only strange, but downright disturbing. Especially comparing Harmodius now to Harmodius as he had been before Lucius' betrayal.
Damn Lucius, too. If he hadn't done what he did, Harmodius would have remained Creation. Maybe. And the gardens wouldn't be blasted ashes. His moths wouldn't limp into his window with crisped wings, carried on hot lava-born breezes. Panacea might still be here...
"Damn, damn, damn, damn," Illumin muttered, flinging himself across the bed on his stomach, his legs kicking back and forth like a petulant child. He knew how badly he was acting, but at this point he didn't much care.
Eibhilin glanced at him, then went to clean the soot from the windowframes, her tail twitching behind her and betraying her unease.
Betrayal, Illumin thought, sitting up with his back to the Aoide. Even Harmodius was not immune to it. In a way, it seemed almost a sort of perverse honor - even their highest Lord was brought low by the same thing that had caused Illumin's fall. Only the finest, most high-class of endings for Light-in-Glory! Feh.
"My lord, perhaps you would do better to prepare as you can now - there is much you can do, even in this imperfect ascension," Eliam's voice cut in, gently. Illumin looked up to see the Aoide standing in the doorway, faithful lantern ever at his side.
"Such as?" the grumpy god answered, curtly.
"Research, Radiance," Eliam said, smoothly. "Though you may not strike out against the traitors yet, you can at least attempt to divine their whereabouts. Who and how they are now... these things you can find without putting yourself in danger or even revealing yourself."
Illumin pondered. "The names. I remember the names I gave myself, the names they stole."
"A fair starting point, my lord," Eliam acknowledged.
"Yes, do do that," Eibhilin said from behind him, enthusiastically. "It would do you such good to get out of this room and stop... well, stop brooding so." Illumin turned to see his once High Flame shaking one finger admonishingly at him. "You'll stew yourself into a fit, indeed you will."
Illumin sighed, looking at the beseeching eyes of both his servants.
He just couldn't win.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:45 pm
End of the Tunnel
Illumin had found his way to the library.
At first, he had been surprised that there was one, but apparently it was the domain of Gianfar, Knowledge - Illumin had never met him, but he thought Sosiqui might have, at some point. The memory that had been hers was a bit hazy, with only an impression of robes and an inquisitive, intelligent expression. He wondered where, exactly, the godling was now...
The library seemed to be empty, and if Knowledge or any of his servants (if he kept any) were present, they were so silent and stealthy that it was unnoticeable to Illumin. Here, at least, there was little sign of the taint that had blighted the lower floors.
Illumin paced through the shelves, running his fingers lightly down the spines of the books - shuddering, once, as he found one that seemed bound in a bizarre, slimy skin, then twitching as his fingers discovered another wrapped in harsh sandpaper. What do I need, what do I need...
Though the obvious answer was to seek for information on the further stories of the traitors, after his own story had ended... Illumin found himself, instead, leafing through tomes that might explain the other source of turmoil in his life.
Aristogeiton. Aristogeiton...
His fingers traced down the pages, and he wondered if Memi had known about this place, or if Pana did. Whatever use it was, he found only flickers and pieces here and there... bits and pieces of a greater story, interwoven through the myths of humans. Individually they had seen so little, but over time the pieces added up into a greater whole. It was a pity humans didn't have the immortal luxury to see the finished product.
Illumin paused on one page, in particular - one that spoke of nine dragons ranked around the Twin Crown. Is that why there are dragon statues downstairs? But there are only six, not nine. And what of Destruction? Had Harmodius ever swayed this far into his entropic aspect before?
On this subject, the books were blank. Illumin frowned slightly as he put the last of them back on the shelf - did that mean it had never happened, or simply that nothing had been written? Or remembered?
Either was a chilling thought. Sobered, Illumin paced out of the room, flinching a bit as the taste of ash floated down the hallway.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:47 pm
Pieces Assembled"My lord... it is not good for you to stay here so much," Eibhilin said, quietly. The Aoide reached out one hand, but dared not actually let it rest on Illumin's shoulder. Instead, she held it there just above, until her courage failed her and she withdrew. "Don't mother me, Eibhilin," Illumin snapped, slamming closed the book he had been reading. They were in the library again, where Illumin had spent every waking hour (and several sleeping hours as well) for the past few days. Scouring the books. His hands were marked with paper cuts now, under the dimmed glow. "Radiance!" Eibhilin drew back again under his glare - tired though his eyes might be, they could summon up enough of anger and frustration to scare her away. "But..." "I am a god," he hissed. "A few nights reading, or without sleep, will hardly damage me. Now - leave me! Go!" "... Radiance," the Aoide whispered, then quietly turned away. Illumin ignored her, only vaguely hearing the library door close behind her as he turned to the next book in the stack. This one was old, old, old; it smelled dank and bits of the cover flaked off in his hands. He took more care, then, and laid it with more reverence on the table before opening it. And within, scratched out in faded ink that he had to squint to read... The Book When there was nothing, Neither water, terra, wind or flame, No thought, no voice, no name, Void sat alone. Something about the words resonated with him, and Illumin's heart beat a little faster. This was... this had the air of Truth about it. An old, old story of truth... He scanned a little further. Well... this wasn't what he was looking for, but it was a treasure of another kind, it seemed. Eagerly, the tired god devoured the words set before him. The Book Finally, within Void, the seed split. One half formed the Basin of All, and the other the roof of the House of All, and in the center stood Gaia, Life of All. The name of the world they were reborn into, but more besides. Wasn't there a jewel bearing that name? Hmm... How fascinating. He moved on. The Book Finally, at the end of an age, Void took on a form at her guidance, and stood before her a perfect man with skin of pure clouds and light, and hair that birthed every shade and chroma. She was pleased at this, ?So you have harnessed what was in you all along?.that that let you Make. You are Creation, and this I will love. You may touch me.? Void... had been Harmodius, and Gaia had brought out the nature of Creation within him? If there was indeed a jewel of Gaia awake in the world, could she do this once more? Illumin's heart jumped a bit, and his gaze flew down the pages, speed-reading. The Book As its first great leaves reached outinto the darkness, she gave birth to the heavens, the greatest of skies to fill the other half, Universe. So Creation was filled wife wife and firstborn, and he was joyous. "Lucius," Illumin hissed under his breath. How dare that little p***k be the firstborn child? But another word caught his eye then - The Book As they walked together, about the great tree with the child in their arms, swathed in cloth woven of their hair, Gaia turned to he husband and spoke to him. "Surely as this tree has grown, so have we and our child. But there is naught else. Show your joy, and mine. Make the symbols of it Be!" So it was, from the radiance and colours of his own new form, he pulled forth Light. Illumin's eyes widened. Light... So, that was it, then? Second-born child... Quickly, he read forward. The Book But Sorrow returned in his mind, and he could remember all that he was. And there was a great twisting in his gut and he howled. Blood red splashed down him, and blackness returned. Gaia was again afraid, and the child cried out. "What one must make so must another. There will be balance, until there is Void again." and Destruction lifted the left hand of the new form, and pulled from himself Darkness. Illumin's gut twisted along with the story, though he took a bit of sadistic glee at the idea of it scaring wee baby Lucius. Well, that would seem to explain why he felt so uneasy here, now. If Light was born of Creation, then Darkess, Shadow, was born of Destruction... no wonder. No wonder. He had heard, vaguely, of a Shadow gem that had awakened, but had never seen. All the better for that god, then, he growled mentally. But... balance. "There will be balance, until there is Void again," Illumin whispered, reading it aloud. Was that what they needed? Balance? Did he too have a part to play in bringing it back, and this Shadow creature as well? Or was it Gaia's geas and ancient duty? And where the hell did Aristogeiton fit in to all this? Too many questions. Way too many questions. "Ugh..." Illumin lay his head down on the table and closed his eyes. Excerpts from the Edelsteine Creation Myth, written by Ivynian
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:48 pm
A Brief Escape
Illumin hissed as Eibhilin opened the windows that morning to let in the light. Oh, the light came in, but so did the stench of ash and lava, and a few moths with crisped and mangled wings, what little color they had now totally drowned in soot. He gently cupped one of them in his hands, where it shivered on his skin as the light surrounded it.
"No more," he said, his voice low.
"Radiance?"
"Close the window. The moths... should not come here any more. It hurts them too much." Illumin bowed his head over the small, battered group of insects as they alighted on him, wings shaking. His most faithful of servants, the little beings that sought Light at the very heart of their natures - and now they were being injured too. Somehow it was more of a blow than anything else, that Destruction's wiles wouldn't even spare them.
The god stood up gently, careful not to dislodge the moths, and walked over to where Memi's lamp was lit. With care, he moved the moths to rest on the lampshade, where they trembled, bits of ash falling from their wings to draw thin, tumbly lines on the floor. Eibhilin watched, quietly.
"Less and less of them come every day. I fear many die in the attempt," the Aoide said, after a minute.
"I know it," Illumin answered, rubbing at his temples - then standing up abruptly. "Place out sugared water for them if they seem so inclined. I am going out."
"Out? Out where?" Eibhlin stared at him as he quickly moved to pick up his traveling cloak and throw it over his own wings.
"Out of here. Anywhere out of here," the god muttered. "Just... trust me. And leave me be," he added, seeing Eibhilin make a motion as if to follow.
"... yes, Radiance," she said, reluctantly.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:48 pm
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:49 pm
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:50 pm
Illumin By my very self, what an utterly exhausting day. First, training with Eamnonn - I very much needed the soak that Eibhilin immediately ushered me into upon my return, the soak and the light back massage. Ahhh, faithful Aoidei are quite a treasure indeed. I will have to train more, on my own or with the Hunt again, if he will have me. Perhaps I will be a better student then. But before reaching my sanctuary, what should I meet but a... a shadow demon, my opposite in every way (though, Shadow's Gods are my mortal enemies, no doubt he comes close). A strange being, Sesostris, and looking for Lady Medicine, no less...! But he has information, and useful information at that. The land of pyramids, Egypt... a cult there, yes. Oh, once I have ascended further I will journey there, and see what I can find before me. Though, I would do well to obtain weapons and worshippers first, I believe... I will not let them destroy me again, and only a fool would head out unprepared against an old foe. Sesostris said he was pleased to have met me. I can't say the same, but he will be useful, even if I have to let some of my light pass into his tainted hands. At least, he is not hostile to me directly, which is fair enough... hm. I will have to consider carefully. Both the matter of Sesostris, and also the matter of weaponry.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:51 pm
Stars and AshesSosiqui  Illumin grumbled under his breath. Of course, when he really needed his Aoidei, they were nowhere to be found - nowhere in his chambers, that is. He vaguely remembered once being able to sense their presence wherever they might be, but that ability certainly hadn't re-manifested yet, if it was even going to.
His wings twitching with discomfort, Illumin descended the stairs into the main hall, heading for the kitchen. He expected at least Eibhlin would be there... but he didn't see any sign of the banshee. "Dammit," he muttered, stopping in the middle of the shop and turning to look around more carefully. The less time spent in this... this tainted place, the better.Ivynian  Nuit..nut...the ladder...what good is the sky that could not reach itself? Bled, quantities of blood from a patient in the hopeful belief that this would cure or prevent a great many illnesses and diseases, exsanguination of every star and field of light leaving onlyNothingLucius pushed the main door open with his shoulder, paying little head to the heat or ash that wafted in on him from the outside. He hated the place now, all a memory of finer things tattered and bleeding out, but he could not fly and return to the haven he hade made far away. Healed enough anyway, he had had begun his half hearted search for the others to finish Destructions bidding. Stumbling upon Panacea was a fair enough catalyst adn reminder to the task. 'Lo and behold, his luck was terrible as ever... "Illumin." Sosiqui Illumin turned at the sound of the door. "Eibhi... lin..."
No...
For a moment, at the sight of Lucius' form, a shock of anger ran through Illumin. How dare he come back here after what he has done, how dare he... how... Then, the god took in the details. Lucius' arms were... bound? His eyes narrowed as his gaze slid along the twisting length of the wire, and he stepped back as he realize that the wires weren't just entangling his arms, they were piercing through them.
"Lucius..." It wasn't a hate-filled growl as it might have been only a few moments before. Instead, the word was full of confusion. Ivynian Well...isn't this ******** awkward. Usually people don't stare quite so marvelously if everything is in place and effing dandy."It's been a while, " He strode over with more confidence then was pitted in the depths of his stomach. At least withuot use of his hands, his hair remained down and unruly as it always was, it covered the half of his face where the brand seeped and burned. "You seem ill at ease in these surroundings. Too dark for you?" Sosiqui Illumin was pretty well flustered by now. Lucius was not only here, but acting somewhat civilly... and his arms, and... What the hell do you say to that?
"Just a bit too dark, yes, and too full of ashes and empty of life," Illumin muttered. "This is what Destruction has wrought." He swallowed the words that he so wanted to add to the end, accusing it of being Lucius' fault. Unable to see the brand... well, it was unwise to anger a higher deity when you were alone with them, however odd their appearance might be. Eamnonn didn't need to teach him that. Ivynian "I've heard of artists spending their whole existences paying homage to the beauty of such decay...of the inevitability and wholesome siren's call of this sort of wreckage....nihilistic narcisism, perhaps...but the arguements are made well. Perhaps all this was already here, and we had not the scope to see it. They've always been a part of each other, whomever was dominant or dormant. " He looked over the other, marvelling the barb had had so little effect. No venom left in this one even? Or just too cool an exterior in all this heat. "You should be careful not to stain that pretty pale skin of yours in all that is 'wrought' here...though your bruises and fingers from the last time are healed, I see. " Sosiqui "They are, little thanks to you," Illumin muttered, though he did not turn away from Lucius. "What do you want? Why are you here? You cannot think Destruction holds love for anyone, least of all you." He spoke the words firmly, confidently - though he was ready to fly backwards should they prove rash. Ivynian "There's that fire I'd been dreaming about, " He smiled, but it was neither happy nor attractive. "I know more then anyone here what Destruction's arms and caress feel like...doesn't it show?" He lifted a wired hand and stroked the backs of the first joints along the other's jaw. How I have dreamed of pushing my thumbs through those pretty green eyes of yours....never will it be, wires and shame my hands will not uncurl again."I dwell here for now, ever as you do....I am yet a god, Light. But worry not...when my business is done in this sepulcher I will leave. ....which is partly yours to determine." His expression shifted to stoney distaste. "You were one of the participants, the wounded in battle so honoured. So it is decreed, one vengeance is yours by Justice that does not undo the vengeance of another. Your retribution, however you will it on me and uncontested by me, I set at your feet." He had bowed for Panacea, he would not do the same here. Sosiqui Illumin jumped back, flinching away from Lucius' touch. "So he did touch you, I see, and left his mark on you too," he said, voice all silk and spiky honey. "I hope you had joy in it. Better than the first time, when the bards wrote that you cried and cried..."
Then the broken god continued, and Illumin raised one eyebrow. This, too, must have been Destruction's decree. But... "Did Medicine come to you?" he asked, bluntly. "This is not my request, merely a question. She said she was going to ask you for help in finding the one called Aristogeiton." Ivynian "Whatever bards you speak of are of your own concern, I have no shame for a past I do not remember...nor for one in which we all shed tears, angry or sad, and all equally died." He arched a brow at the other's retreat. Amused. "Yes, Panacea visited me. Yes, I have helped her to the first pieces of the splintered soul of that name. What does it matter? If you were friends I should think she would have left note to you of her going. " Once muttered, never forgotten. The name has resurfaced from the lips of Creation and it is now etched again in time and mind. Damn you, Aristogeiton.Sosiqui "I am aware that she left, yes," Illumin said, coldly. "You will help her... you will continue to help her, and not lift your... hah, your hands... nor anything else against her or myself. Or, so help me, I will sear the fire of my light so deeply into your eyes that you will never see anything but their white unending flame for the rest of your existence." Illumin's voice dropped to a low and dangerous hiss, and the light around him moved to blaze almost blindingly at that. Ivynian He squinted, annoyance plain, "Nice soliloquy. Is that your wish then?" Sosiqui "That is my wish. Lead her true in all aspects, harm neither herself nor I." Illumin folded his arms. Something in him was screaming for more, to blind him anyway - surely he deserved it, for what he had done...!
But... no. He couldn't, because of Pana. Because she would come back and see his blank gaze, and she would cry over it and apply her balms, and... no.
"And if I never see you again, that will be perfectly fine," he added. "Live as well as you can with what has happened, Lucius, and leave me and mine out of it after Medicine's quest is done." He turned away. Ivynian "We cannot, without drastic measure, be without each other Illumin. You know that. You are but one of the small things that exists within the great expanses...a piece of stars and planets, what glows within them. We cannot be so easily rid of one another as that." He sighed. Some vengeance then, but it was said and done. As if harm to Panacea had much crossed his mind. Foolishness. Perhaps the vastness of space was too much for even light embodied to illuminate the full of and see to the truth of, but somehow Panacea had to some degree. Woman's intuition over a man's pride? He was as much a fool as Illumin. "The black is coming, when all the skies within me will be dark and empty. You will be the only pinpoint, Illumin, and all the weaker will you seem as you cannot fill even one world with your glow." Sosiqui "A demon told me, recently, that the darkness and light strive and grow stronger against each other. If the darkness is so great, then greater and bolder still will Light be," Illumin murmured. "I can still grow. You... do as you can. Farewell."
With that, Illumin pivoted neatly one one heel and headed for the stairs. He had said what needed to be said, and that was all he had patience for right now. Not if he was to maintain any semblance of self control.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:52 pm
InterludeIllumin Part of me wondered how he dared return to this place... and part of me wants to have pity, perhaps something left over from Sosiqui. She always felt fond towards Lucius, though I don't quite know why. Some pithy kindness, doubtlessly faked to gain trust, perhaps. Well. He will help Pana in her quest, and guide her rightly, and that will be quite enough vengance for me. How it must hurt to guide someone down the path to the love you always wished you were. Oh, how it must hurt. I hope it does. Like a sword through the heart. And then, that he never show himself before me again. Light burns and reveals truth. It does not forget, nor forgive - not this deeply.
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:53 pm
Mopping the Rainbowchaeval Byrne had made his way through to the other end, and stood up against the wall, twice as bedraggled and dirt ridden.
"If you were a mop...where would YOU be?" he asked them. Sosiqui "Far away from this misbegotten place," came a somewhat sour answer from the stairs - the activity had attracted Illumin's attention. The god looked surprised to see so much activity, but he descended the rest of the way with a hopeful, if somewhat put out, expression. "Why do you need a mop, anyway?"
He hadn't seen Byrne in quite some time, but he did remember the phoenix-godling's animate fridge. Did he also have a wandering mop? Maybe he really is a secret god of kitchens. chaeval "Oh!" another face he...sorta knew. He thought. Squinting he turned his head almost as an owl would, and stared at him from a nearly upside down position. "Hm. Far from here?" he rolled the thought over in his head. "Where is that?" Meepfur "Hmm, let's see..." Unfortunately, Rio was just as much at a loss about the living places of mops as the others.
Hey, Alex..? he ventured. He could feel his host hanging back, observing.I am SO not talking to you right now.Come on, please?Only if you promise you won't pull this s**t again without asking.He sighed. Fine.Try the kitchen, maybe a bathroom? Or just any old closet."Hmm...kitchen, closet, or bathroom, I'm getting," he relayed, before looking up at the sound of a new voice...again from the stairs. But Rio quickly looked away again from this other god, reaching a hand up to rub his eyes.
But despite this new drawback of his host's form, he grinned. "Why? For protection, of course." Sosiqui Illumin raised one eyebrow. "I didn't mean literally... did you try looking in the broom closet, or maybe the kitchen? Perhaps your little fridge stole it," he added, trying to be jovial but falling a bit flat.
Wasn't his fault the mood of the downstairs sucked all the humor out of everything. He did frown a bit, though, noticing the other figure turn away from him. Hmmm... chaeval "Hrm." he commented. That last hint about "away" had seemed promising. Fun. But Illumin apparently didn't seem to think it was a real place. Maybe it was...and he just didn't know?
He'd have to find "away" sometime.
"Butercup wouldn't have eaten my mop. She doesn't like taste of wood." he offered. "And besides, she likes my mop."
Fluttering, he started digging his way into the kitchen area, snaking in and out of the barstools. Meepfur As he listened, Rio's brow furrowed. "What, there's a possessed fridge, too?"
He laughed and crossed his arms...or tried to, anyway, but these things just didn't work the same way in a female body. After a moment of visible indecision, he settled for crossing his arms...under...and muttered, "Dammit, more trouble than it's worth."
He looked up again then, careful not to look directly at the god with the glow to him, and smiled a bit sheepishly. "Not quite used to this, I'm afraid," he explained of what he was sure looked a bit strange. "Forgive me, I should introduce myself. I'm Desiderio, although I prefer Rio." Sosiqui "Do you not enjoy the light, Desiderio?" Illumin asked, frankly. He didn't like how the other god had flinched away from him, new though he might be - the body had no touch of divinity about it yet, how freshly manifested was this one? - and the atmosphere was making him twitchier than usual. "I am Illumin, God of Light. Consider this carefully." Formal, and prodding ever so gently at the other god, in case he was something to be concerned with. chaeval Not having foudn it yet, oblivious to the other two having a non-staring match, Byrne went on his way to the next target, shying of the fridge, although it did not appear to be a god-killer...yet.
Tackling the closet, he was soon buried in the folds of items there, a clang every now and then heard. Meepfur "I don't have a problem with it, actually. But my host does, and looking at you hurts her eyes. I thought I'd save her one more ache when she comes in control again." He touched his bottom lip again, fingers tracing the smear of dried blood below.
"She's a vampire...perhaps not the most ideal host, but mine nonetheless." With a lopsided smile, he sketched a small bow, since the other was being so formal...but it was playful, not mocking. "I am Love."
"And I believe we've lost Byrne to the depths of the closet," he noted, glancing in the direction of the clanging. Sosiqui "Ah... my apologies," Illumin replied, dampening his natural glow some. Usually he would be grumpy at the very idea, but it was a natural failing - and one this god would surely mend, later. "Love, then? Have you met your... ah, counterpart?" His expression soured.
As if to hide that, he turned to the closet. "Byrne, have you found anything? Do you need some extra light?" chaeval There was a muffled banging from inside, and a loud crash. Then a subdued banging. Meepfur "Thank you," he said gratefully, venturing to look at Illumin finally...it was still not pleasant, but it was better. It bothered him not to look at someone he was speaking to.
"Khiviance? No, I'm afraid not, although I don't know just how much I care to, given the reputation she seems to have earned herself." He sighed unhappily, running his fingers through his host's hair - Too long, he thought of it absently. For all that he had hoped 'Vi might receive him well, he was beginning to doubt that very much, after what he'd heard.
"Oh dear." He winced at the crash from within the closet. Moving closer, he peeked inside. "Byrne, are you alright?" Sosiqui "I can tell you, if you want," Illumin said, promptly. How open was this kin of Khiviance to knowing truth? "It is true that there is, hah, little love lost towards Love in her other aspect..."
"Ah, turn your head... I will illuminate things," Illumin warned, then spun a low-light glow ball and sent it arrowing into the closet, where it brightened. "Byrne?" chaeval Tumbling out amongst the remnants of proud clothing and utensils came a rather bedraggled Byrne. His feathers drooped and shifted unsteadily, but he had clasped triumphantly in his hand a rather ratty looking mop.
"Look!" He exclaimed proudly. "Not mine, but it will do!" Meepfur Obediently, Rio turned his head away, laying one hand across his eyes before speaking again. "I would like to know, if you care to tell," he admitted. "Eamnonn's explanation was vague at best, and I may not like what I might hear, I think I'm better off knowing."
When he heard Byrne's triumphant exclamation, he fanned his fingers out to peek, and grinned. "A fine specimen! It'll serve you well, I'm sure." Sosiqui "Well done, Byrne," Illumin said solemnly, though he caused the light ball to fade off into soft sparks, that flitted merrily around the mop-bearing god before vanishing. "What will you do with it, now that you've found it?"
Then, he turned back to Desidirio, his expression sober. "You have seen Destruction? Harmodius was not always like that; when I came, he wore his Creation aspect and this place was alive with plants and other beautiful things." He took a deep breath.
"Lucius, an ascended deity, loved Harmodius and sought to have him whether Creation wanted this or not. Khiviance helped him, and with her aid he was able to wound our lord grievously. It was only through the great effort of many godlings that we were able to retrieve Harmodius - and then he began to change aspects, until he and this place are what you see now." chaeval "Hm" Byrne said with a frown. "Not sure...." He hugged the mop to him, listening to the explanation.
"His colors ran." He added solomnly. "Just like the colors of the land and sky bleed." Meepfur With the ball of light gone, Rio dropped his hand from his eyes as he listened attentively to Illumin. His frown deepened as the story went on, before it finished and he nodded, gravely. "I have not seen Destruction, myself, but he's very clear in my host's mind. He frightened her somewhat, I believe, and deceived her."
Tapping his chin, he leaned back with a sigh. "I'm sorry for what Khiviance has caused, for what little it's worth."
He understood now, somewhat, just what Byrne had been talking abot with his imagery of bleeding colors. He nodded to the Phoenix, although his understanding could perhaps never quite be full...he had not been present, nor seen the change at any stage. Sosiqui "It is not your fault," Illumin said, shaking his head. "Destruction leveled judgement upon them both, though I do not know what Khiviance's punishment was. We were, ah, never on good terms... though I hope to be with you?" He gave Rio an appraising look. Best not to make enemies if one could avoid it, after all.
"It's okay, Byrne," Illumin continued, feeling a little awkward - Memi had been so much better at this sort of thing, but he moved to put one hand on his shoulder. "Pana is out looking for the solution to the, uh, colors running, right now... and she has help." He didn't mention who the help was, but... she had it, as odious as it might be. chaeval "Did she look "anywhere"?" he asked with sudden brightness at the comfort. "Perhaps it's there, right?" his tone was hopeful and concerned while mantaining it's sunny disposition. It was quite a talent...had it been intentional. Meepfur "Hunt said she cannot speak, but that's all I know." His frown stayed for a moment more before he shrugged it off and smiled instead. "It would be my pleasure, Illumin."
"Well, there's no knowing until you look, I guess." Rio nodded, smiling with humor. "Anywhere is just as likely as somewhere else."
Then he shook his head lightly, grimacing. "I think maybe my time is up, for now, and I'd best get elsewhere so that Alex can have a fit without inflicting it on anyone else."
"I look forward to seeing you both again," he said sincerely, with a final smile, before taking his leave up the stairs...and forgetting Alex's boots, but that was probably a good thing - he might not have done well with them on the stairs. Sosiqui "Farewell," Illumin said, pondering as the other god headed up the stairs. What an odd duck... quite friendly, but with an air of maturity about him. Hmm. He made a note to speak with the other god again, before turning back to Byrne.
"There are places in 'anywhere' for her to look, I think, and that's where she's going," he said. Illumin actually wasn't sure where she was, at all, but perhaps Eamnnon could shed some light on that later. "I'm sure she knows how to find Aristogeiton." chaeval "Aristogeiton?" he asked, tongue working on the strange sounds. It was a fun sound...like Marmalade...but odd nonetheless. "What is that? Is it like a mop that cleans up runny colors?"
The image brought a smile to his face. He would love such a device. Sosiqui This time, Illumin laughed, a surprising and probably rare sound in the lower floors now. "Aristogeiton is one Harmodius loved - who is, apparently, the answer to restoring his colors," he told Byrne. "Is that what you wanted to use your mop for?" he added, gently. Really, the godling's childlike concern for Harmodius was almost touching. chaeval "Well..." he said, looking at the tattered and bedraggled utensil in his hands. "I thought maybe it might stop them from running more. Guess not, huh?"
His wings drooped a bit. "There's no fish outside now. Even if I don't like the water, I liked the fish." Sosiqui "I don't think it quite works that way," Illumin said, trying to let Byrne down as gently as possible. "But it was a good thought," he added, encouragingly. "Maybe if you show Harmodius kind and nice things, he can remember some of his other nature?"
It was worth a try. chaeval "You mean like...puppies or something?" he asked doubtfully. "Or Buttercup?" he got to his feet and looked at the mess at his feet with a frown.
"Or maybe..." he sighed. "It's not easy being grown up, is it?" there was a rather plaintive tone in his voice. Sosiqui "No. No it isn't." Illumin paused. It wasn't, really, though his only experience with it in this lifetime had been watching Memi. So many things in her had shifted when Medicine had pulled her into (near) adulthood far too quickly. "You have to think about things more," he said, slowly, "and if you get into trouble nobody will come and fix it for you. But, you can make your own choices in the good way, too?"
Okay, so it wasn't much, and it was awkward, but it was the best Illumin had to offer. Probably only Byrne could have gotten that kind of reaction out of him. chaeval "Thinking is hard." he agreed with a frown. "It seems alot of work to be an adult. Do you like it?" There was a rather toughtful look on his features, despite his comical appearance, surrounded by junk with a mop in his hands.
Why did people grow up anyway? It seemed a hassle, all told. If colors bled with age, as they did with Harmodious, why bother? Sosiqui "I... guess? I don't really remember not being one." The myth hadn't said anything about infant raging light and shadow. Maybe he'd never been a child.
The thought had never really occurred to him. chaeval "Oh." he answered. Then suddenly smiled and hugged him. "Well, thanks for finding a mop for me! Even if I can't stop the colors from running, you never know if there's a god-killer around, right?"
They might need it then. Who knew? Sosiqui "You keep your mop ready, just in case," Illumin said, soberly, though he was fighting to quit from grinning. "Good luck."
With that, he turned and headed back upstairs, stopping to wrinkle his nose at Alex's discarded boots - Well, that's questionable taste indeed, my my... - before going up the staircase, glow increasing as he went.
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