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 Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 5:55 pm
Solo: Crumbs
Poor sweet little thing.
Jahara had gone now; or perhaps it was Ixa that had gone, carrying Jahara with her. Soon the one would vanish and the other remain, and what a delicious day that would be... syrup, sweet and bitter all at once, as Jahara herself was. Phaedra delicately licked her lips. The lips that would be hers, someday.
Nebula was still sleeping. She had not awakened when Jahara had excused herself, though she had mewled a bit in her sleep and clutched at empty air after Ixa was gone. Such a needy little thing. If Phaedra had her own body, she would tip-toe her fingernails delicately up the kitten's arm, stroke the velvet fur, and whisper sweetly in those soft, flickering ears up until the moment when the dagger slid home.
As it was, she would just have to imagine it. Experimentally, the goddess flexed one of Nebula's hands. The movement was smooth, but she felt the kitten's mind wobble alarmingly under her, and she pulled back with a snarl. How infuriating! But it was expend power or spend the days until her ascension wallowing in broken shards of what had once been a mind, trying to keep afloat in a storm of insanity.
No. That was not what Phaedra wanted. This situation was rapidly growing old, but it was preferable to the alternative.
How terribly unfair. Even if it was valuable information, she would have rather seen it from the outside, to stare into someone else's eyes and see everything breaking to pieces rather than feel the cracks under her own self. Such a delicious old soul the kitten had... but such a terribly flawed one, as well. Everything had a price, even if Phaedra found a way around most such requests... most of the time.
But it did make some things easier, as well. Delicately, Phaedra detached a sliver of Nebula from one side and engulfed it, taking it into herself with a shiver of delight. The Aoide unconsciously mimicked the goddess by shivering as well, though she mewed softly and curled more tightly.
The goddess laughed quietly. Sweet little thing. Poor, dear little thing. She lapped up another shard, just a bit of erosion off the edges, and purred as Nebula curled up into a full fetal position, her fists clenching around the blanket. Nibble, nibble, nibble. You and Ixa both. Cookies and milk. The comparison was so absurd that she laughed again. Delicious.
Ever so delicious.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 5:55 pm
Solo: Impatience
"But why? Why can't we go now?" Nebula whined petulantly, then froze. The Aoide whimpered weakly before crumpling to the ground, one hand scrabbling at the jewel in her eye socket as pain stabbed outward, Phaedra's punishment for her insolence.
Because we are not prepared. There is this- Phaedra forced Nebula's attention to focus on Jatasura for a moment; the rakshasa was idling in the corner, eyes blank as always. - and there is the matter of not being ascended yet. And, most vitally, because I said so. Do I make myself perfectly clear? She punctuated the snarled sentence with another stab of pain.
"Yes! Yes! Please! Stop!" Nebula cried, trembling. The pain stopped a moment later and the tension flowed out of her body so suddenly that it made her gasp. "Th-thank you..."
Hmph. A moment later a shiver of warmth ran up her spine, bringing a second gasp. Foolish kitten. You know that I know best... I know that you are impatient, but rushing ahead is a fool's errand.
Nebula sat up slowly, clutching her hands to her chest. "I... I know... but I'm tired... tired of this room, tired of looking at that thing-" One hand waved in Jatasura's direction. "Tired... please..." She flinched, waiting for the pain.
But it did not come. Perhaps you are right. There are things we could be doing. Not going out to seek the fleece, Phaedra said, warningly, but other things... yes. Perhaps we shall go out. We shall seek knowledge... and see what this world is like outside Achai.
And, to herself, the goddess thought: A diversion for the kitten. TO keep her occupied. Until... The glee rose up so hard that it overflowed, sending another warm trickle down Nebula's back, making the kitten purr a bit in automatic response. Yes, yes. A little playtime. A little calm before the storm.
I can make use of this.
"Can we go?" Nebula asked, hesitantly.
Yesss, Phaedra purred. Let us go out into this world and see what we can find.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 5:56 pm
Nebula / Phaedra and Ellis / Neva: The Web-SpinnersSosiqui Anything?No. Nothing. Phaedra grumbled within her host's mind. They were outside, walking along the cold streets of a nearby town, in search of knowledge - the area around the Pantheon had been deemed too empty for Phaedra's social tastes, too empty and too picked-over. This place was no Achai, but it might serve. Even so, Jatasura shambled behind Nebula, his eerie and blank-faced presence an effective deterrent to anyone that would think of attacking the Aoide. He had his orders, just in case. Nebula paused on a street corner and let out a long breath, watching as it became visible in the air, a small soft cloud that spiraled upward. For a moment she watched, fascinated, but Phaedra tugged her attention away. That's not productive, kitten... come, come. Is there a library, perhaps? Anything? The goddess' mental voice radiated vague frustration. They had found the scarab, true - but part of that had been sheer dumb luck. The fleece might prove far more difficult... Inle-roo That is disgusting."What? It's just coffee. It could use a little sugar, but it's not that bad." It is too warm, Neva countered. "I've never had a problem drinking it before." You were also more susceptible to cold before. It will likely make you ill, now."Great," Ellis muttered, "now you've ruined coffee for me." He heaved an irritated sigh, stumbling around bodies huddled in scarves and coats and hats as they shambled down the street--resolutely ignoring the envious and bewildered stares they turned on him, clad in a t-shirt and ratty jeans--and tucked the overstuffed brown bag cradled awkwardly in his other arm closer. Within was his reason for venturing into town in the first place: it held spools of thread and folded lengths of fabric; reams of brightly-colored yarn poked from the top of the bag, threatening to fall out. Since the others had discovered his sudden resistance to the cold weather, he had been elected to run errands that found him in the city with increasing frequency. He didn't mind it so much, but he would have appreciated an extra set of hands to help him cart stuff back. Like now. People thus far had taken care to avoid him, some lingering sense of common sense and decency telling them to veer around him. It was surprising, he thought, that no one had bumped into him yet--and just like that, someone did, cursing loudly before sending him stumbling forward with a hard shove. It was only as the yarn began breaking free of the bag that he saw the two figures just standing on the corner, too close for his addled sense of balance to avoid. "Watch out!" He warned them, flailing as gently as he could to avoid spilling both the rest of the contents of his bag and his still-steaming cup of coffee. Sosiqui Huh-! Nebula yelped and jumped to one side as a human tumbled towards her, armed with bags and hot liquid that splashed at her as she dodged. Insolence! Phaedra snapped, but the goddess paused so suddenly, even as the man's momentum took him past, that Nebula was startled. Wait..."Do you MIND?!" Nebula huffed once she had regained her balance, her breath clouding in the cold air. She folded her arms and glared at the man; she was wearing an eyepatch over Phaedra's gem, so the stare was not quite as unnerving as it might have been had the jewel been visible, but she made a fair go of it with her one red eye as it was. There is a touch of some power around this one, kitten, the goddess cautioned, after a moment. "Huh? Power?" Nebula said it aloud, taken aback, and blinked at the clumsy human. Inle-roo As Ellis narrowly avoided colliding with the stranger, he made the wise decision to discard the coffee--which was useless now anyway--in favor of grasping for enough balance to fall hard to one knee, rather than fall flat on his face and lose both of his burdens entirely. "Ow," he whined, settling the bag carefully on the sidewalk so he could get up and retrieve the lost bundles of yarn. "Sorry," he said, hiding behind a sheepish smile from the eerie, one-eyed glare. "Are you okay?" he asked as he limped towards it. "I didn't mean to--I couldn't see where I was going, and I ran into someone--I didn't get you with the coffee, did I?" His breath, unlike hers, didn't cloud the air; another byproduct of Neva's "gift" to him. Be quiet, Neva said, sounding almost distracted. This creature feels...off, somehow.She reminds me of Eirlyn, only black, and less an eye. And clothed.No, there is more to it than that. Of this, I am certain."Power?" Ellis echoed. Perhaps. Inquire.Ellis hesitated noticeably before speaking again, slowly and awkwardly. "Sorry, this is gonna sound weird, but...you're not one of them, are you? From the, ah--from that big black building downtown, with the lava all around it? It's just, I know someone from there, and I swear you look just like her," he babbled. Sosiqui Nebula's frown twisted into a scowl at the mention of someone just like her, enough so that the tips of her fangs became visible, but Phaedra swatted her host back into place. Stop that and pay attention, the goddess said, firmly. Listen to all of what people say, not just bits. Now. Answer him!The Aoide shook her head, once, then unfolded her arms and let them hang at her side; the rakshasa slid up to her and lay his head under one of her hands, like an animal asking for a pat. She flicked him away with a disgusted noise. "Perhaps. It depends on what you mean by them." Nebula arched one eyebrow at him. Inle-roo Both Ellis and Neva noted the sudden shift in the cat-girl's mood and stance, and Ellis shivered as he felt the cold tendrils of the goddess's power shift from its source at his back to crawl up his spine and through his head to settle behind his eyes. She seemed determined to get a better look for herself, and Ellis had no intention of stopping her. "Um, you know, the, uh," Ellis hedged, fidgeting nervously. "One of those, um, servant-of-the-gods-types--hey, what's that thing?" he asked, quickly and gracelessly changing the subject as he pointed at the creature by the girl's side. "It's, um, really gross." Oh, very subtle.Sosiqui "I'm not a servant!" Nebula's tail lashed back and forth, once. "I'm going to become a goddess!" She quickly reached for the eyepatch covering Phaedra's gem and flipped it up so that the golden facets were visible. Phaedra heaved an exasperated mental sigh. Hush. You get riled far too easily, kitten. She projected soothing emotions while subtly nudging the Aoide's control to the side, clearing just enough of a space so that she could step in and take control of the voice. "Please excuse my host," she said, her clear alto far different from Nebula's much more shaky tones. "She is not... used... to such crowded places." A smile curved the Aoide's lips. "And who do I have the pleasure of addressing?" And what power do you bear?Inle-roo Ellis recoiled at the outburst, his instinctive apology dying on his lips as he saw what sat in the cat-girl's eye socket. He would have expected it to be empty or, at worst, mangled, but this somehow seemed more terrible by far. There, do you see? Neva asked, clearly amused at her host's shock. I could have made things so much worse for you...your spirit may be destined to die, my host, but at least your body is whole.Shut up, Ellis thought at her, but he couldn't hide his relief at her statement of fact. "It's okay," he replied automatically; only after he did so did he realize that he was talking to a completely different person. "Me? Oh, my name's Ellis." He seemed content to leave it at that, before his eyes suddenly grew wide and he continued, "And I'm the host of Neva, the Frozen Heart. And you are?" Sosiqui The Frozen Heart, hmmm... The title was not wholly unfamiliar; a moment's thought retrieved the name, if not much else. "Ah... Milady Winter, then." Phaedra wished for more control, for the ability to make her host's body truly respond - conversing like this was crippling without being able to reinforce her words with body language and subtle movement. "I am Phaedra, Ruthless Desire." The smile deepened for a moment, showing just the tips of the Aoide's fangs. Nebula prodded grumpily at the goddess. I want to talk too!Very well.The Aoide's facial expression shifted, slightly. "My name is Nebula," she said, firmly, lifting her chin a little bit. Proud. Inle-roo A flicker of contentment lapped at the edges of Ellis's mind, bleeding into it enough to ease his lingering anxiety. He nodded in confirmation at Phaedra's accurate guess, grinning in response to the goddess's toothy smile. "Ruthless Desire," he echoed. "That would be...Greed, right?" The suggestion was supplied not by his own ingenuity, but by Neva's after a brief review of scattered memories and half-thoughts, and a quiet mental nudge. "It's nice to meet you--both of you," he quickly amended, nodding to encompass both deity and host. "What brings the two of you--er, three of you? Two and a half of you?--out here in such lousy weather?" Lousy as far as he could tell, anyway; he seemed content enough in shirtsleeves, but he knew it was supposed to be chilly. Sosiqui "Indeed," Phaedra said, with a purr. "It is so nice to be recognized, is it not?" The Aoide's gaze flicked down awkwardly to the rakshasa for a moment. "Pay him no mind."Nebula flicked one ear, lightly, curious now. "We're looking for something. For information." Inle-roo The grin on Ellis's face widened before he realized it, clumsily turning sharp for a moment before the muscles controlling it relaxed. It turned into a perplexed frown as Ellis wondered--suspected, almost--what that had been. "Uh...yeah, it is," he said. He could feel Neva's interest pique, and his head tilted in unconscious response. "Yeah? About what?" Sosiqui "A relic of mine, one of my tools of old. A fleece of unusual power, a bringer of sorrows upon those who covet it..." Phaedra smiled, the stretch and curve of her host's lips under her command much more smooth and natural than Neva's as of yet. "A sacred task given to me by our Emperor.""But we can't find anything about it!" Nebula sighed, then pouted. Inle-roo It was unnerving, Ellis decided, to hear two so completely different voices emerge from a single mouth that twisted to suit each of them. Neva insinuated a promise of you and I, we-us, someday, into his thoughts while turning over the other pair's quandary, keeping the pang of interest she felt at the origin of the quest all to herself. "There's a library downtown," Ellis suggested, hope in his tone to counter the feline's frown. "Well, there used to be, before...everything. The building's still standing, but some of the books are missing--people used them as kindling before the trees started dying." Sosiqui Kindling? Ooh, Phaedra could think of a couple gods who wouldn't like that one bit. She laughed internally. If they didn't like it, let them try and do something about it. She filed the information away; it might be amusing to use later. "I certainly hope nothing has happened to the knowledge I seek, if it indeed exists." Surely someone, somewhere had noted the fleece's strange aura enough to chronicle it... surely... "Oh. I don't want to read lots of books," Nebula added, her pout turning into a scowl. "That's boring. Isn't there something easier?" "If it was easy, then we wouldn't need help," Phaedra informed her host, out loud for the other goddess' benefit. Inwardly, she sighed again. Honestly, had the kitten learned nothing from Achai? "We should hurry. If Lady Winter rises ascendant, then more book-burning cannot be far behind." A purr crept into her voice as she shifted her attention again. "Cover this world with your beautiful ice; what my Emperor has done is a great work, but lava and ash lacks a certain... aesthetic."Inle-roo The amusement Neva felt at Phaedra's base flattery shone clearly through Ellis's eyes even as his stomach knotted at the reminder of the inevitable--never-ending Winter in more ways than one. "What our-- your--Emperor lacks in artistry, he more than makes up for in ambiance." Ellis's brows furrowed as he forced the latter half of the sentence out, and he shook his head as he stooped to pick up fallen reams of yarn. "We would be happy to help," he said, stuffing multicolored balls of it wherever they would fit in the overstuffed bag before scooping it up, carrying it easily now that both hands were free. "Luckily, it's not too far away. I've got time, if you need a guide." Sosiqui "I accept, thank you," Phaedra replied, delighted. Research, while probably required, was so dull - books merely sat there, and while they divulged wisdom readily enough, there was no trick nor art in making them talk. Books held no true secrets, only words that may have been lost, and they revealed their words to anyone regardless of art. People, on the other hand... "How long have you been with us, Neva?" Phaedra spurred her host to walk alongside Ellis; Nebula looked sidelong at him, shy and unsure. She had met Colin before, true - Ixa didn't count, she was practically family - but other than that, she'd had little experience with other hosts. Inle-roo "No problem," Ellis said, smiling easily. He settled the bag more comfortably in his arms as he limped alongside Nebula and her goddess, wincing at the ache in his knee. The pain ebbed after a few painful steps, ceasing completely as his own goddess wrapped it in numbing cold. Thank you, he grumble-thought to Neva. It would not do for us to appear weak before a virtual stranger, Neva replied. Ellis gave a mental eye-roll, ignoring Neva for his new companions. "She's not here yet," he replied instinctively, defensively, stumbling a few steps as Neva gave him a mental smack upside the head. "Sorry," he murmured, regaining his composure and glancing at Nebula through a messy fall of hair. "She's been with me since about Christmas-- Yule," Neva finished for him. Ellis cleared his throat as if seeking to dislodge her presence before asking, "And you--you two? How long have you..." had that thing stuck in your eye, he wanted to ask. "...been together?" he asked instead. Sosiqui "Not here yet?" Phaedra tsked. "Denial is utterly useless, you know." She sounded amused. "It's better to cooperate," Nebula added, almost in a whisper. "Nicer that way." She nodded energetically. "Um. Since... six, eight months... I guess..." Inle-roo Even the simple are capable of seeing sense, Neva taunted, and Ellis shrugged defensively. "It's true, though," he protested. "She's not here, and she won't be as long as I can help it." As he turned a corner, he looked at Nebula with something akin to pity. "Why cooperate? Did you ask for this? I know I didn't. They're taking over our bodies--more than that, they're taking our lives. Why make it any easier for them?" Sosiqui "Because... because..." Because I don't want to be hurt! Because I don't want to spend the rest of my life in pain! Because... I don't want... to...The thoughts trailed away along with her words, and Nebula shook her head. "Because... I don't know, wouldn't it be nice? To be a goddess?" She smiled, distantly. Inle-roo Ellis laughed. "Probably not so much if you're a guy, no, but I don't think you'd be able to empathize on that point...I wouldn't want to be one, anyway. Not at the expense of the rest of my life, of my future. All of those could-have-beens, wasted." He sighed, peering down a deserted street before crossing it. "Doesn't the thought of missing everything to come bother you?" Sosiqui "I... don't have anything to miss." Nebula hunched inward a bit, her ears pinning back. "It's just better this way. That's all." Inle-roo "If you say so," Ellis replied, sparing Nebula a sad smile before rounding a final corner. "We're here, anyway," he said, gesturing with a nod of his head to a building not half a block away. It stood out not only as the largest building on the street, but also as the most decrepit. A facade that had once been white and gleaming with the promise of knowledge within had dulled to a dirty ivory-yellow, the color of an ancient page. None of the windows had survived the current age, and one of the large front doors was hanging listlessly from a single hinge while the other was missing completely. A corner of the roof had caved in; broken tiles lay where they had fallen, and the rafters were exposed like the bones of a decaying corpse. The bushes that led the way to this former literary haven were bare, dead, and overgrown. Their brittle remains formed an uninviting passageway, and scraps of cloth hung from edges where looters had been incautious of their steps. "There may be people living in there," Ellis cautioned. "The building isn't really fit to live in, but when everything started turning for the worse--when people stopped caring about the city, let alone the library--those already homeless saw it as a shelter that no one would kick them out of." Sosiqui "That will not matter, provided we can find the information we seek," Phaedra replied, silkily, making Nebula's ears flick up and then down again. Truly, the goddess did not care that much about the library - but it had provided a useful excuse to remain in the presence of Neva and her irritating host a little bit longer. "And where do you lay yourself to rest, Lady Neva?" the goddess added. "Our Lord is waiting, you know. The Pantheon spreads its doors wide for His children..."Nebula made a faint mewling sound, almost inaudible. Inle-roo Ellis shifted restlessly as he felt Neva move within him, cold tendrils of her influence spreading through him before subsiding with a sigh. Be my voice, Neva commanded him, irritation lacing her tone. "We--I-- we live in the shadow of this city, less than half a day's walk beyond its borders," Ellis said, stuttering with the unfamiliarity of relaying messages in Neva's name. "I have visited the Pantheon, but found only servants where a Master should dwell. You mentioned having seen our Lord, earlier; does he fare well in this new age?" Sosiqui "Indeed he does," Phaedra said, with a purring laugh. "He has taken on the face of my Other, and dwells in bright jeweled splendor."Shining one. Golden one.Nebula's tail twitched back and forth, slightly. She could still remember, practically feel, the stroke of his thumb along her jawline... if she thought about it. Inle-roo "Is it so?" Ellis asked, his head tilting inquisitively. "And yet the Pantheon itself, His own Great Hall, remains dark and dull..." The words hung in the air almost long enough to turn from implication to accusation until Ellis added, "If His power reflects your own, I imagine the Pantheon will be once more a great, shining thing once you've shed your chrysalis for immortal flesh reborn." Sosiqui "Hm." A faint smile twitched at the edges of Nebula's mouth. "Perhaps, perhaps not. He could attain the aspect of my brother Plague in an instant if he wished. Fear the day when he mirrors War." The goddess laughed, thickly; Nebula's tail puffed out a little bit. Inle-roo "War?" Ellis asked, reclaiming his voice for his own use. "What is it good for?" The smile he offered the other pair was strained; being Neva's mouthpiece was disconcerting, to say nothing of the topic of discussion. "Look," he continued, shifting restlessly, "this was--" great, nice, and fun were immediately discarded as lies, "-- interesting and all, but I--we've--got to get back. Good luck on your quest. I hope to see you again." Ellis spoke the last to Nebula alone, his eyes lighting pointedly on her own red one. With a final nod of farewell, he turned towards home, leaving with a bag full of string and a dozen new thoughts to mull over. Sosiqui Nebula blinked, then frowned as she watched Ellis' rapidly retreating form. Phaedra chuckled inside her mind. Did I scare him? Poor little naive thing. Lady Winter will freeze him hard and there will be no thaw. She sounded deeply amused. Nebula sighed. Well, he's gone now. What do we do? She looked up at the library. Go inside?That? No. That was a convenient excuse, kitten. The goddess laughed again. I will not dirty my - our - fingers with such things.But- Nebula spluttered, then winced as Phaedra delivered a mental thwack. What I learned today, from him, was much more interesting than anything in a musty book. Phaedra stretched languorously in Nebula's mind. Winter. Indeed.The goddess chuckled all the way home.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 5:57 pm
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 5:58 pm
Nebula / Phaedra and Sean / Gelezis: Have I Got A Deal For YouAsahi Kumoru Everything was like a list of firsts for Sean after getting out of the hospital. Today, for example, was the first time he had opened his shop after his release. Everything felt so strange, though. Mostly because he was still not used to the fact that Gelezis was apparently obsessive-compulsive, and powered Sean's body about the shop dusting things while still allowing Sean to speak to the couple customers who came by. Gelezis was not precisely obsessive-compulsive, but he did require an environment much tidier than Sean had been keeping it. Admittedly, the dust was not the mortal's fault, since he had been stuck in a coma for a while and his mortal friends had done little to keep the shop tidy in his absence. But it was something he could not ignore, and he rather considered it a privilege that he was leaving Sean with the ability to talk to the other mortals.
The contents of the shop's glass counter-top cases just sort of made the god roll his eyes - jewelry, coins, watches, little lockets with faded pictures of people no longer living, other such junk - but he tried to just go with it for now, and just carefully dust each piece. The attraction of the larger objects near the right wall and in the large storefront window escaped him as well. Mortals were obsessed with the past in the oddest of ways...."Can you please just shut up in there?" Sean said aloud during one of the long breaks between customers. "I'm trying to do business here. Or tell people where I was these last few weeks, and why the store wasn't open. I'll have to try to sell some stuff, too, so I can start to pay off those hideous hospital bills you racked up for me. So just please. For five minutes." Sosiqui "Are you sure this is the right place?" The paper crumpled a bit in Nebula's grip as she stared at the sign. "How is this... mortal... supposed to know anything about our artifact?" She snorted, dismissively. Don't underestimate them, kitten. They are lifeblood and toy both. So charming, so delicious... and so useful. So very, very useful. Phaedra knew that Nebula would miss the delightful undercurrent of irony in her words, and so reveled in it. Such sweet deception. As predicted, Nebula just shook her head. "Fine, fine... let's go in, I guess." She shoved the door open with no ceremony, far enough to make it bang, then paused and winced as Phaedra administered a firm mental slap. Manners, kitten, the goddess hissed, and the gem twinged slightly. Just enough to make Nebula's heart drop into her stomach and twist from fear. Never forget who you're talking to... never."Y... yes..." Nebula swallowed, then stepped inside. Asahi Kumoru In spite of Gelezis's physical control at the moment, Sean jerked with surprise as the door banged open, and promptly shut his mouth. With the couple customers who had come through that day so far, he was not expecting another just yet, but he figured he had no need to be disappointed as long as no one caught him talking to himself. Maybe you should shut up and just sell your junk, Gelezis hissed tersely in Sean's mind. And I shall take care of your messes. Thank me for it later.Trying to keep the mixture of confusion, embarrassment, and anger off of his face, Sean forced a pleasant smile. "Hello, welcome to Fennel's Antiques," he said in greeting, observing that the newcomer looked an awful lot like the cat-girl who had moved into his back room. This seemed to bother him considerably less than the way the door had banged open. "Let me know if there's anything I can help you with, or if you have any questions," the antiquary told her. "I'll just be... moving around here dusting things," he then added a bit awkwardly as Gelezis moved him a step backwards and shut the glass case he had been working on, before moving over to the next one to the right to continue his work. Sean could sense Gelezis's interest in this person, though; while he himself was quite curious about the sudden influx of cat people in his store, he was not about to ask the god what was up. Sosiqui Nebula ignored him, then glanced around the shop quickly, her one-eyed gaze sharp and angry, her tail slightly fluffed in agitation. "It's not here," she announced with a scowl. Then she flinched, and reached up to clap one hand over the eyepatch that covered her right eye; that covered the gem. A sharp pain radiated outward, not enough to down the Aoide, but enough to hurt. Listen. To. Me, Phaedra growled. The girl stiffened as the goddess wrapped claws around her mind. You grow too bold. We search. We speak to mortals. We gather. We have patience. Or else we fail, and will you be the one to explain to Destruction why this happened? Will you?!Nebula shivered. Asahi Kumoru Watching the girl as well as he could with Gelezis forcing his attention elsewhere, Sean wondered what she was looking for. It sure sounded like she was looking for something specific, which did not happen too terribly often. Usually people came to browse. He was about to ask her what it was, exactly, she was interested in, but then Gelezis took over his speech as well. "What are you looking for?" Gelezis said with Sean's voice; even sounding the same in voice, the god's tone was far more stern, and less friendly. "If you tell me what it is, maybe I can help you find it." Sean was not sure why Gelezis was suddenly so interested, but he could feel that the god was hiding something. For the moment, though, Sean figured he would just watch. Gelezis sounded so eager - he was not sure it would be a good idea to try to wrestle him for control at the moment. Sosiqui Nebula opened her mouth, but Phaedra shoved her roughly aside and took control of her tongue. "Knowledge and lore," she said, smoothly. "It seems many antiquaries have run off or become one with the dust they so cherish."But-Do you think you can just walk into a store and buy my priceless artifacts? Phaedra snapped. You try my patience. The kitten was being difficult, and now was not the time. She tightened her control, like clenching a fist. S... sorry... Nebula's answering thought was muted, and she wobbled a little on her feet. Now speak to the man. It was taking far too much effort to make her host manageable today. Far too much. "U-um..." Nebula suddenly found herself able to speak again. Asahi Kumoru "This one cannot tolerate dust, but dearly loves to attract knowledge and lore," Gelezis replied. "Speak your question, and maybe I will have an answer.""Let me sell my junk. Keep dusting and leave the talking to me," Sean protested inwardly. "Shut up. I believe this matter concerns me and not you, mortal. Dust, and I will speak with her."Sean's body jerked forward slightly, as though he had been pushed from behind to remind him of his task. With Gelezis's steel grip on his speech at the moment, he found himself unable to heave an exasperated sigh as he set to work at the god's task of dusting the items in the cases one by one. The Overlord of Magnetism kept his eyes focused on the girl who had come into the shop, though, and Sean ended up picking the item that had just been dusted to dust it again. Sosiqui This one...? Phaedra risked peering through Nebula's eyes. It was ridiculous how much of her strength she was having to expend on kitten management today. Sometimes her host had good days, sometimes bad. Today was a bad one, very bad. She should have kept her at home, let the kitten take her anger out on the Mindless rakshasa, perhaps allowed her to break one of his spindle-thin arms... Then a flicker made itself known to Phaedra's sight, and she smiled internally. Ah... She withdrew and shifted that tendril of power to the kitten's tongue again. "Like speaks to like. I had not expected to find the divine here. Such an odd... attraction, wouldn't you say?" Asahi Kumoru "So it would seem," Gelezis replied, now making no effort whatsoever to even try to imitate Sean's tone. "And...." He studied her thoughtfully for a moment. "Are you here to seek me specifically, or did you just happen to end up here, in the rather humble beginnings of my new life? What is it really that you seek in this place?"Sean's hands stopped dusting, since he could not see what he was doing, Gelezis focusing his eyes on the girl like he was. It felt the same as talking to Calico, at least to hear the different words coming out of the girl's mouth. But once again, he was being used so thoroughly by Gelezis - it always left him feeling so deeply shaken. Sharing a mind was one thing, but when he could not even bid his eyes to gaze where he wished them to.... The antiquary suppressed his growing panic at the lack of control, and just waited to see what would happen next. If nothing else, he might be able to learn more about Gelezis from his interactions with whomever this was. Sosiqui "By chance, I assure you... a bit of information came to my ear, that there was an antiquary with a strange stone in his hand... caused a bit of a flap in the hospital? That gets out onto the street. You'd be amazed who wants to know about people with jewels in their bodies," Phaedra purred, lightly. "But I seek exactly what I said. Knowledge. Lore. The artifact I'm looking for-" Nebula's eye flicked to look around the shop, though it wasn't clear if the Aoide or the goddess was controlling that movement. "-is not one that would be found... here." Here, most definitely dismissive. Indeed, most of the things in the shop were pure tack and chintz to Phaedra's mind. Hardly a good thing among them. "But knowledge knows no such boundaries. It can find a resting place anywhere." Asahi Kumoru Gelezis's displeasure was crystal-clear on Sean's face. "I had to establish dominance, put this one in his place." He dropped the duster and pocket watch Sean had been dusting back into the glass case and held up his hands, studying them for a moment. Then he tugged off the single glove that Sean wore to cover the stone set in his left palm.
"All it took was a little iron poisoning, really. But I suppose you're right, my methods do attract a bit of attention in mortal hospitals." He shrugged dismissively and waved the hand with the stone back and forth over the pocket watch's chain, moving the links with the magnetic pull of the lodestone. "I had not really thought too much about it, honestly...."Sean's thoughts, of course, immediately returned to all of Gelezis's bitter threats. How easily the god could poison him again. Tremors shook his hands slightly, even with the little control he had over his body at the moment, as he panicked. Lifting his shaking hands again to examine them, Gelezis laughed a little to himself. Then he looked back over the counter at the girl and the goddess speaking through her. "Now. Quit being so indirect and tell me what you want." Sosiqui Phaedra snarled inwardly at the god's impertinence - oh, it was clear enough what he was, with those tricks he pulled? did he think that made him better than she was? but forced herself to remain sweet and pleasant. Snapping in people's faces was the kitten's job today, and it was possible that Nebula's own impatience was leeching, affecting her. "My, so impatient. I am looking for any news, any legend or tale, about a fleece capable of destroying kingdoms." Phaedra's seductive tone turned forthright, hungry at the last. Just giving it... oh, a meager gift, a pittance!... and then, then, then! If she granted it as gift to an unwitting emperor, she could bring down everything around his unwitting ears, as all turned away from him... and then in the breach there was only Greed, beautiful, shining, delightful. Confidante, friend, lover... and the first to loot the corpse. Blessed be the ones to whom the Goddess gave her especial care. She chuckled, low. "I do not expect to find recent news. It was lost a very, very long time ago. And I was curious as to who might be here with a rock in their hand, and who dwelled within that stone. Now I see. That part, I mark satisfied."Asahi Kumoru Gelezis looked upwards as he sifted through his memories. They were... disappointingly short, disjointed, missing sections, other bits out of order. He huffed a reluctant sigh. "I remember nothing right now. Perhaps in time, I will regain more of myself, but as for the present, I have no knowledge about such a fleece."
He paused a moment before a smile spread across his features. "Although this mortal might know something."Speak to her, Gelezis commanded in Sean's mind. And then, so he would have no choice, he relinquished control of Sean's body to him completely. The calculating smile on Sean's features disappeared immediately, and his face when slack and a bit pale. Hands that had been held up dropped to his sides and shook violently. Now his panic had a chance to fully physically manifest. Sean dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around himself, taking deep huffy breaths as he tried to calm down and not start hyperventilating. You a*****e, he thought at Gelezis, though the snarl he had hoped for did not even come through in his own mind, so shaken was he. But oh, control again, blessed control. Within a few moments, he began to collect himself, and ventured to raise his head and looked up at the girl possessed by the goddess on the other side of the counter. "You want to know about the Golden Fleece?" he asked shakily, pulling himself to his feet. Sosiqui Nebula was snapped back into full control so hard that it almost hurt, and she wobbled again and blinked blearily at Sean for a moment. "Um. Um. Yes. Yes, tell me everything you know. Everything." Her confused look shifted quickly into a scowl, and she pointed demandingly at him. "A bit more tact with your dominance, kitten," Phaedra interjected aloud, for the other host's benefit. Asahi Kumoru Sean struggled to fully regain his composure so he could even just think about his Greek mythology. Forcing himself to take deep breaths to help calm down, he slowly rose to his feet, and leaned both hands on the glass case for support. "Jason and his Argonauts went to fetch it, last I heard. That was a few thousand years ago, though, and it's just a myth in today's day and age," he told her. "Stories can change a lot. But I can promise I have not seen it ever in my lifetime. Not in this shop, nor in any museum. But then... I've never been to Greece." He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed heavily. "How much do you already know?" the antiquary ventured to ask after a moment. He straightened again and rubbed his face, taking care to use the hand without the stone in it. "And... why do you need to know? If I may ask." Sosiqui Nebula tilted her head to one side, listening as the goddess whispered before nodding and refocusing on Sean. "I need to know because it's mine," she informed him. Then she flinched, just a little. "Ours." "Mine."Nebula looked nonplussed. Phaedra sighed and shoved the girl aside again. Today was simply not her day. Perhaps she had nibbled too much off the edges of her host's being. "An enchanted fleece is one of my holy implements of old. The Lord Destruction has tasked me with its retrieval."Asahi Kumoru Sean laughed and crossed his arms. And then he realized that it was Gelezis again. The god figured it might be better to just take over again and use what he knew. It would keep him from prying too much. Why did mortals have to know everything?
He clenched Sean's hands tightly into fists as he worked to keep them from trembling again. Why did his host have to get like this? It made him appear so weak. Frowning, he picked through Sean's mind for what information there was.
"He does not remember the myth well, but the fleece hung for a while in a grove near the Black Sea. He brought it back to Greece - stupid mortal does not remember the exact kingdom - but he is fairly sure it has not been heard of since."
Gelezis fell silent then, watching the cat to see what she, or the goddess in her, would say. And to see if his host could recall anything more.Sosiqui "The Black Sea, hmm. Another world, and from there... no, who knows where it would have passed." Phaedra's exasperation crept out in her tone. "Mortals making sport and play with what is mine - such cheek, such disrespect." She would, she felt, have been less bothered by the fleece's outright destruction than at the idea of it being passed through mortal hands without her guidance. At least ill-luck would have followed all who held it, and there was some small solace, but even that was irritating. She hadn't been around to profit from the inevitable turmoil. Asahi Kumoru Gelezis just nodded in response; he could not yet recall what sorts of things he had possessed as a god in the distant past, but whatever those items had been, it positively irritated him to think of mortals touching them. Only the left hand of this Sean, with his own stone in it, would be fit to touch his belongings, he decided.
"I'm sure I will be able to let you know if this mortal mind trapped in here with me dredges up any more information with regards to your precious item," he told the goddess. Then, with perhaps a bit of a reluctance, he added, "Feel free to return here at any time. The presence of another divinity amidst all of these mortals is... refreshing."
He did not exactly mean that he desired the presence of this goddess specifically, but rather anyone not mortal. Not even his dear Cynosure was quite the companion another deity could be. Gelezis was certainly not about to admit that he felt, at times, lonely, however. Sosiqui Nebula tried to say something, but Phaedra stopped the words at the thought stage. "Thank you - I do not believe I introduced myself adequately. I am Phaedra, Ruthless Desire," she said, with a purr. One of Nebula's eyebrow's arched at the other deity's next words. "Why do you not come to the Pantheon, the meeting place of all gods, the heart of all worlds at the present time? The Throne of the Twin Crown? If you have not come... then you should. You should lay eyes upon His face." Her tone was low, sonorous. Asahi Kumoru "Well met, Phaedra," the god replied. "I am Gelezis, Overlord of Magnetism."
His expression lit up as she mentioned the Pantheon. "Where might I find this place? I have not yet been there, but I am only recently returned to this world." He sounded fairly matter-of-fact, and only the slightest bit eager, if at all. "Making contact with more of the others might be good for making an impression on this host, as well as likely beneficial to my sanity." Sosiqui Ah... Phaedra chuckled, inwardly. So this was this god's... Gelezis'... desire... One she could fulfill, for now; she'd keep the debt, and levy it if needed later. "You have fallen far from the tree, Gelezis, but you can yet be drawn back... come and reclaim your place among the Pantheon," the goddess purred. One of Nebula's clawed fingers traced a delicate pattern on the countertop. "Not too far from here is an alleyway with a portal at the end of it. A hidden and secret place, no doubt, but who goes back behind such piles of trash, hm? That doorway leads to the city that hosts the gods. As you have aided me, so I aid you." Nevermind that the antiquary's information had been largely useless; it was a nice gesture to appear to make. Asahi Kumoru "I see," Gelezis replied, his gaze upon Phaedra one of intense interest now. The thought crossed his mind that she perhaps may try to get something out of him later - one could never rely on others - but that was really not the important part. He had gotten some information, and so now he had something else to do besides polish Sean's junk cabinets.
"I will find it, then, and see to relocating myself there if possible. Or at least nearby. Somewhere other than here."
Gelezis slid the door of the glass case shut, then looked up at Phaedra again. "Is that all, then?" Sosiqui "It is... for now. May we meet again before His throne," Phaedra purred, and then Nebula was snapped back into full control so fast that she wobbled visibly, grabbing at the edge of the counter for support. She swallowed, hard, then released her grip once she felt sure she was balanced. "Th-thank you, Lord Ge... Gelezis," she managed. Apologize, Phaedra added. "Um. I'm sorry for my... rudeness earlier..." Nebula bit her lip and winced, partly as her teeth drew blood, and partly from remembering her earlier actions. Why on earth had she been so disrespectful? Phaedra nodded to herself, mentally. She seemed more stable for now. Good. Asahi Kumoru "You're welcome," he replied. "And don't worry too much about it. If only my own host was as well-trained as yourself. Lady Phaedra is kind to you."
He withdrew his control as well, except to return to his previous task. Gelezis moved down to the next glass cabinet and opened it with a small key so he could continue dusting Sean's junk collection."I-is there anything else you need?" Sean asked shakily after a moment, once he was sure he was in control of his own voice again. He looked up at the cat-girl and smiled weakly. The previous discussion had been clearly out of his league, but the antiquary was determined to at least try to act normal. Sosiqui "No..." Nebula did not want to be around him any longer, this mortal thing with a god shoved into him. She heard Phaedra laugh in the back of her mind, but she didn't care. "Sorry. Um. Goodbye." The Aoide turned tail and fled, banging the door back hard enough that it made an unpleasant sound, and she darted back to the portal, back to the place where the sky was broken and lava fumes wafted into the air and everything was normal.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 5:59 pm
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:00 pm
Nebula / Phaedra and Tian Yue: Apologies Too Late
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke. Stroke. Nebula was brushing her hair, rhythmically, staring dreamy-eyed at her reflection as she did. There was a certain similarity between her deliberate, perfectly-timed movements and the actions of the Mindless of Achai, but Phaedra happily kept that realization from reaching her host's conscious mind.
Soon. Oh, soon. Her power was slowly building, despite everything, even through the constant drain of keeping Nebula's mind intact. Before much longer, she would be able to let go - to let the Aoide crumble into a wonderful pile of easily digested pieces.
Soon.
The knock startled them both out of their twin reveries; Nebula dropped the hairbrush on her knee. "Ouch!"
Hmmm. It seems we have a visitor, kitten.
"Yeah..." The Aoide stood up, a little wobbly, and walked over to the hidden door that served as a shortcut through the Labyrinth. Phaedra stole bits of sensory input as Nebula moved, and wondered who would seek her out. Perhaps Jahara, or some supplicant that had come out of his stupor and seen the signature of her work in Achai's fall, or-
It was almost a disappointment to see the Dragon King standing outside her door, a serious yet hopeful look on his face. His appearance should have been a thunderbolt to Nebula's mind, but Phaedra suppressed it, kept the Aoide drifting in that dulled haze that was so much easier to maintain. "Oh. Tian Yue," she said, distantly.
His brow furrowed. "Hello, Nebula... Phaedra." The goddess suppressed a smile at that grudging recognition. "Are you doing well?"
"Hmm... oh... I guess so..." Nebula smiled, vapidly. "It's nice to see you again."
The Dragon King was clearly perplexed, and Phaedra smirked inwardly before flowing to the forefront and taking control of the tongue. "Good day to you, Worldshield... what a pleasant surprise."
She saw how hard he had to work not to flinch at the sound of her voice. "Nebula. I brought you something... something I wanted you to know. About yourself. About who you are."
"Ohhhh?" Nebula blinked, her eye slightly out of focus.
Tian Yue leaned forward a little. "You remember the Stars of the Zodiac? Like Shartha, the dragon? Like Lao Shu?"
Oh, did she ever remember the Rat; Phaedra had to expend a sharp burst of power to control the sudden upwelling of anger at the sound of the rodent's name. "Ye-es," the Aoide said, sounding slightly more focused this time.
"Well... Nebula, I found out that you were... almost one of them. Once. A very long time ago. You are the Cat, one of the great lords among animals that was called to feast with Tien Lung... but the Rat tricked you." Tian Yue sighed, and shook his head. "And you were lost..."
Phaedra snarled at the sudden powerful swirl in Nebula's emotions; she rode them like a rushing tide, forced her will upon them, bleeding power recklessly to maintain control. The names, the memories that the Dragon King's words called unbidden to the surface were ancient and terribly powerful.
And yet... she was not bested. Perhaps a month, a week earlier, it would have been stronger than she was. Perhaps.
But now... now it's too late for that, dear little dragon.
Nebula blinked again, and wobbled a little bit. That and a quickly suppressed light in her eye were her only visible reaction to Tian Yue's words. "Oh..."
"Oh?" Tian Yue looked confused. "Do you remember? Any of it? I wanted you to know who you truly were, and to... to apologize..." His voice trailed off.
How cute. He was so terribly earnest.
"I... that's nice..." Phaedra presented Nebula with the right words, and the Aoide took them eagerly, without truly realizing their source. "But I am Greed now." A note of confidence came into her voice.
"Well, yes, I know that, but-"
Nebula waved one hand, cut him off. "That was a long time ago. I don't...." Phaedra had to push, through nearly gritted teeth as Nebula fought a bit. "Care... anymore..."
"I see." Tian Yue shook his head. "Then, here." He held out a new scroll, tightly wrapped; Nebula took it automatically. "This holds the entire story. If you decide you do care..."
"If you have nothing else to discuss - we have business elsewhere," Phaedra put in, her voice dripping false sweetness. She saw his eyes harden, and shied for a moment - the still human face seemed so naive, but she was still facing down a Dragon King. "Nebula will do with this knowledge as she will."
"So I hope. Goodbye, Phaedra. Take care... Nebula." He hesitated a moment longer, then turned and stalked down the hall, tall, stiff.
Hmph. Phaedra gently guided her host back inside; the Aoide cradled the scroll carefully, running one finger down the curled edge. So, my dear kitten... what will you do with it?
Nebula licked her lips.
Phaedra smiled, inwardly.
"I... have you... right? I don't.... I don't need this." Nebula swallowed, hard. Her tongue felt thick, swollen inside her mouth.
Good kitten.
There was a brazier, comfortable and warm. The scroll went in with a quick, sharp movement; it caught fire in seconds and burned to ash.
Such a nice kitten.
Nebula paced back to her bed, drew her knees up to her chest, hugged them. Sat. Rocked a bit.
And stared at the flames.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:01 pm
Nebula / Phaedra and Adrian: The Other OptionSosiqui Phaedra purred quietly inside Nebula's mind. Everything was coming into place now. The kitten's mind was cracked and broken like an exquisite crystal, a single breath away from falling apart but by her power. The expenditure of her own strength didn't matter as much anymore; she was growing now, swiftly moving towards dominance... ... and, really, the cracks held together only by her whim were so very beautiful. The Aoide stumbled a bit as she walked down the stairs, her eye glazed, pupil oddly dilated. Phaedra's restraint had forced her into sanity, true, but it had also placed her in a deep and impenetrable mental fog. There was the soft and confident voice in her mind, and she listened, and she did what it said. All else was bound, lest it all fall apart before Phaedra was ready. Zero Dream Adrian had been doing his best not to let the recent happening get to him too much, but when about everyone he knew was either depressed or angry, well, it didn't do a whole lot for one's mood.
He'd been on the lower level of the pantheon a lot in the last few days, the lingering warmth from the nearby lava pool comfortable to him, where it was probably stifling to anyone else. He was sitting on one of the nearby stools, one of the few that where still in one piece, holding a somewhat precarious balance with it on one leg and supporting himself with one foot on the table. This didn't seem hard to maintain at all as he was absent-mindedly munching on a sandwich he had made with some meat and bread he had found in the fridge. It smelled safe and didn't take like s**t, that was good enough for him.
When he saw a black-furred catgirl from the corner of his vision, his first reaction was an obvious one - thankfully he noticed he was wrong before he'd spoken Jinx's name. No. Whoever that was, that was certainly not Jinx.
One eyebrow rose for a moment, confused by this turn of event. She looked.... lost ? Not quite there ? And that eye... no, that gem....
Oh. Sosiqui Someone Phaedra didn't recognize was downstairs, but her interest was immediately drawn to the young man perched on one of the kitchen stools. Such exquisite red hair... hmmm... But properly working using this... this clouded sack of meat... was next to useless. The goddess sighed, her impatience flooding back. Perhaps she should just concentrate all her energy on her own rebirth, and damn Nebula to whatever she could manage to do on her own with the shards of her sanity falling around her. The Aoide stopped and gave Adrian a blank look. "Hi," she said, flatly. Zero Dream "Hey." Adrian let go of the table and allowed the stool to fall back in position with a soft thud. Really, something seemed odd here. Odd and wrong.
"Are you.... okay ?" He tilted his head a bit. The catgirl didn't seem all.... there. Or there at all. Whatever one wanted to word it. Sosiqui Hmm... Oh, it was tempting. Too tempting. She hadn't had any real fun in a few weeks... The Aoide's mouth opened, but instead of the blank tone that had previously been used, a surprising, rich, and sad alto voice began to speak. "I am quite sorry. My host is not... well." Phaedra infused her tone with vague distress, then poked Nebula to stumble just so. Zero Dream Just as she probably expected, the long-haired man was quick on his feet, catching the catgirl and lifting her with a surprising ease, to settle her down on the stool. "Would probably be better for you to sit... Would water help ? What's wrong with her... ?" He did not seem confused by the idea of hosts and deities, which pegged him as an host himself. Sosiqui Ah, perfect. It was good to know that her talent for reading people still existed, divine ascension or no. Nebula let out a little surprised gasp as she landed in the young man's arms, and she gave him a bewildered look. "The trials of this Age have proven too much for her mind," Phaedra said, her voice thick with worry. "It is only my power that holds her sanity together, now... the last gift I can give her before we become one. I am sorry to bother you. We only needed food..."All so very true. All so very false. All so very delightful. Zero Dream The man's pointed ears seemed to droop slightly. The sight of the catgirl reminded him too much of the period of time in between when Lyra had died, and when he had met Melanctha and had Ankou forced on him. The god was oddly silent - probably off sulking again, which did not raise any alarm bells in his mind.
Was it was would have happened to him if... ?
Better not to think about that.
"Just stay put, ill get you something... okay ?" He made sure Nebula was settled and had little risk of toppling over before turning to look in the fridge for something. He'd probably be able to pull off another sandwich... Sosiqui "Thank you," Phaedra whispered. Nebula slumped, but stayed up on the chair with the goddess' help. Later she could fall off again, when it would be most useful, but for now she needed to stay put. The goddess communicated this to her and received vague acknowledgment. Good. "It is all I can do to move her now, so much of my power is used up keeping her mind intact. I'm... I'm sorry. I'm so afraid of what would happen if I let go." A touch of barely-controlled panic in the voice, yes. Perfect. "Someday it will be over and I can give her mercy, but now... I fear it would be the end of both of us..." Zero Dream The end...
Adrian once again had to push the thoughts that bothered him away. He'd found the lunchmeat and bread again, and turned back to the table to prepare the sandwich. "That would probably not be a good thing, I bet..." Honestly, the catgirl looked like she wouldn't even able able to function on her own.
"Oh, and you might be... ?" Curiosity, now. Sosiqui "Rainbow," Phaedra said, quietly. Oh, she was quite certain that one would not be coming back. First to Fade, worn away to dust and nothing far before the ancient and powerful deities like herself had finally capitulated to the inevitable. A sweet and gentle domain, even better for dropping one's guard. "Thank you," she added, her voice barely a whisper. Zero Dream Oh wow. She's chose quite a shitty moment to be reborn into... "s**t, I'm sorry." He whispered. "The world's gotta be awful to you..." Hell, there hadn't been rain that didn't feel acidic for quite some time, forget all about rainbows !
Indeed, it seemed like Adrian's guard was quite non-existent. Normally he'd be a bit more cautious, but the current situation pulled at him. And after all, none of the deities had lied to him yet... Sosiqui The ghost of a smile appeared on Nebula's lips. "Don't be sorry... I'm glad to be reborn. I just wish it didn't have to come with this kind of price." Nebula blinked and glanced up at Adrian, right on cue. "Existing at all is better than... not.""Thanks," Nebula mumbled, dully. "Shh, easy, dear kitten," Phaedra breathed, then sighed for Adrian's benefit. "I can tell you also carry a deity inside of you... may I ask who?" Just the right little edge of shyness... Zero Dream "Yeah, I can tell there's quite a few that thinks that way. I think... I'd do it, too, if I had to. If it was my only way to live. I wouldn't like it, but... I'd do it, if I had a realm of influence that needed me."
He finished the sandwich and gently pushed the plate toward Nebula. He leaned against the table a bit. "The spirit guide. It's been a few months, so I don't think there's much time left for me either... But that's okay. I made my peace with it." Mostly. Sosiqui Nebula reached out, took the sandwich, and took a bite. It took a while to chew, and Phaedra took that opportunity to think. The Spirit Guide, hmm... interesting. There were vague thoughts of starry skies, fires and smoke rising to the heavens, and shamanic ritual. That tribe she'd infiltrated once, bedded a holy priest of some sect or another... made off with some treasure, she couldn't remember what it had been, but she had left him to deal with the empty hole in his temple and the hole in his heart. Had he been a worshiper of the god who now dwelled in this red-haired pile of naivete? Good memories.When the Aoide had taken and swallowed several bites, Phaedra nudged her host to put the sandwich down for a moment and let her speak. "What does the Spirit Guide do? Other than the obvious, I mean. Rainbow, well... that's simple. Small. It fits well enough, but I was always curious... about the greater gods..." She gave Adrian a shy smile before letting Nebula's face fall blank once more and allowing the Aoide to pick up the sandwich again. Zero Dream Adrian remained silent for a moment. "...Actually, im not quite sure... Beside the obvious really. He never really explained it to me in great details, just small bits of this and that. Mostly souls, I gathered. I think... he just wants me to live and not worry about this stuff."
It was quite hard not to feel the guilt the god was feeling at dragging him into the whole venture of his missing brother, no matter how much he had tried to stifle it. Sosiqui "Oh..." So more information would not be forthcoming, it seemed. Such a shame... but there was still plenty of potential for play. "I wish I could have allowed her... something like that..." Her voice choked up. It took only a small prod to make Nebula's tear ducts start watering. The Aoide put one hand up to her cheek, vaguely surprised by the sudden dampness, a perfect picture of confusion and grief. Phaedra wished she had a mirror, and wondered idly how such a pose would work if her host was petticoated and laced up as she had done for her benighted Dragon King. Now there was a fantasy...! Very useful, this perceived vulnerability. Zero Dream And there it was. The not so hidden weakness of the redhead - lovely ladies in trouble.
"Hey... hey. It's okay... It'll all be fine, right ? You couldn't help it..." He murmured, doing his best to sound comforting, one gloved hand reaching to wipe the tears away. He wasn't quite sure what to do, honestly. He knew what to do with Lyra.... but this wasn't Lyra. Showing off didn't look like it'd take her mind of things, either. Sosiqui Nebula trembled, then fell forward, clutching at Adrian - Phaedra hadn't been expecting that, but she twisted it to her advantage, increasing the pressure to cry. Sure enough, the Aoide began to bawl, her shoulders shaking as tears poured down her cheeks - releasing all the anger, the frustration, the emotion that the goddess-induce haze had forced inward. Phaedra allowed it, hungry. "Oh, dear... oh... I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she babbled between sobs, whenever she could snatch a breath, her own voice transmuted very nearly into a sob itself. Zero Dream Uh, well... Well....
Oh s**t.
The redhead all but blankstared for a moment, before instinct took over and he allowed his arms to slid around her in a gentle hug, radiating a faint warmness from within. He was at a complete loss of what to say, so he thought better to say nothing at all. Sosiqui Nebula clutched at Adrian wildly, holding on tight and burying her head against his shoulder. The sobs quieted down to quiet gasping sounds, muffled. "Thank you..." Phaedra breathed, inwardly amused. "She may think you are the one she loved," she added, with a twinge of regret in her tone. "I'm... not entirely sure..."Zero Dream Oh.
There was a lump in his throat, and it took him quite a bit to be able to swallow it down. "I... I know what it's like, to lose the one you love." He held her a bit tighter. "...It's horrible. It's like the whole world rips open at your feet and nothing else matters anymore." Sosiqui Nebula took one long, shaky breath and fell quiet at last, though trembles still ran up and down her body. "He was not lost. He... left. When I..." Phaedra made a sound like the exquisite 'Goddess of Rainbows' was choking down a sob of her own. "Perhaps she would not be like this if... I..."Zero Dream What...
Another string was pulled, and yellow eyes narrowed slightly. Who the hell did something like this in a situation where one needed the most support ?!
Oh, but he knew the answer all to well.
A coward.
"...I'm sorry." It was all he could find to say, really. All that was acceptable to say, at least. Sosiqui "No, I am sorry... I led her here looking for food, not for somebody to burden with our own cares. I... thank you for being so understanding," Phaedra said. "Come on, dear... let go..."She nudged lightly, just enough to make Nebula shake, but nowhere near enough to make her let go of Adrian - but, to the other host, it would seem as though she was fighting the goddess' gentle coaxing. "Oh..." Phaedra fretted. Zero Dream "I..." Really, it looked like the catgirl needed the comfort for now. "...She can stay here a bit longer... I don't mind, really... It's okay."
He gently coaxed her off her feet and sat, gently moving her to sit on his knees. "There... Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere..." Sosiqui Nebula leaned forward, then, her eyes brimming with the last tears, a blush barely visible in her dark furred cheeks... ... and leaned forward and kissed Adrian soundly on the mouth. Wild with delight, Phaedra flowed into the motion, deepening the kiss at once, pressing hard. It had been so very long since she'd had a chance to play. When Jahara had risen, perhaps she would discover the delights of a sphinx's body, but this one... ... well, she knew what humans said about redheads. Was it true? Who knew. All the goddess knew was that she was having fun. She probably wouldn't get more than this out of the boy, but oh! she certainly still had it in her. Not fifteen minutes from initial meeting to this, and with Nebula impeding her, too! Zero Dream To say that the redhead was surprised was probably an understatement. In fact, Nebula was in a sense quite lucky, since he came quite close to dropping her when the shock hit.
WHOAH DAMN.
He had the perfect deer in the headlights look on his face for a moment, but strangely did nothing to pull away or stop the kiss. Did nothing to further things, but did nothing to really STOP, either.
Not that it was evident to stop a kiss with so little wriggle room if the other party was reaching for the back of your mouth as if to play tonsil-hockey, honestly. Sosiqui Hmm! That was a surprise, indeed... Phaedra pushed a little further, and Nebula tightened her grip on Adrian- seeing, inside, the face of the Dragon King she was so desperate to please, so desperate for his approval; do you like me now, Tien Lung? do you?
please?The goddess really could not decide which she liked more, the sensations of kiss and embrace, or the desperate twisted desire that writhed through her host's psyche. Pity she probably couldn't get the kitten to take it to the next level, but well... the boy was himself a host. Best not to prey too much. Zero Dream Some of the stupor was starting to fade, and yet.... yet....
It was one thing to know her somehow alive, if different. But this... This he missed. Endlessly. He'd never told her, did not want to admit it. He still loved her, she was still The One he always came back to among many, the one he had wanted to spend his whole life with, but something was gone and it wouldn't come back, and even if it one day did he wouldn't be there anymore....
He pulled away from her, as gently as he was able, doing his best to contain himself, to bottle it all up again. He ran a finger on her cheek, trying to calm down both the catgirl and himself. Sosiqui Nebula stiffened. He was... pulling away? leaving? didn't he want her anymore? "M-my Lord?" the Aoide quavered, grabbing hold of his wrists and holding tightly. The look in her one remaining eye was broken, but there was something obsessive in the depth. Her grip was a little too tight. Zero Dream "I... I'm not the one you're looking for." Didn't she see that ? Didn't she realize that ? Or what she truly that broken. "I'm sorry... I... I don't know who your lord is... and I doubt I could replace him even if I tried."
Everything was trashing inside, all he wanted to do was run. She was starting to cut the circulation in his hand and it hurt Sosiqui Something changed in Nebula's face. no. no. no. he doesn't want me. doesn't... no... not again... doesn't want... no... The Aoide rocked back and forth for a moment. In her mind, the edges of her sanity eroded down further under the strain; Phaedra pulled the pieces at once into her own psyche, purring faintly to herself. This was so delicious, and she didn't even need to do anything herself anymore - merely sit back and enjoy. Nebula's expression twisted into something hurt and angry. She jerked away from Adrian, hard, her tail puffed up like a bottlebrush. "All I ever wanted... but you never..." she snarled, crouching down like a cornered - wounded - animal. Phaedra laughed inside her mind, but she barely heard it. Zero Dream What the... ?!?
Likewise, Adrian darted back - created distance in between them, created enough room to react. If she tried anything, he would have no other choice but...
Damnit, he didn't want it to get to that ! Why did this have to be so ******** up ?!
"Please, listen to me - I am not the person you think I am... I don't know who your lord is, but it isn't me !" Sosiqui Nebula crouched, snarled, and - froze in place, her pupil dilating sharply, her limbs suddenly trembling as the goddess stopped all muscle movement. "Oh, kitten," she sighed aloud, her tone quite different from how it had been before; now it was thick with amusement. "It may be playtime, but that doesn't mean you can hit your playmate when you don't like his behavior. That's terribly naughty."The Aoide slowly stood up, her movements mechanical again, as they had been when she first came down the stairs. Zero Dream When she snarled, he shifted by instinct - the second he saw her move, he would let the flames out...
But then that moment never happened. Still, his guard did not slip down - there where faint flicks at the tip of his fingers, but he did his best to keep them contained - for now.
The goddess' behavior had changed way too sharply. It became evident now that he'd been played. "Get out of here."
If she didn't, she would soon be missing a large patch of fur. Sosiqui "Hmmm... sorry, sweetie. You're such a nice boy. I was really hoping it wouldn't turn out like this, but she needed a release. You did quite well." Phaedra laughed, then pivoted Nebula neatly on one foot. The Aoide walked stiffly towards the stairs, walked up several of them, then stopped and looked back at the halfway mark. There was a swirl of peacock blue in the catgirl's red eye. "Phaedra, Goddess of Greed, Imperatrix. Did you like the kiss? You're welcome." The smile was golden, sweetness and light. Zero Dream Really, he didn't seem to appreciate much - the flames grew wilder and bigger, but he finally sent her a glare, turned, then left for outside.
This was not worth getting in trouble over. At least not getting in even MORE trouble than he just dug himself into.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:02 pm
Nebula / Phaedra and Fragment / Xia Lu Ling: Scales and GoldSosiqui Nebula sat on the Pantheon's front steps, dragging one finger through the ash and dust and leaving meaningless swirls behind. It was an easy little task to keep her busy while Phaedra dealt with larger concerns. As delightful as the world was in its current stage, it needed to stop. At some point enough should have been enough; entropy should have reached a threshold and held there. Ruin was a wonderful thing for an intelligent and enterprising goddess, someone skilled in picking up the pieces and reassembling them into a far more pleasing form, but at this rate there would be no pieces left for her to play with. Surely that had not been her Lord's intention. Her host began to hum tunelessly, with an idle mental flick, Phaedra shut the sound off as if it had issued from a mechanical source, not a person. The goddess allowed her just enough sight to keep her occupied with the ash, no more. khiarhu Ash and Destruction. Smokey dying scents...scorched earth. Fragment's sensitive nose twitched as he padded slowly back to the Pantheon. His Treasure was unhappy with him - first for the trick he kept pulling when they 'talked' and most recently for going off exploring. Yu Five-Claw did not wish to leave his Master's side; not with the world in the state it was...but Fragment was still in-charge physically so out and off they went.
"Do not sulk, Treasure-mine...we learned much, Outside Alpha's circle"
The great shaggy beast met with a bristling wall of irritated, coiling dragon; he simply shook his head and laughed until a breeze brought another scent to him. There was...something beyond ashes in the air - the scent of female. Interesting, yet another woman-creature.
Fragment perked and kicked his slow padding into a bit of a trot; he would meet this new person for they scented heavily of spicy, exotic things and magic. Sosiqui One of Nebula's ears twitched; Phaedra listened, and caught the sound. Something was coming, something large, moving on - she made her host hold her breath for a moment - yes, paws. Hmm. Theoretically it could be dangerous, but anything dangerous coming to the Pantheon would find itself outclassed in short order indeed. The goddess kept Nebula seated, but focused her own attention on whatever-it-was that was on its way. A lumbering dark shape... that tasted of god. khiarhu Yes yes yeeees - Magic! Power. Sweet and musky all at once; his nose told him there was more than just one type of magic there. God-magic and something else...something his senses didn't know, couldn't identify.
'You cannot eat her, whomever she is.'
Fragment rumbled a chuckle deep in it's massive chest; closer - closer still! A moment and his sharp eyes could make out the feline Aoide sitting...watching him. Massive beast, mangled muzzle, size eyes all gleaming ruby - he was a sight!
A kitty! Oh ho ho - he felt the urge to chase her, to see her running before him as prey, but Yu squelched that down and reminded him he could not.
Instead, he slowed as he came closer; there was no harm meant.
Not really. Sosiqui Phaedra smiled, and nodded in acknowledgment - while it was quite fun to come in hidden, to lure and surprise, there was also a certain delight in being recognized at the very start. It laid down different rules, shifted the game into another form, with different potentials. "Greed and hunger, lust and endless guile," she purred at the unusual host. "Mine own is Aoide, but she is near the end of her time. The trials of this Age have broken her mind. Forgive my lack of movement, but I must expend undue power to keep her sane."khiarhu Once in a while, Fragment showed a great amount of sanity...it took his host aback slightly, but pleased him as well. His host was not entirely broken. Yu sympathized with the Lady Phaedra's "plight"...they both had hosts that required extra...handling to function.
"No forgiveness required, Lady Phaedra. My own host is quite...Fragmented." The beast nodded it's great shaggy head, horns seeming to move slightly of their own volition.
"Broken kitten, broken toy - little girl would make a good pet, we think."
Sing-songs again. Yu-Fragment sighed and shook their head. "Excuse him." There was a pause, and then congratulations. "Congratulations Lady, if she is near the end of her time, you will be born again soon, yes?" Sosiqui "Oh, my little kitten is an excellent pet." Phaedra chuckled, the sound deepening into a purr at the end; for a moment, Nebula glanced up, but even though Fragment was standing right there she seemed to look right past him. "But all good things must come to an end, as they say." khiarhu "So true."
Fragment cocked his head curiously and raised a paw half-way as though to poke -- the motion halted and he simply scratched at his maned chest instead. "Ashes to ashes. Kittens to Goddesses." His fur shifted colors slightly, blues and purples mingling under the black in strange colors and shapes.
"All things End - Ashes end too. Alpha would end All."
"Lord Harmodius is Destruction, gilded - that would be Your influence, correct?"
"Here kitty kitty kitty~" Fragment crooned to Nebula even as the Dragon King sought information from Phaedra, round-about. Sosiqui Phaedra purred again, the sound thick with desire and delight. "Indeed, it is the reflection of my Glory he wears, to my deepest honor." There was unfeigned sincerity in her voice; it was truly an honor, and truly intoxicating to have her Lord bear her, thus. "But I too fear that playtime may be over far too soon, to no purpose and profit." Nebula's tail puffed out a bit in response to the goddess' unease on that score. The Aoide ignored Fragment entirely, so it seemed, though her doodling motions sped up a little. khiarhu "So We are not wrong -- broken and tormented, all is Ending." Naturally the twisted creature would focus on that aspect; Yu was thinking that while Destruction was apparently demolishing the land while in this aspect, there had to be something. He wore Greed's glory...that had to be a good sign.
"What of the Consort? The Empress?" Though much had been lost, the Dragon knew his history. He knew his Lord. This would not have happened had either been at Harmodius' side.
"Pretty kitty~ Sweeet kitten~ " Fragment continued crooning at the woman-child-host. Creepy thing. Sosiqui "The Consort and Empress..." The words brought dim flashes of memory to the surface of Nebula's mind, overheard conversations from her own Dragon King before his name and nature had shifted in his own merging. Phaedra plundered them for meaning. "The Empress is reborn, though not yet in glory. Of the Consort I know nothing; he has not been seen. That is all I know on that score." khiarhu It was here that Fragment interrupted, chuckling deeply."So much, left to rot and die....Sleeping servants - Dragon-Treasure dormant and dull....worlds falling to ash." Beautiful and yet he would prefer green and growing -- a longer life in that aspect. Still, he was amused.
"My Lord stands without his Court -- and I hear there has been treachery..." Yu's spirit thrashed angrily in it's prison; his lord's realm ashed...the Consort missing, the Empress not yet ready to Be...and what of the Dragons? What of his brothers? Yu could feel the touch of the Dragon Kings in this land...but it was dulled as he was dulled.
The great beast stretched out his front legs, claws reaching, reaching for Nebula - but not quite touching. "Treasure worries much; things have changed, Gilded Lady - Kitten." Fragment curled his tail over his back legs and skinned his lips back to 'grin' at Phaedra/Nebula. "Ash and bone~ Flesh and blood~ All begins and ends from the same fount!" Sosiqui "Treachery, yes, but that is all over now and my Lord lies gilded, so it matters not to me," Phaedra said, with a faint shrug. "That was before my time. An inconsequential action. Why worry about the past when the present is so full of possibility?" She smirked. The past for her was storehouse of information, and little else. khiarhu Yu coiled tightly in his gem; Phaedra's words held truth to them, and yet he felt such shame at not having been there - at not having protected his Master - that he couldn't quite let it go.
Fragment was greatly amused by this.
"Treasure holds much that should be released, wicked, wily woman." He rumbled a laugh and then shook his head; ah, such lovely goddesses he did meet! Shocking, appalling women that struck quite the chord with his basic self! While Yu wondered at the reborn goddesses they had encountered thus far; Neva, Phaedra - Fragment delighted.
Such a pair, such a pair-- mismatched and yet perfect. Fragment bowed to Yu's will, Yu's will fed on Fragment's power.
"So much, yes yes yes Lady...possibilities. The Treasure must learn to look forward, not back. Dragons must be old-fashioned!"
If he only knew! Sosiqui Finally, Nebula flinched, and focused for the first time, the thought of Dragons bringing her sanity briefly to the surface. "Tien Lung...?" she mewled, helplessly, blinking at the being before her. No. The shape was wrong. The Aoide drooped, then curled inward again. khiarhu Nebula's response to the mention of dragons and her brief crest to sanity to query whether they were Tien Lung - nor not - caught both Yu and Fragment's attention. Needless to say, that sort of reaction was quite...interesting (but for varied reasons on either God or Beast's part).
"No Kitty, kitty...not Tien Lung~" Someone else. His Brother. Pity that name was likely the most they would hear from the feline Aoide during the remainder of her life-span. She smelled delightfully different!
"Tien Lung? She stirred when a Dragon was mentioned...is Tien Lung a Brother?" Yu pushed gently at his host, requesting that the shaggy beast rise and move a step or three closer. "Lady Phaedra....are many of my siblings reborn? Would you tell me?" Not "do you know", for Yu was well aware women did not always say what they knew - and visa versa. Obviously, the Aoide had known a Dragon - but whether it had been before the Fading (which would definitely explain her apparent insanity) or more recently, he could not know without being told. Sosiqui Lady Phaedra, hmm. And from the mouth of a Dragon King, no less. The goddess savored the moment like a fine wine; a smile spread across Nebula's face again, when it had previously fallen blank and confused as the host gained momentary control. Now it was easy enough to push her back down, keep her sedated and dulled. Her name spoken so by such a deity was power and ambrosia. "Even so. Tien Lung is reborn, that much I know... quite well." The smile deepened a little bit. Dared she use the delicious little tidbits? But even she was wary to be too petty when it came to the Dragon Kings. Their bonds went deeper than she could fathom, and her attempts at shaking such at this stage would likely only fail and turn the Five Claws against her. The reward was not worth the risk. She sighed, inwardly. "This one was in the Worldshield's service until she held my prison to her eye. Fortunately, he had another servant." The gem sparkled, as if with amusement. khiarhu He listened intently - Fragment and Yu through his furred ears. Phaedra had much of interest to say; true to form, the wily female Goddess of Ruthless Desire would have things that held worth.
"We think you chose well, oh Wicked One, Lady-of-Want." Fragment chuckled again and raised one large paw to bite at the fur matted there for a moment; they were thinking. "I imagine my Brother was displeased to lose one of his own, even to Yourself." Was the Dragon King's input.
"Why outside, Gilded Goddess? Why in ash and heat with your Kitten?"
Yu was surprised at his host's question -- but then, Fragment had surprised him more often since he had started 'knitting' his psyche back together (as much as he could). It was an excellent question...though not one he himself would have asked. Sosiqui "Because, alas, so few care to wander through my Labyrinth as of yet." Phaedra heaved a deliberately impish put-upon sigh; this was turning out to be much more enjoyable than she had expected. The massive many-eyed beast had a most unexpected turn of wit and mind in its horned head, one that ran well with her own. "Do they find this place scary, do you think? Perhaps my Lord might be persuaded to redecorate His dwelling along with His form." The gem in Nebula's eye gleamed with amusement, reflecting the glow of the lava. khiarhu "They see the spider, not the web here." There was a decided 'wuff' of air from the creature's cracked jaws and his tail thumped against the charred earth in a slow rhythm.
"Pity more won't play with the Lady." Eyes glinted brightly; oh, he was amused - and happy to have attention and give it!
"Perhaps our Lord would return the Pantheon to it's former glory...but not in this Aspect." Yu frowned - as much as a gem without form could really frown, that is. His host and this dangerous woman were enjoying each other's company a little much -- it seemed that the Goddess Phaedra had a wicked bent that slid alongside the one that the Fragment had.
Dangerous woman indeed. Sosiqui "Oh, I shall have my play in due time. The time of my ascension grows closer by the day." Phaedra's purr was affectionate, directed at the kitten, the sweet little Aoide that was so close to the end. "And then the web will grow, and grow." Had she not brought down a city even in this hampered form? In her prime, she had tangled nations, bid them war and break themselves to pieces for her at a single word. Glorious."And what do Dragons care of spiders?" khiarhu "Even a Dragon should not discount the venom a spider may have. A lesson that more would be wise to remember." Yu knew that not only were desire and greed dangerous things, but a woman's wiles were not to be treated lightly either. The Lady Phaedra was obviously a cunning creature - he could admire that, but he would not be lured into thinking she were utterly harmless.
Oh no. Of all the mistakes he may have made, such would not be counted among them.
"Delicious kitten, I would have her before, if I could." Fragment chuckled again and licked at his chops, "Dragons and spiders, all tangled and tails! We would have our time soon too.
Fragment's head tossed a bit, his silky mane fluffing up with the movement. Yu was choke-holding him a little bit, curbing his host's tongue in warning to not be overtly friendly with one that so happily spoke of toying with others. Sosiqui "Perhaps the wise may be on their guard... but they should remember that no soul is completely free from my touch. We sit deep down, my siblings and I, in the shadowy places." Her smile was predatory. "I cannot be anything other than what I am, my dear." khiarhu Fragment bowed his head so he could claw at his muzzle a bit; being held in check for what seemed like no good reason irked him - Dragon's will or no.
"Greed and beauty and sweet lies, tainted with tart truth -- so she speaks"
Xia gave an inward sigh; though he worked in strange sing-song and riddles half the time...there was no doubt but that his host was oft correct. Wise to be on guard, oh yes, but she would not let him forget (nor should he have tried) that Greed was an aspect reflected in the very nature of all beings.
Even a Dragon King could be filled with greed.
Had he not been so once? It was likely; what place - in truth - did an emblem hold? A faint tickling drew along scales only half-realized in such an ephemeral state -- small Dragon, small charge. Had it not rankled once? There were others, Brothers-bonded by fang and scale and servitude, that had held loftier positions.
'Soft, so soft Dragon-Treasure .... but we will not, no.' Fragment almost purred as he felt Yu's hold on him loosen; whatever the Dragon had been in the past - they would be again...but more. If nothing else, Phaedra had once(and perhaps yet still) a disciple in the twisted beast.
"We are shade-dwellers, Lady. Treasure forgets....you brought him me!"
Yu - through the beast's body - went rigid, six eyes widening. Yes....ruthless desire - Greed - had brought Fragment to his Lord and thus brought them together. He relaxed in the beast's body and sighed, flicking ears that belonged to his host. "I find no fault in being what you are, Lady Phaedra. But I will not forget that, either." Sosiqui Phaedra nodded, a sly smile flickering on the Aoide's face. "A pleasure, truly. My domain encompasses much, though mortals breaking themselves to bits in thrall is purest sacrifice... there are other aspects. A small hunger, appeased; what harm in that? For once, or twice, or three times..." There was a charming sparkle, a whirl of blue, in the red eye. khiarhu "Only that damage which we allow with over-indulgences, Lady." That sly look paired with the vacant, staring eyes of Phaedra's host brought a small stone of disgust into the 'gut' of the Dragon King - he could not help it. It was not attractive at all, but what could one do when relegated to a host that was...not quite all there?
Of that, Yu knew much.
"Harm. No Harm." Again, the garish 'smile' that peeled back black lips from teeth that gleamed; wet and sharp.
"Far-reaching are the Domains of Destruction, Lady Phaedra." He wondered whether any others had been brought about...that would be as good an information-morsel as knowing that he was not the only Brother of Scale and Fang to be reborn. "Tell me, are you alone, or have others been revived?" Sosiqui "Plague I have met; he brought tidings of War. Of the others I know not, but I feel sure that certain of them would have sought me out were they reborn. I assume they have not been." The tip of Nebula's tail twitched, and the Aoide slumped forward a little. "Ah..." The goddess' voice seemed a bit strained. Nebula was trying to wake up, trying to become aware - they had talked too long. She was not fighting hard, not now, but... Time to go, kitten. "I fear my dear host is becoming... unsettled. Perhaps you scare her, my dear beast... but I would meet with you again, when such is no longer a concern." khiarhu Yu tucked that information away for later - it would be good to gather as much information as he could, even now with this body not his own. As for why Phaedra would trouble herself to tell him these things...well, he was almost certain there would be some sort of 'request' later from her. Time would tell, however.
Fragment noticed Nebula's body growing restless before Xia did, and he purred a bit at his Dragon; words sliding across the prisoner-diety like silk on scales. 'Time to go, Treasure mine. This Kitten needs a nap.'
"Thank you, Lady. Your generosity is appreciated." Both host and gem bobbed the beast's head; there was no need to press for more information nor more time. Fragment had already decided that he liked the silky goddess; liked her voice that flowed like liquid honey and caressed his sensitive ears sonicely. Yu had decided that they would speak later simply because she seemed to know quite a bit -- very likely from her host having been the in the service of one of his Brothers.
"Yes yes yes, Wicked beauty - later and again and again." Fragment stretched and rose; he would take his leave before she did - no sense in waiting for Greed to gather her fractured 'pet'.
The Lady had told them much...and nothing at all. Food for thought and cause for many more questions in the Dragon's mind. He let his host wander as he pleased while contemplating the encounter with Phaedra...
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:03 pm
Nebula / Phaedra and Arima: Ash and FlameSosiqui It felt like she'd been teetering on the edge for eons, waiting on the threshold. Very, very soon she would break the last barrier and be able to consolidate enough of her power that the metaphorical floor would not fall out from under her when she released her hold on Nebula's mind. She would be able to gather her strength together and be unaffected by the madness that would doubtlessly descend on her host as soon as the fragile shards of her sanity were left unsupported by the goddess' own will. Her will that she would soon bend to something far different. Nebula was perched on one of the couches in the Pantheon's lower floor, lost in a dim haze. She shook her head, over and over again, at irregular intervals, a confused look on her face, her head tilted to one side. There was something she needed to do, something she was missing, but she simply couldn't think of it. Inside, Phaedra bided her time. She needed only a very little bit more. Roxy_Roxanna Arima had traveled quite the distance to reach the Pantheon, she had asked where she might make an offering and this was the place she had been directed to. She frowned slightly to herself, her green eyes narrowing slightly as she pursed her lips and took in the sight. This looming black building was intimidating, the dry and withered vegetation surrounding it tore at her herbalist heart. Slowly she moved to enter with care, one hoof in front of the other. Despite half of her body being that of a large ebony Friesian horse she moved with all the delicacy that her slim human half embodied. A dark chocolate colored tail swayed lightly stirring up some of the ash. This did not seem the right place for her particular offering and request, still she might find that interior was not as foreboding as the exterior. She moved her basket a bit further up her shoulder and tucked the woven cloth over the goods it held. Arima made her entrance slowly, first she poked her head in and finally she entered the Pantheon with only a faint 'clip clop' of her hooves. As she looked around she was so focused on the throne and statues she glimpsed beyond that she did not catch sight of the feline perched on the couch a few feet from her. Sosiqui What was that sound? Nebula's ears twitched vaguely, but Phaedra stifled her host's reactions and claimed the sensory input for her own. Hooves, heavy... and coming in here, which meant it was no rampaging beast. Unless it was a cataclysmically, catastrophically stupid beast. Perhaps one of her own? Minotaur, could it be...?She was almost disappointed when it turned out to be a centaur. They were rubbish in labyrinths, their massive bodies far too long to suffer the tight turns and corridors of a proper maze. How dull. Still, she was not one to let a potential plaything go past untested. "Good evening," Phaedra purred, her dulcet alto tones quite at odds with the swaying, clearly distant body it came from. Roxy_Roxanna Arima looked over somewhat startled. She clutched her basket closer and offered a smile, smiles were universal she was sure. Luckily she also spoke the language that this feline did, that made things much easier. She brushed back a strand of hair behind her ear nervously before managing to get her words out. "Hello..." There was something soft and strangely sensual about the females tone. Her own voice was sweet and soft, when she raised it, it became high pitched. "I don't mean to intrude, but someone had said this Pantheon? This was a place I may find one of the great Gods or Goddesses of old." She felt a bit foolish now, after all the human who had told her seemed to be more rambling to himself then answering her question. She feared she was the only creature in the wide world who might still have faith in the old Gods. "This is the Pantheon?" How silly she would feel spouting off if she wasn't even in the right place to start. Sosiqui Phaedra snorted, mentally. The vast facade, the Throne itself wasn't enough for her? If that was all the mental acuity the centaur had, it was just as well they made terrible labyrinth guardians anyway. This one would probably fall astray to a trap within five minutes. And blood was so hard to get out from between the flagstones. "Indeed it is," she said, mildly, her voice betraying none of her negative assessment of the centaur. "Who do you seek, pray tell?" Oh, please, tell me something I can use, little pony. Please.Roxy_Roxanna Arima cheered a bit now that she knew she was in the right place Yet this seems to dismal a place to house any of the gods of old..or at least any who would hear my plea. She slowly let her emerald gaze wander before resting it back on the feline form on the couch. Slowly she moved closer and tipped her head. "I am Arima, and I came here in the hopes of finding a place I could give tribute to one of the old Gods." Preferably one that would not mind a humble request that accompanied the meager offering she had brought. She held the basket closer with care, she lived simply enough, her and her mate had only just begun. While they had their land now, they needed others of their kind and good fortune in harvest and hunt. Arima hoped to pray for that kind of good luck, while others scoffed at her belief in the old ways she remained steadfast in thanking each element and it's deity. She also cursed at a few choice ones. She looked at the feline hoping for an introduction, one that might pave the way to friendly conversation. Sosiqui Phaedra chucked, the voice still seeming very out of place coming from the hunched-over and swaying body of the Aoide. "You have your pick, I must say... there are plenty to choose from. But unless you brought enough to share..." There was a flicker of blue-green in the Aoide's one visible eye, and for a moment Phaedra focused that gaze on the basket. Dubious."You'll likely have to pick one."Roxy_Roxanna Arima licked her lips and nodded at the feline, so much for getting an introduction out of her. Her words however still held importance, it seems she was confirming that in this place she could indeed find one of the old Gods to make her offering to. "Ah, my pick? Well...thats good to hear, I feared I would find only an empty temple." She glanced at the basket as Phaedra did and frowned slightly. "I only brought an offering for one, I seek only one kind God or Goddess who would allow me to make a request." She looked around nervously, she wasn't sure if she could find many or even one kind ancient one in this place, it felt so destructive and dark. "I thought this place abandoned from the outside..." She murmured softly. Sosiqui The thing in the basket could hardly be worth much, but an offering - the word was hunger and delight all at once, sending a delicious tingle through Phaedra's consciousness. But with her host as she was, it might prove a challenge. Fun."What is your request, my dear? I may be able to direct you properly... or even aid you myself, if it is within my power," Phaedra said, with a soft purr. Roxy_Roxanna Aid me herself? Arima looked at the swaying feline with a mixture of wariness and curiosity, still it wouldn't hurt to answer her. "I came to request one of the old ones to watch over my mate while he travels and hunts abroad, we seek to expand on our herd now. I wish for his safe return and good luck in our future endeavors." She smiled softly to herself, she also wished for a foal of her own, but unless she found a more maternal Goddess she would save the desire for her own thoughts. Arima had come a long way in the bare hope that she might find even a trace of a God or Goddess, to find this Pantheon seemed to suggest more then she had hoped for. She held the basket closer wishing she had more to offer. It may not be much, but it is given in good faith. She nodded softly to herself. Sosiqui ... feh. Such a dull desire, such a boring wish. Phaedra's curiosity about the basket's contents dulled instantly. Such simpering hopes were not for her to grant. "Do you truly think, with the world in this state, that any of us has time to play babysitter to any single being?" she asked, her tone unreadable. "Don't you think it's terribly selfish of you to even ask for that sort of special treatment, when the sky is breaking to bits over everyone's head?" Roxy_Roxanna Arima frowned slightly, she knew things were bad, but who wouldn't want to at least try and make a request for a better life? Was this feline so hopeless? She gave a soft huff and shook her head, her dark brown hairs brushing her shoulders at the motion. "It might be selfish, but I can try, and hope...the state of the world will not always be as such. Besides, I had thought the old Gods would appreciate that at least one still holds belief in their abilities. If I am worthy then maybe it would be worth their effort to extend some energy for my families well being." Her ears suddenly twitched, had that feline said 'us' as in...including herself among the Gods and Goddesses she spoke of? Arima gave a wry smile and brushed off the silly thought, of course not she was just hearing things. "There's no crime in being hopeful." She added with a chastising look. Sosiqui "Ah, hope! Such a lovely word, a pretty bit of whitewash to make you feel better about yourself." The Aoide's mouth shifted into a predatory smile for a moment before falling slack again. "The Old Gods died, darling, all but one, and you ought not bother Him unless you wish both your mate and yourself to become smoking piles of ash and bone. Now is the time for rebirth, for clawing one's self up from oblivion."This was another kind of play, one she hadn't had for a while. Nebula was different. Roxy_Roxanna Arima's eyes narrowed and she huffed softly, now the feline was being rude. As if the lack of a name or introduction hadn't been bad enough. "Gods do not die!" She exclaimed before frowning and biting her lower lip. "The old ones may have faded, but they cannot die as long as one is willing to have faith in them, this place is dark...tainted but I know someday it might be whole again. If all the world were as hopeless and unwilling to at least try then perhaps the Gods might fade away." She sighed softly. "I will disturb no wrathful Gods, perhaps you could point me to a less harsh place?" She tired of this feline, it was very hard not to become agitated with her. Arima avoided such unpleasant situations normally, she was easygoing and sweet tempered, yet this conversation was making her feel edgy. The world was a harsh place, and all she wanted was to find a mild silver lining, instead she had found one who was content to blot at her hopes with inky paws. Sosiqui "Ah, can't we then? Good to know; I suppose I merely imagined my own death, did I? You who are so knowledgeable about things you can't possibly begin to understand, you will tell me that? With that attitude, you will find yourself squashed to pieces by the second god you meet. Count yourself lucky that I would rather play today." Phaedra smiled, sweet as sugar and honey-cakes.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:27 pm
Solo: Shatter
The moment came unexpectedly, that last and perfect bit of erosion that sent a startling surge of power through Phaedra's consciousness. It took the goddess a moment to realize what had happened.
Oh... yes. Yes. Yes. A predatory glee rose on the heels of the burst of power, hot, wild, delicious. She held true mastery now, not the false balance that she had held steady for what seamed like eons. When she gathered her full power to her now and Nebula's sanity broke under her, she would not fall into the maelstrom of madness.
She was strong now.
The goddess' laughter penetrated Nebula's daze, and the Aoide stirred dimly. "Ph...Phaedra?" she mumbled.
Pretty little kitten. Sweet little kitten, Phaedra crooned, trembling with desire. It's time to go away now... but I'll let you have your swan song, darling. A few precious hours all to your very own self, hmm? Won't you like that?
The Aoide shook her head as Phaedra began to retract the haze that had settled over all of her senses, most of her mind. "Wh-what?" Everything seemed so sharp, so loud, so bright-
Mmhmhmmm. The goddess laughed again, pulling her power into her, delicately removing the strands of mana that had held Nebula's mind together. It glittered, eroding at the edges, cracked through at every possible place, but balanced.
Just barely.
The potential, the moment before the fall, was - as always - exquisite.
Kitten? she purred, reveling in the purity of perfection.
"Huh?"
She blinked.
Phaedra delicately pinged the whole. The Aoide's mind vibrated for a moment, then collapsed, shards tumbling all around but she did not fall, held aloft and safe and free by virtue of her own power-
-and Nebula collapsed, scrabbling at the sides of her head, an incoherent shriek bubbling from her as her remaining eye opened huge and round, trying to catch hold of a world in which nothing made sense. There were pieces, edges, everywhere-
I have taken what is mine. Enjoy what time is left to you, my darling, the goddess whispered, thick, sweet.
And then she was gone, her and all her golden brightness, leaving Nebula curled. Blood dripped from where she'd broken the skin with her claws.
Slowly, slowly, the Aoide sat up. She was smiling, hugely, the expression far too wide and empty on her face. At the bottom of the pit, there had been an unexpected island of madness in utter insanity, a tiny sanctuary of something very nearly - but not quite - normal.
Ancient memory.
star of the zodiac.
I am... the Cat-
dragon king-
alone-
his fault-
She slid towards the door, then stopped as the last tiny shreds of her sanity, her identity as an Aoide and god-servant, stopped her. No, no, no, she couldn't do that, couldn't attack him, she was merely the Cat, he was a God, she was-
There was another target!
Her eye narrowed sharply, the movement of her other eyelid hampered by the great coldness of the gem in the socket.
Asherah. The name sent a shudder through her frame. She was hurting, yes, she was hurting so very badly, but the one who carried that name, Asherah, had caused... caused this hurting, this pain, yes-
Yes, yes, yes.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:28 pm
Nebula and Asherah: Flesh and BoneSosiqui Asherah. Asherah. Asherah. The name looped, repeated endlessly in Nebula's mind as she ran down the street, her claws digging into the cracks in the pavement with each bound. She hadn't run like this since the Rat- -who also deserved this, but not as much as Asherah; she wouldn't come back if I ate her. Won't won't won't. Won't come back. No. Never-She could feel no golden touch in her mind, nothing but edges and snags and snarls, and she laughed - a bit hysterically - at that absence. Faster. Faster. Run. She exulted in the stretch and pull of her muscles as she moved, her nostrils flaring to catch at every scent in the air. Asherah. Asherah. Asherah- Nebula skidded to an abrupt stop, her mouth opening wide in a fanged smile as she inhaled deeply. That scent, that taste- She knew it. "Asherahhhhhh." She licked her lips and padded forward on all fours, tail waving high in the air, every inch a predator. The jewel gleamed seemingly inert next to her narrowed red eye. mistalina13 Asherah sat on the stoop of a crumbling building, sharpening her dagger on a small whetstone. She paused momentarily in her task, ears perking to focus on a sound that sounded like a creature, one in a frenzy at that. More things gone mad, from Destruction's taint? The sound came closer and closer until the creature came into view. The feline snorted, finding it was no base creature at all, but one with a shape like her own. Come to think of it, they looked similar as well. Was she one of the aoidei?Asherahhhh.That voice...and this creature. It knew her name...it had to be an ageless. She squinted. Is that a jewel? "Nebula?" It had be her. There was no other aoide who had been taken like that. But she was on all fours, like a predator hunting prey. "What..happened to you?" Sosiqui Nebula's smile deepened, grew even pointier, hungrier. There you are. There you are. But her prey's response sent a twist of rage crackling down her spine. "What happened to me? What happened to me?!" she snarled, sliding back into a crouch. " You." With that hissed word, Nebula sprang forward; she was unarmed in the conventional sense, but her claws and teeth were sharp, and she was ready to use them with all the insane desperation she possessed. mistalina13 "I did only what was expected of me..." Asherah's upper lip drew back into a snarl. She has lost her mind. " She dropped the whetstone and brought up her dagger to defend herself against the other feline's attack. "I did not know what became of you...I only saw an opportunity." The black cat hissed as her counterpart knocked her back onto the stairs she had been resting on moments ago and the dagger fell from her hand. What happened to Lady Greed? Her ears flattened against her skull and she shifted her weight to make an attempt at throwing Nebula off her. "What happened to your new mistress?" Sosiqui "She went away," Nebula said, dreamily, her eye unfocused for a moment as Asherah shoved her away. Then, with startling speed, her expression twisted, and she dove for the dagger. She caught it up clumsily, slicing into her own fingers with the blade, but the wounds were shallow and the Aoide seemed heedless of the damage in any case. "Pretty sharp thing. She went away. Now you can go away. Yes. You can go far, far away, and you won't ever come back." Nebula smiled and whipped the dagger sharply around, aiming the slice at Asherah's thigh. mistalina13 Though the dagger caught more fabric than flesh, Asherah was suddenly grateful she had not had a chance to apply poison to the blade just yet. The feline aoide hissed and swatted the blade away; an to knock it from Nebula's hand to hopefully minimize damage done to either of them. She shifted to knee the other feline in the midsection, banking on it being enough to get her out of the prone position she had been caught in. "You were chosen for this great honor, and you've degraded yourself to the point of a wild animal." Asherah wrinkled her nose "What would your beloved Tien Lung think of you now?" She chose to mock the other aoide, waiting for another opening to put a stop to this. Sosiqui Nebula fumbled, lost her grip on the dagger; the blade whipped into the nearest wall and clattered to the ground. Then Asherah's blow knocked her aside, and she wheezed, trying to catch her breath. "Honor?" she gasped, crouching, one arm curled over her midriff. "Only... ever... been promised honor... never got it... not... ever..." Her gaze narrowed at the mention of the Dragon. "Gods. Toys... that's all we are... to them... all of them." She spat. "******** them. And ******** you." Nebula leapt again, a renewed haze of anger falling to obscure that brief moment of lucid thought. She couldn't find Phaedra to stab her, couldn't find it in herself to chase the Dragon... but she could damn well take Asherah. The Aoide aimed her claws at Asherah's face, aiming not for deep wounds but for surface. Lots of blood, and plenty of pain besides. mistalina13 Asherah scrambled to her feet as soon as Nebula had been knocked away. "You were born to servitude and were lifted from it...how is that not an honor?" She steeled herself for the other feline's lunge and reached to grab Nebula's hands as claws grazed her skin. "I would reconsider my position, if I were you." Sosiqui Nebula felt the other Aoide's hands close around her wrists, and she twisted and jerked, trying to escape Asherah's grip. "I don't care I don't care idon'tcare," she hissed, then flung her weight forward and snapped her jaws right in Asherah's face. "'m going to die and it's your fault-" She stiffened. Was that a soft brush of divine power she felt, in the back of her mind? Her tail puffed up, and she shook her head, hard. "No!" She lunged again, this time aiming to actually bite Asherah's face instead of just threaten her, a tide of panic rising inside her. She couldn't... couldn't... not until Asherah... mistalina13 "What happened to you is no fault of mine." Asherah hissed. "The gods take what they please. I would imagine your Lady is no exception." Her tail bristled, ears flattening against her hair. No? What was going on? The wisp of concern for Nebula disappeared when she was snapped at again. She pushed the other aoide away while still keeping a firm grip on your wrists. "I cannot oblige your anger and let myself be killed, my Mistress would be quite disappointed..." Sosiqui "If you hadn't... stolen me..." Nebula was panting now, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. "Then maybe he would have... looked... would have... looked...?" Her words trailed off into an odd, high-pitched interrogatory sound, and her gaze lost focus entirely. Oh, kitten. Such a shame- say goodbye, now. Come along.The goddess' laughter was soft, distant, but it made a shudder run up Nebula's spine. "No-" A moment later, her eye rolled back in her head and the Aoide collapsed bonelessly to the ground. mistalina13 Asherah watched as Nebula struggled in her grasp, ears perking again when she noticed the odd behavior. She let go of Nebula's wrists a moment later, startled by the odd noise the other aoide had emitted. "The hell...?" The feline aoide watched the other aoide's eye roll back into her head as she collapsed. "NEBULA!" She knelt down beside the other feline and felt for a pulse, hoping it wasn't a trick. I guess Lady Greed caught up with her. Asherah lifted Nebula's body and cradled it against her. She looked down at the other aoide as she walked, making her way back to the Pantheon. So innocent looking, like that. I wonder if he would have come looking for you?
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:29 pm
Solo: Together and Alone
"Where are you?! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Nebula whirled around in a circle, her claws and teeth bared. "ASHERAH!" Her shriek of pure rage went far, echoed, split up into pieces and vanished.
The other Aoide, she realized, slowly, was not here...
She blinked, confused. The world seemed fuzzed, muddied, indistinct.
A... Aoi...de? What's that?
Something was slipping away. Something important. Or was it? Someone... was... supposed to be here...?
Here?
Where... where... was here?
Where am I?!
She whirled again, frantic, her eyes huge with terror. "Hello?!"
No answer except the echo, and soon even that fragmented away and was swallowed by distance. "Hello!!"
"My.... my lord...?" That last was a tiny, mewling cry. The Cat dropped to her knees and stared at the landscape around her. She was not... not... where she had been where was that? any longer. One finger crept into her mouth; she tasted the tinny-sweet touch of blood on the claw. Where had that come from?
She was curled in a vast gray space, the sky above seamless with the ground, all of it gray and cracking at the edges. Glass grated under her shins; as her awareness slowly returned to her and she realized what she was kneeling on, she jumped up with a hiss and brushed wildly at her legs. Most of it was powder or blunt and fell away easily. One piece stuck in her palm for a moment and she flailed it free with a frantic wave.
All around her was broken glass. The Cat took several very careful steps forward, walking on tiptoe. There were... windows? mirrors? with eroded edges not too far away, standing upright, embedded in the gray earth below as if they had grown there.
Other than the distressing crunch of her own footsteps, there was no other sound.
The Cat whimpered and picked her way through the glass, shying away from the 'mirror grove'. She didn't want to go there; the cracked and shatter-edged shapes loomed like grim spectres. Instead, she wandered to the side, listening for something.
Anything.
At last, a distant sound reached her ears. She brightened, and began to run as fast as she could while still avoiding the glass. Voices...
Voices!
Music! The sound of dishes and cutlery clanking together! Laughter! And behind it all a deep and joyful sound that made her heart leap.
"My lord!!"
She ran faster now, heedless of hazards in her way, feeling the pain as the glass on the ground bit at her soles. She didn't care. She could hear his laughter, hear the party, the banquet, the-
The ground dropped away, suddenly. She barely avoided tumbling into the void with a frantic scrabbling and slide that left her on the crumbling edge, gasping as stones and glass showered over the brink with a clatter and hiss.
Everywhere she looked, to the left and to the right, was nothing but edge. She could not see the other side, but the sounds - the laughter, the music, the sound of her Lord - were coming from there.. from that place she could not see.
From that place she could never, ever reach.
The Cat threw back her head and screamed, a long, purely feline wail of anguish. She screamed until she had no breath left, until the pain in her throat and her chest was too great to continue.
No...
She curled and pounded the ground, clawed at the edge, gibbered curses and shrieked into the void. The sounds beyond did not pause nor stop; did not acknowledge any of her movements or cries in the slightest. Finally, even her babbling faded into gasping, desperate sobs.
No...
Poor kitten.
The breath of thought that was not her own crashed through everything like thunder. The Cat whirled, sending more pebbles and glass debris over the edge of the cliff. But there was nobody there...
"Show yourself!" she rasped, her throat bright with pain. There was glass in her paws. She did not care.
Don't you like it? This place? It was everything you had. Everything you were, before I came to you. And suddenly there was a gem huge, heavy, freezing cold in her eye socket. And there was memory of many things - of the phantom burst of her right eye, the ghost-distant cascade of fluid down her cheek. Of identity. Of name. The Cat froze as knowledge - sanity - crashed down on her.
Nebula-
Aoide.
Host-
of-
"Phaedra!" Nebula gasped the name, felt the goddess' smug pleasure radiate around her, almost palpable against the dim landscape that filled her sight.
Such a good kitten.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:31 pm
Solo: Looking For a Home
Nebula recoiled violently from the goddess' voice, but there was nowhere to run. A soft, sweet golden light was twining through the gray space that surrounded her, and the distant sounds of the Cat's missed banquet were slowly dimming, strangled. The edge shifted under her, and she leapt then, running on all fours away as the erosion began in earnest. She could hear it on all sides now, a tumbling roar of debris as the 'ground' crumbled just behind her frantic run.
"You know that can't possibly work." Nebula skidded to a stop as she passed the first cracked mirror; slowly, the erosion clattered away into silence as well. The 'mirror grove' was the only thing left, all else fallen into that terrible, horrible golden light that made everything gleam and shine - that highlighted every crack, every flaw. There was no distant banquet now.
The voice had come from a mirror. There was a shape there, something that was not her reflection, something dark and warm and purring. Phaedra.
She had not spoke, but the goddess still heard. "This is your sanctuary, is it? A perfect place for self-flagellation, for endless pity parties. Did you like it when the glass pierced your pretty paws? Did it make you feel better about yourself?"
Nebula flinched, but now the amorphous darkness of the goddess was in the mirror behind her. "This is mine - it was ever... always... only mine..." she grated, her voice made harsh by overuse. "You can't... have it..."
Phaedra laughed from six mirrors at once. "Can't I? You will tell Greed what she can and cannot have? I think not, my dear kitten."
"You're not going to... share." The words were blunt, certain, the golden promise that Nebula had believed in for so long collapsing in a single instant. How could she have been so blind?
Another laugh. "Greed, darling."
Nebula nodded, woodenly - then lunged, one hand picking up a long and jagged shard of mirror. "NO!" She smashed into the mirror's surface; it held for a moment and then shattered, spraying shards everywhere with astonishing violence.
But there was no soft dark goddess left between her paws, and the laughter had moved again. "How interesting. What a Cat you must have been, Queen of Felines, in your prime..."
A growl shivered in Nebula's throat, and she spun to charge at the new source of the voice. The second mirror exploded under a slash of her claws, then the third, then the fourth. Glass shrapnel peppered her body, bleeding from a thousand, a million tiny cuts, her fur so stuck with mirror splinters that she seemed more reflected gold than black.
But.
There was one mirror left.
She grinned, and paced, heedless of the stinging pain that enveloped her. Phaedra's shadowy form was in the mirror and there was nowhere left to run.
"Mine," Nebula purred, and leapt forward, bringing the dagger-sharp mirror shard down into the trapped black shape. She felt the impact, felt the mirror give way and her impromptu weapon plunge into dark-warm-yielding-bleeding-
Exultation was shattered by pain, slashing in a single wave of agony into her back. The remains of the mirror bobbed above her, and through her long scream she saw it - another shard of mirror floating behind her still, and her own arm, and the mirror-shard plunged deep into her own flesh-
She released the shard and stumbled to the ground, her breath coming in anguished stabs. The mirrors fell to the ground, both the one she'd plunged through and the treacherous second, the shard still huge and cold and heavy in her back, even as the gem was in her eye socket.
"My, that was fun," came the delighted laugh. Nebula scrabbled behind her for the shard, desperate to pull it out of her back, but the movement was impossible, far too much, and she screamed again. "Are you quite finished with your pointless dramatics?"
Nebula spat blood and bile on the ground.
"Good. Good, very good. I know just the reward for such a good, sweet kitten. You wanted to become Greed so very, very badly." Phaedra's voice was soothing, soft, as though she were talking to an infant. "I suppose I will grant you your wish."
Nebula stiffened, even as the movement sent pain searing through her, and she shrieked and flailed wildly as she was lifted up off the ground. "No! NO! NO!" The shard in her back tumbled free at last with one more convulsive movement, and fell much too far to break on the red-stained ground below.
"Don't be shy, dear. You deserve this."
The goddess' laughter carried her, screaming, upward.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:32 pm
Solo: Unfolding
Nebula's eye snapped open, and she sat up with a convulsive start, gasping. The terrible injuries of the mirror-world were all gone, replaced with the far more prosaic cuts and slices from Asherah's battle - but her fur was on end, her body trembling wildly, and the phantom pains of all those injuries that had never happened were still haunting her in wild, impossible swirls. She dimly registered that she was in the anteroom of the Labyrinth.
"Where-" she gasped. Her throat was raw, moreso than it should have been. "Phaedra!"
Her body was tingling.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!"
That scream broke something in her, and she spat blood in truth this time, gasping and clawing at her throat with a hoarse and near-silent cry. There was something growing inside of her that she did not like, did not understand, did not want.
Mmmmmhmhm. The goddess' voice unfolded languorous in her mind, making her tail poof out in sheer terror.
Nebula tried to croak the goddess' name, but failed. She watched in silent fear as the wounds on her hands from the dagger began to close in soft ripples.
The black fur, yes... I'll keep that, but have it shorter. Velvet, yes, close in. So tempting to touch, so beautiful.
A frisson ran up Nebula's spine; slowly, things began to change. She itched, suddenly, violently, as her fur seemed to rise all to attention and then retract into her flesh, and for a moment she flailed, scraping at everything she could with her claws, writhing against the floor, mewling hoarsely with discomfort. It stopped after a moment, leaving her feeling choked, as if she'd swallowed the mother of all hairballs, but...
... that hadn't been so bad...
Tail, Phaedra purred, and Nebula dug her claws hard into the floor, shuddering violently. Please, please want the tail please want the tail- The feline aspect is alluring, attractive, the wet dreams of a hundred men. The relief was acute. Claws... if possible, of course. So charming.
She could feel the power coiling in her, rushing along her skin, through her veins, golden and sweet and thick under the surface.
The ears... no. Too easy; they're like shouting your thoughts to the world. I cannot be that easy to read. Off they go!
Nebula squealed as pain tugged at her head, but there was a soft groan in her skull and nothing else; the power tugged futilely downwards and achieved very little other than a few quick stabs of pain as the ears repositioned themselves and grew just a touch smaller. Still, her claws left marks in the floor this time, and her teeth clacked in terror.
Well. She was disappointed; Nebula exulted one moment. Only one. Then let there be my sigil, sweet and true.
Only one moment, and then Nebula was somehow screaming even though her throat was broken, as four needles gathered themselves huge and fat in her back and exploded outwards, quills lancing out of her flesh with a fine spray of blood, bruising and tearing the skin and muscles around them. Fine feathering climbed up and along the naked quills and formed into bright eyes at the end, pure and beautiful and unstained by the blood pouring down Nebula's back.
Yes, the goddess crooned hot and thick in Nebula's mind. Yes, yes indeed, did you like that, my dear kitten? How I thank you for your generosity in taking that pain from me. So very kind, so very good. Nebula panted and heaved, feeling as though her bones were going to break apart. But now, but now... I think you are no longer useful to me, dear kitten. Too bad, so sorry, I so enjoyed our time together.
Nebula curled on the floor, eyes closed, tried to speak, but found she could not; the healing power rolled into her throat and stuck there, stealing control from her. Mercy.
Mercy.
Please-
Even so. Nebula felt the goddess gather up, the purring shaking her own sides. Pop! and away we go.
The last thing Nebula was aware of was her remaining eye peeling away, red vanishing to reveal rich peacock blue and then Nebula was so small, so delicious, so easily picked apart and digested and so, so good. Phaedra surged upwards and stretched languorously into her new body, all pain and anguish so thoughtfully borne by her host, and laughed.
"Good kitten."
The last fragment screamed and went pop between her teeth.
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