Welcome to Gaia! ::

[reserved: jin morph]

this does not have a catchy title yet! I ran out of ideas. biggrin

[reserved: dealing with the renegade demons



Sitri says hello, and you'd look better with a giant sword in your face c: ]

This also does not have a catchy title, for I have no idea what to call it!

[reserved: something else with demons goes here; reswearing of allegiances plus maybe a surprise? WE SHALL SEE~]

Something else without a catchy title!

Because I don't know what's going to go here~!

[a reaction to the above, to be written when I have a moment. XD]

She had simply needed out..

Illisia had to admit that Lindita ultimately was devoted to Xun (and by extend, her) and meant well. She meant well... And she was a woman of a mission. She wanted to do everything and anything, and to be honest it was driving Illisia fairly batshit, because it left her with barely anything to do. And so, she had left the faun to finding furniture for her room and fled the scene in seach of something more interesting than sit and watch.

Illisia definitively was not used to sitting and being litterally served, per-se. And she was not sure if she liked it.

For her part, her wandering took her some place unknown, where there was still many remains of destroyed houses nearby, and yet one stood, relatively unshattered. Hm... This was rather odd.

Not only was the house still intact, it showed signs of industrious - and recent - repair. There were a few beings milling about outside it, and as soon as the night elf had been spotted, a quick conference was apparently held with one member heading towards her shortly afterwards.

The demon, although it was not immediately clear that it was, in fact, a demon, approached Illisia almost cautiously. "Are you perhaps lost?" she asked, thumbing the hem of her rough black shirt nerviously. She didn't look like much of a threat, and while there were not many visitors to Jin Huang's house... "Or have you come to see my Lord?" You could never be too certain; and if Illisia looked carefully, she could see the others assuming positions nearer the house, as if to defend against anything she might try.

Ilisia was clearly a little taken by surprise, and stopped in her tracks. She looked much like a warrior, with her build and height, and she held her hands away from her to show that she was not armed. The last thing she wanted was trouble. This also had the effect to make the gem on her arm very visible - and rather unmistakable, really, but the elf did not really think about that. Thankfully, she also did not seem to recognize the demon as exactly that.

"Im sorry, I was just passing by. I saw that this place was actually pretty well-kept so I got curious." Her lord... one of the gods ? Well, maybe not all of them liked to stay at the pantheon. Kind of how many of her kind lived away from the greater gatherings.

The demon relaxed as Illisia spread her arms to show her lack of threat, but immediately tensed again as she saw the gem placed on her arm. "Y-es," she half-stuttered out. Her lord had impressed upon all of his demonic servants that bearers of gems were to be treated as respected guests (except in certain circumstances), and to be brought to him immediately, if they so desired. "It wouldn't do to live in a falling down house," she laughed out after a moment's thought.

"Ah...Would you care to call upon my Lord? He has extended an invitation to any of the gem-carriers, if they stop by."

The sudden nervousness made one long eyebrow rise slightly. What could...

Oh.

Gem.

She always forgot about it. That meant her lord was most likely a god then.

"If he is not busy with anything else." Illisia shook her head. She would be loathe to bother a god simply because she was passing by.

"I don't think he'll mind," she assured the night elf as she began to walk back towards the house. The other demons went back to their tasks at her reassuring nod, although one or two kept an eye on Illisia as she followed.

The inside of the house was in much better repair than the outside; indeed, one would almost assume that Gehenna had never happened, if it was anything to go by. The only thing truly lacking was furniture. There were two chairs off to the right, and the demon directed the guest to one before bowing and heading up the spiral stairs. It took only a moment for her to come scurrying back down, bowing once again to the figure following at a more sedate pace behind.

"My lord Jin Huang, the Dragon King Futs Lung, Treasurer to the Crown," the demon announced once he had finished descending.

He cocked an eyebrow at his guest, feeling a faint and familiar mental hint of something from the woman. "Would you care for something to eat or drink?" Jin Huang asked urbanely, his smooth tenor curious and practically asking her to introduce herself - and the god she carried on her arm.

Illisia followed the woman, looking around her with obvious interest, but careful not to disturb anything. If she was aware of still being watched, she showed none of it.

She sat when indicated to do so, one long leg folding over the other, one bare feet still set on the floor. Just when she started to wonder who this lord was, she got her answer.

Like a magnet. That made how many now, on pure accident ?

Xun Jiang, of course, found this talent of his host to simply stumble onto his brother a rather handy thing. And now, he was in the company of one more. That indeed did make him pay greater attention to the outside. Futs Lung...

"I would appreciate a drink." She admitted, before continuing. She knew how this went by now. "Your brother Xun Jiang, Ti Lung, sends his greeting, and regret that he cannot speak to you directly. I will relay, if you wish ?"

A brief wave of his hand set the demon off towards what was presumably a kitchen. Her introduction, however, caused a slightly stunned expression to flicker across his face, though it was quickly replaced by a broad and welcoming smile. "Ti Lung!" Jin Huang exclaimed gladly, hurrying over to the woman, sitting down in the chair opposite. "It is good to see you again, as it were," he continued, teasing as only he would do with his siblings.

"And that would be most welcome."

Xun was also clearly pleased with his brother's reaction. Clearly Jin hadn't seen this coming at all. He did laugh a bit, but nothing in Illisia's expression betrayed it.

"It is good indeed." The words where the elf's, but her body language did not match up with them. Not that it was a lie, not at all, but Illisia looked more nervous than anything else. She still wasn't quite sure how to deal with gods at large, but she figured the point was moot.

"I must apologize for stumbling about unannounced." Illisia shook her head. "But it is good that I have found you, no matter how accidentally."

There were still too many sibilings unaccounted for. He had heard of Chien Tang, but not seen him. Same with his jet black sister, Qian. Shen and Mang... were downright unaccounted for.

"Hopefully we have not taken you away from anything important ?" The question was Illisia's.

The demon reappeared briefly with a pair of glasses filled with water; when they had been taken, she left as quickly as she could. Jin Huang waved a hand dismissively at his brother's apology. "Few enough know where I live, so stumbling about seems to be the best way to find me," he replied with another grin. He liked his privacy, thank you very much, but he would never hide from his siblings.

"No, nothing I can't pick up later," he reassured the woman; easy enough for him to tell who had thought what words. "Simply a minor discussion regarding the disposition of some decoration." Apparently this dragon rarely dropped his formality, even with a brother. "Have you been well?" A somewhat sharper glance accompianed the question; Jin Huang had heard naught of too many of his siblings. Only three - now four - were known to him as being active.

Illisia accepted the glass as it was given to her, and took a sip. That glance did not go unnoticed by either party, and her ears flicked back slightly on reflex.

"I..." She made a bit of a face. Xun had apparently jumped the gun a little and she was now waiting for him to continue. "I have been well, so far. Since my return. We get along well."

Illisia, the dragon felt, had been the right choice, but it seemed better to leave that unsaid.

"The first host... failed." There was shame in that - and also fear. Most likely Illisia's. She had came to term with this a long time ago, but that this might also be her own fate was still a source of fear to the night elf. "I have only returned recently."

Jin Huang looked nothing but attentive as his brother's host spoke, but once she had finished, he leaned back slightly in his chair, lips pursed. His first host failed? That was both reassuring and disturbing, all at once. "I am glad to see you have found a new host," the dragon said finally, sympathetic. "And while the passing of another is no true cause for joy, I hope you both will forgive me in hoping you prosper with your second chance as you could not with your first." A pause.

"As I have with mine."

"It is not." Illisia relayed once more. The elf could not help but wonder if he would ever be able to truly forget himself. From having literally wasted a life.

"We will not fail, this time. I will not allow it." Illisia shook her head. Xun was completely certain of that, and in turn it helped ease the woman's worry as time passed on.

The dragon king had to be her rock on that matter, and he would do so to the best of his ability... and if that meant hiding his own lack of memory on the matter, then so be it. There were many questions he wished to ask to his brother, but it may only serve to frighten Illisia. Better to wait.

He was getting somewhat decent at this whole patience thing.

A flicker of something came over Jin Huang's face, but it was gone before any hint of his thoughts could be discerned. Instead, he took a sip of water and smiled reassuringly. "I have faith that you will not," he said, sounding as confident as Xun Jiang. There were certainly things he'd like to talk about with this brother - assuring him that everything would indeed work out, for one thing - but if Ti Lung did not wish to speak of such things through his host, then Futs Lung would oblige.

"If you'd care to indulge me," the dragon continued smoothly, "Might I ask how you came to find my brother's gem and the Pantheon?" He had called Delmin to him and been found in an interdimensional rift, and he suspected Yu had been bonded to his host there as well. But travel to the Pantheon was limited these days, with the death of Universe and the loss of those pathways. So unless the night elf was native (something he thought unlikely), or had been here already, she had to have come through Yggdrasil, something Jin Huang had an interest in.

Everyone seemed to be so curious about how she had gotten here, really. But then, a tall, purple-skinned elf did not really blend in the surroundings as being native to whatever world this was very well.

Perhaps this wondering and surprise had to do with the fact that she was unable to communicate back home at all.

"I was sent here to investigate things with my son where all those things started happening... Gehenna, I think Tian Yue called it ? I was separated from him and then... the sky was gone a few days later." She shook her head a bit, tossing bangs away from her silver eyes. "I landed quite a far bit away from here, and I tended to camps of survivors as I started to make my way down. As a healer, I cannot abandon those in needs, but at the same time I felt... called. Once I made it to the pantheon, I was given the gem by Lord Harmodius. He had been calling me... not quite ever since I made my way into this world. It started after things got better."

Jin Huang nodded as she finished her recounting of her journey to the Pantheon. "That makes sense," he responded with a bit of a wry grin. "There was no one to gather the gems while Lord Harmodius was bound within the Chrysalis." He was prepared to elaborate on that point of either host or brother-dragon desired; but she had at least a passing familiarity with Gehenna, and so it was entirely possible that they already knew what had caused that crisis and what had befallen their Lord.

"Is there anything you would ask of me, then?" Normally, the offer would not have been extended; Jin Huang was, like his host, an intensely private person, but this was not just any god and host sitting in front of him! And after dealing with Tian Yue and Zhijian, it was interesting to be the erstwhile elder brother for a change.

"No one to gather to the gems... ?" The question escaped her before she could really think about it. But then, hadn't Tian Yue said something about that, too ? "You mean with his... name being taken ? Tian Yue tried to explain it to be, but..." She gave Jin an embarrassed smile. "It's a little... hard to understand. For me. A lot to try to understand at once." She probably did look a bit stupid with that admition, but really, she was still processing the existence of so many gods to begin with. This was really a lot to understand all at once.

Something had happened to Harmodius, that she could gather. And also that he was both, Creation and Destruction. But she had no idea it had been as dire, really, as the man before her was putting it.

It did look like Jin would get to play big brother, after all.

His question did made her a little uncomfortable - really, to ask something of him ? Illisia was quite used to doing things on her own, as well as being mostly self-dependent. But then... "You... wouldn't happen to have some maps ? Of the surroundings ?" Okay, now she even sounded embarrassed. "I am starting to know my way around, especially the forests... but the cities still confuse me a little. I get lost in them."

"I also meant ask of me in the do you have any questions sense," he said lightly, smiling to take any sting out of his words. "But a map can certainly be arranged." Although there were no demons in immediate sight, all it took to summon one was a raised finger from the Dragon King. A whispered consultation later, and the demon was bowing it's way off again; no doubt to either find a map, or find someone to make one. "That shouldn't take long," he said, attention back on the elf. "If you'd like, I can attempt to explain what I know of Gehenna and the Crown?" It wasn't much; Jin Huang had been rather out of the loop for much of it, and there were occasionally gaping holes in his knowledge. Most of which had come from Phaedra, who was perhaps not the most unbiased source.

It wasn't Jin Huang's fault that Illisia was a bit nervous, far from it. She just... was. It was odd, as if she felt like she had something to prove to the other dragon, but she wasn't exactly certain as to what.

"Ah, yes, of course. Thank you." She took a sip of water, realizing she'd all but forgotten about the glass at all.

What is wrong ? Xun could very well tell that Illisia was nervous but... he couldn't even fathom just why.

Nothing

"We would really appreciate that." She nodded. Maybe Xun would understand better than she would ?

Jin Huang nodded carefully, noting the host's continued unease. It was making him a little tense, as he couldn't discern any reason for Illisia's nerves. Taking a sip of water, he began to speak of what he knew; the wounding of Kishara, Gaia, and the return of the Grigori. The change from Creation to Destruction, then the loss of even that much of their Lord. The dragon highlighted briefly the Weeks, explaining only a little of the lore and reason behind the Influences. Shifts in the explanations were punctuated by more water, glasses never left to become empty as attentive demons silently moved around the pair. One left a rolled map on the small table near Illisia as Jin Huang spoke of the search for Aritogeiton; or at least what he knew of it from his servant's part.

He did not dwell overlong on the hunt for the Manacles that had been undertaken with Phaedra, mentioning only that it had been successfully completed. The narrative trailed off shortly thereafter as the dragon let out a resigned sigh. "Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the Ceremony of Rebirth that saw Creation reborn," Jin Huang said sadly to his brother. "And I have not been to the Pantheon since." Sitting back in his chair, he crooked one corner of his mouth upwards in what might have been a smile. "I hope, though, that what I know will prove helpful to you both."

Both Illisia and the dragon lingering within her listened carefully to Jin's words, ears perked in focus. She could follow the dragon's sayings easily - she'd always been good at language, and was better in common than most of the night elves she'd known. He explained in a way that also made more sense than most explanations she'd gotten so far - as the dragon spoke of the attack against Gaia and Destruction, her hand gripped at the arm of her chair in a dead-grip, the hue of her skin fading lightly toward white.

The elf never seemed to notice, and so it became apparent that the dragon within wasn't very happy about what he was being told. He'd known of the attack against their Lord, but not in such detail, not like this. And to think that when that happened - when this all went down... He had been nowhere. Nowhere at all, when he should have been there as well, at the very least supporting his brothers and caring for what could be cared for while the others fought tooth and claw against adversity. And instead he'd been... no where at all, one more question among so many.

She did finally let go of her grip on the chair, but Illisia still listened with keen interest. That... she'd felt all of that, known of them, remembered them. Those waves. It was odd, at least, to be able to put a true source to what had killed so many. Her family, her friend, her people, so many. This was no fault of Jin, however, and she was careful not to shoot the messenger, so to speak. She didn't understand everything - couldn't even dream to, really, but this was the closest she'd gotten, as she listened and watched the map, the paths that had been taken.

"Im not sure I understand everything... But that cleared up a few things that I was confused about." She finally was able to offer Futs Lung a smile, but it faded quickly as she spoke a question that emerged in her mind. "But if these... Grigori want to destroy everything." She asked, shaking her head. "...What good would it do them ? Wouldn't everything be like the sky is now ? I mean... wouldn't they be dead, too ? If there's nothing else to exist in ?" What race sought their own end ? It made no sense, to her.

Jin Huang could certainly relate to his brother's pain and shame at not having been there; he'd been, oh who knew anymore. Certainly not where he was supposed to be, a curious trait that remained in play even now. But he said nothing on that subject, not wanting to burden Illisia with such things. If it had been Shuo himself who sat in the chair opposite, well. Matters would have fallen out differently, no doubt.

"As to that, I have no idea how anyone can hope to profit from such an outcome," he replied with a rather severe frown, though not directed at his brother's host. "It seems utterly futile." The dragon shrugged one shoulder then, as if dismissing the Grigori. "But then, if I could understand their motives, it would be much easier to figure out how to defeat them."

She couldn't help but agree with that. "Knowing your enemy is the first step to defeating them." And she seemed to know what she was talking about. But in a way, she also wasn't. She'd fought orcs, and she'd fought demons - she'd fought wars that seemed lost ahead of time, and yet still sat there, still fidgeting a bit in the chair she was sitting at, a very visible gem in her arm.

"...Ill have to see if I can find something." It was hard to say if it was something she meant for herself, or if she was relaying Xun's thoughts on the matter.

Jin Huang chuckled softly. "We all need to figure this out, and not as haphazardly as we have been." A slow shake of his head indicated the dragon's disgust at the rather shoddy way everyone was going about things at the moment. Then again, it was as though everyone was trying to regain their balance after having saved the world.

On the other hand, it wasn't like that was all anyone had needed to do, and Jin Huang felt the p***k of conscience at the knowledge that he hadn't exactly been doing his best recently either. With a soft sigh, he looked at Illisia intently, his gold ringed blue eyes seeming to be peering through and seeing the dragon she carried. "Remember, you're not alone. Neither of you are. If you need help, need anything...Well. Simply ask, and I'm sure someone would be eager to help." Ah, siblings.

His eyes really caught her attention at that moment - she hadn't really noticed before. They were... really different. It wasn't a bad different, really - more-so-intriguing - and she nodded along. "Thank you. It is good to know."

I won't fail you. I won't fail you all. She wanted to say, but the words didn't want to come out. Maybe it was for the best.

"Thank you." Had she said it before ? She couldn't remember. Didn't hurt to repeat it, right ?

"It's what we're here for," he said with a smile dancing around the corners of his mouth. At least, that was what the Kings were for, amongst themselves. Supporting each other, to better support the Crown. Weaken one, and all were diminished.

Waving a hand in light dismissal of her repeated thanks, Jin Huang looks mildly discomfited for the first time since she'd arrived. "You have the map? Ah, there," he said, spotting it, spinning his water glass about in his hand. "Was there anything else you needed?"

Ah. He simply wasn't sure how to end the meeting.

Illisia finished her own glass of water, gently setting it back on the table.

"No... I don't think so." There would probably be more, later on - for now, however, the night elf and the dragon she bore had much to think about.

"I think I can find my way back to the pantheon from here." The woman said, inclining her head slightly. Even if not, well, it wasn't like sleeping in the woods was ever anything that scared her.

"It's not far," he replied. "But my perception of distance may be slightly skewed, as I tend to ride to the Pantheon, not walk." Jin Huang stood and bowed slightly to the woman bearing the gem of his brother; he had respect for those chosen to sacrifice themselves, and even greater for the hosts of his siblings.

"You are, both of you, always welcome here."

Enekpe raced down the Pantheon stairs with a clattering of her two front hooves, occasionally leaping over a stair or two completely; something that, it turned out, was not a brilliant idea. Having hooves in front and paws in back could sometimes lead to traction problems, which could in turn lead to falling, especially on smooth surfaces - linoleum, ice, and, as it happened, stone. The little pooka slipped and fell, and went tumbling head-over-heels down what remained of the stairs.

She continued to roll for a couple of feet once she hit the bottom, until she finally slid to a stop.

A slow clap began as soon as the pooka had landed safely. "I assume such a show of acrobatics was not for my benefit?" came a reply on the heels of the applause, sounding rather amused. The speaker evidently was taking it on faith that, despite appearances, Enekpe could understand and reply to his speech. Jin Huang strode over to the pooka, tail flicking idly from side to side as he stopped by her side. The dragon's elegantly tailored clothing rustled when he knelt, peering at the pooka carefully.

"Are you quite alright, though?"


Enekpe would probably have just laid there for awhile, but at the sound of applause, she raised her head to see just who had witnessed her graceful descent; fortunately, she wasn't easily embarrassed, and simply took it in stride. Head still spinning, she blinked her amber eyes until the tailed man came into focus.

"I think so," she answered, proceeding to perform a cursory check of herself to make sure of that assumption. She had all her pieces, k**e included, so...no harm done!

Jin Huang watched as she checked herself over, not bothering to hide his definite amusement. She was rather (and this pained him to think it) cute, so surely she must be...ah. His sharp eyes caught the telltale gleam of a gem set into her tiny chest. "That is good to hear," he intoned gravely. "It would not do for harm to befall one in these halls. Especially one chosen to bear a god," the dragon finished. He bowed his head to the little pooka then, a gesture of respect to both her and her diety.

"I am Jin Huang, the Dragon King Futs Lung," he introduced himself, standing after a moment. It might be easier to talk to her at that level, but it was damned uncomfortable for his knees!

"Really?" The little creature tilted her head curiously. "You're a lot smaller than Tian Yue!"

En didn't mind when he decided to stand; she was quite used to talking to people from way down here. The easiest was when someone sat, or - better yet - picked her up, but she was okay with talking up at the god. "I'm Enekpe," she said, "And she's Kikechum, Goddess of Animals."

"I...what?" he replied, looking slightly bemused. "I suppose I am." Jin Huang made a movement towards the nearby raised platform, then stopped. "Would it be easier if I carried you?" he asked politely. Apparently he wanted to speak further with the pooka, as well as being rather stuffily courteous.

"A pleasure to meet you both." He nodded his head once more and privately considered that the goddess had chosen a rather apt host for her rebirth.

"Yes," she confirmed immediately, with a wag of her short tail. Not only was it easier, she liked being carried, because she liked to be close to people. And besides, once someone had picked her up, it followed that they would probably pet her, as well. How could anyone not pet something so cute?

"He almost squished me," Enekpe then continued on the subject of the larger Dragon, "But he saw me." A pause. "I'm not sure how."

Maybe because his eyes were big too, so they saw more? Hmm.

As soon as permission was granted, Jin Huang easily but carefully picked the small pooka up. It was only a few strides for the dragon to reach the platform he'd been moving towards, and Enekpe was deposited there with only a quick, reassuring, pat on the head. It seemed that this dragon was not to be counted on for pettings.

"He's very good at seeing things," Jin Huang said thoughtfully, looking down at the creature next to him. It did seem rather improbable that Tian Yue had been able to spot such a small thing in his much larger dragon form (which had to be what she was speaking of), but it had clearly happened, and that was that. "Even very small things," he added in a lighter tone, a quick grin flashing across his face.

"Have you been long at the Pantheon?" the dragon asked, politely curious. He had been coming here more regularly of late, but the pooka was someone entirely new to him. Not that that meant much, of course.

That was...that never happened! He didn't pet her! Not really, anyway. She was visibly disappointed, her frayed ears falling sadly. Maybe he just hadn't realized that she wanted to be petted? Trying for a more subtle approach, she bent her head and scratched an ear with one of her hind paws.

Usually when someone saw her scratch an itch, they took it upon themselves to help. "A few days," she said, "I think. Something like that."

She didn't really pay much attention.

Jin Huang rippled a shrug at her uncertainty regarding the nature of time. It wasn't really something he was overly concerned about, simply one of a limited number of topics he could think of to engage in polite conversation about. "Are you sure you're alright?" he asked once he saw En begin to scratch at her ear.

Failure to get a clue, check.

"I itch," she answered, simply and plaintively. Not that she really did, but...well, now that she was thinking about it, it sort of made her itch! Haha.

"Oh," he said simply, before reaching a hand over to the pooka. "If you don't mind?" Jin Huang asked dryly as he flexed his fingers for a moment to show off the almost claw-like fingernails. "I think I might be able to be of some assitance."


Hooray! Jin Huang took the hint at last, and Enekpe replied with an obviously delighted, "Of course not!" And it looked like he had really good fingers for scratching, too! The pooka tilted her head to offer him the supposedly-itchy spot. "I love a good scratch."

Maybe making that known too would prompt him to keep scratching rather than give her just a brief scritch.

Jin Huang obligingly lowered his hand and began to scratch at the spot, carefully moderating the pressure.

"So does one of my brothers," he replied musingly. "He can get rather insistent about it," the dragon continued with a short laugh.

The pooka's eyes slid half-closed in bliss, and she sighed with obvious contentment. Ooh, he really was good at that! "Is he another dragon, your brother?"

"Mmm, yes. All of my siblings are Dragons." He looked thoughtful again for a moment, though was careful to keep up the scratching. Zhijian had him rather well trained; didn't matter what you were doing, a free hand was for petting.

"Most of them are larger than me," he added after a moment. Actually, all of them were, save Xia Lu Ling. It was a fact that only occasionally rankled, as he'd had a very long time to get used to the whole thing.

Enekpe giggled, but her response was sympathetic, "I know how that is. Everyone's bigger than me. It's really inconvenient sometimes. Do they step on you?"

"Only accidentally," he replied. And not recently, either; a brief memory of profuse apologies following one such incident in his past had flickered across the dragon's mind's eye at the pooka's question, though he was unable to tell precisely just which of his larger brothers had been so absent-minded.

"I would hope that no one has stepped on you..?"

"Not for awhile, but it happens sometimes. People trip over little things." She'd never had anyone intentionally step on her, but like most any housepet, she was occasionally subject to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, as it were. "Especially in the kitchen."

Of course, En was somewhat at fault then - she knew it was a hazard, but...food!

"They just need to learn to look down every once in a while," he intoned gravely, though with a bit of a sparkle of amusement in his eyes. "People so rarely pay attention to anything not directly in front of them."

"Yes!" En agreed, so very glad to have met someone who seemed to understand the trials of being small. "No one ever pays attention until I talk, and sometimes they even look around for someone else. Just because I'm a pet!"

Jin Huang looked momentarily astonished. "Are you really?" It seemed strange to him that someone would make a sentient, speaking species into a pet, though perhaps En's race was unsuited to caring for themselves. Which was not outside the realm of possibility. "Well, even if you were a pet, they should still pay better attention." He smiled. "I suppose they simply find themselves doubting their senses."

"Yep!" she confirmed, blissfully unaware that there was anything strange about having been kept as a pet. She did feel vindicated, though, when he said they should pay better attention to her. "Hm, I guess so. It is weird to hear someone talking when you don't know where they are..."

En had been a little confused at first when k**e had started talkign to her.

"Well, that's certainly true enough," he said consideringly; Delmin had certainly been jumpy at first. Most people truly weren't accustomed to hearing voices, as it were.

"Your pardon, Enekpe," Jin Huang said with one last scratch of the pooka's head. "I have tasks to attend to." He stood, somewhat regretfully. It was nice to sit and do nothing of major import for a while, but the press of duties would ever beckon this dragon away from such indulgences.

It hadn't been very difficult for Phaedra to divine Jin Huang's location - a few well-oiled palms here and there assured a steady stream of information coming to the goddess' ears. Everything and anything relating to the other deities, whatever information she might find useful now or in the future, paid for richly from Greed's own hands. It might be only a beginner's play, but setting up stock for the future could never hurt. Anyway, such things were harmless... until they suddenly weren't, and by that point Phaedra was probably within striking distance anyway.

While finding him hadn't been her sole intention, knowledge of the Dragon's residence had been an irresistible temptation to Phaedra. The goddess rode out, leaving Avita behind; such sport was not for servants, but for her and her alone. Vekhal carried her along the roads, the qilin moving swift and sure, soft ebony skin rippling over her wiry muscles.

She left the qilin behind before the final approach, trusting in her own speed and agility rather than that of her mount. The creature would return to her at her call, she knew. The Dragon King's home was simple to find, lit up and guarded as it was.

Of course there are guards; of course they are demons. Ah, Jin. Phaedra grinned from her position behind a partially-broken wall. It felt like old times again, even if this wasn't their Lord's property. Truly, she had no particular target in mind today - whatever he had, she supposed.

Provided she could get in.

The goddess was glad in tight-fitting clothing, befitting a thief; her usual finery was unsuited, and all her jewels had been removed save her own, still winking golden in her eye socket. Her tail twitched lightly back and forth as she watched, trying to get a feel for guards, patrols, security. Thievery was not her domain, but it was a tool she could use as well as any mortal.

Or had been able to use.

Picking her moment, the goddess darted towards the house, aiming for a likely window.

There were few enough guards on patrol these days; to the demons, the major threat to Jin Huang had been dealt with some weeks before, and so the few who remained on duty were largely ineffectual. Besides - to get at anything of true value, a thief would have to sneak through the house, which was filled with demons. This was enough for them at the moment. Likely their Lord would have much to say on the subject, but he appeared to be content with their security measures so far.

Phaedra would have an easy time gaining access to a window.

Once inside, however...

A ring of startled demons stared at her for a long moment before one reacted, drawing a sword on the Goddess. "There'd better be a good explanation," he remarked easily, as if confident that he would not be receiving one. His sword never wavered as he held it out, waiting for Phaedra's response.

The external patrols and the window had proved no obstacle at all - however, the internal patrols were another matter altogether. Phaedra frowned inwardly at how rapidly she'd been surrounded; it was true this was her first attempt in really stealing anything since her rebirth, at least unaided. She'd had a great deal of help with logistics in Achai, after all.

But being caught didn't have to be a permanent state of affairs. "Ah, is this not the entrance?" she said, affecting a look of wide-eyed concern and tilting her ears back artistically. "I heard a god lived here, I... I wanted to offer tribute... a gift..." She unfolded her fingers to reveal a truly remarkable gem, a great ruby with a living flame blazing within it, an infernal treasure. As she did so, she extended her power, curling lightly around those gathered there.

"I only seek the god," she said, plaintively, and exerted her will. Go, all of you - there are things you want very much, very badly indeed. Go and find them. Go and do them - and leave this little one alone!

The other demons milled about and looked confused before they dispersed; the one holding the sword lowered for a moment before shaking his head and snapping it back up and glaring a bit at his departing associates. "There's a door. That was a window," he said in reply, narrowing his eyes at the intruder. "And if you really want to find the god," he continued, smiling somewhat nastily while ignoring the rather impressive gem she presented, "Come on then." He jerked his sword towards a dimly made out staircase behind him. Apparently, what this demon really really wanted was to take Phaedra to Jin Huang.

Phaedra grinned inwardly as the other demons drifted away - yet this one was stubborn, fighting her. What a remarkably boring desire. There would have been a time when she could have told him what she wanted him to desire... but as of yet, her power could not reach that far.

Other methods would be required. The goddess' gaze hadn't missed the staircase leading down from this room; with the guard so heavy (and trying to lead her away!) it was currently her top target. Even if she got nothing, she at least wanted to lay a finger on the door...

"I'm sorry, I meant no harm, sir, I - oh..." Phaedra's 'panicked' babbling cut short as she dropped the gem, sending it bouncing towards the staircase and down, its light brilliantly reflecting against every bright surface. "My tribute...!" she cried, taking a single step forward and holding out one hand, fingers spread. Not following it, but...

As she did so, she continued to exert her power, focusing it all on the single demon. Surely there must be something. Something you want. Something you want more than petty service. No creature is without vice. Yet was it in her power to find that weakness...?

As the gem dropped, the demon's eyes flickered away from the goddess, watching it's hypnotic sparkle send shafts of light everywhere. He was distracted by it, and all his determination to take this interloper before Jin Huang poured away like water. The sword dropped with a clatter to the floor, and the demon dropped as well, to hands and knees, scrabbling after the still falling gem, his red har carelessly umbling over hs shoulders --

Jin Huang had been on his way downstairs when he heard the noise of a sword falling. He did not hurry to the sound, finishing his descent from the upper floor idly, trusting to his guards to take care of whatever was going on. The silhouette of the dragon was visible where once there had been stairs, though he could not yet see who was in the den.

Ah, yesssss. Better luck next time, my dear Dragon.

The goddess' ears flicked up slightly as she heard the sound of footsteps above, on the stairs. Of course, her plan of investigating what was on the floor below was rather undercut by her having sent the demon in that direction, too... oh well. This would do well enough as a suitable entrance.

Grinning, Phaedra swept out into the hallway; her grin widened as she confirmed it was in fact the Dragon King coming down the stairs. "Oh, good afternoon, Jin Huang," she said, pertly, tilting her head to one side as if she'd run into him in a busy street, rather than sneaking into his house. "Would you care to direct me to your treasure-vaults? I seem to have gotten past your guard, you see. It wasn't very exciting," she added, raising one eyebrow at him.

"Phaedra," Jin Huang replied, arching an eyebrow at the goddess in return. "If I'd known you were coming, I'd have arranged for a more suitable welcome," he continued, sweeping a shallow bow to her that managed to be both mocking and respectful.

As he straightened, he made a small hand gesture, indicating that one of the demons hovering behind him should go check on things, just in case. The demon in question moved past both deities, nodding politely at Phaedra as he passed. "You will, I hope, forgive me for the lack?" the dragon asked, looking mostly serious and only faintly amused. Similar situations had been played out innumerable times in the past, though no specific one came to his mind, only a sense of having moved through the paces of this dance before.

"Oh, I suppose I must. It got me to your treas- your presence faster, did it not?" she said, slyly. In truth, she was grateful he'd been relatively unprepared; it would have been so embarrassing had she been properly caught the first time, and she was out of practice.

Not that she'd ever admit that.

"I expect more next time, of course, and the time after that," she added, waving one hand almost dismissively, then grinning at the Dragon King. "I am glad to see you remember, my dear Dragon. So much else has been lost, you see. I ought not have been so concerned."

"Indeed," he returned dryly. "Perhaps next time will be even quicker." And there would be a next time; it was entirely fitting for Greed to try and steal from the Treasurer, after all. There was challenge there, or had been in days of old, and the dragon found his mind wandering briefly into plans for security measures before he recalled himself and his guest. Any lapse in his attentiveness would be exploited, and the best he could hope for was playful menace in the act.

"Forgetting you would have been a tragedy." He smiled then, genuine for all of the occasionaly sharper edged comments they exchanged. "And placed me at a rather sharp disadvantage." Echoing her dismissive hand wave, Jin Huang looked at her for a moment before making a decision. "Lest you find my behavior as a host as lacking as my defenses, would you perhaps care for a small tour of the house? Barring, of course, the vault." There wouldn't be much to give away to Phaedra; already the plans for the out-buildings were moving apace, and there would only be the one, rather small, vault within the main house.

The goddess pouted at that last, her face taking on an expression of feigned innocence. "Do you not trust me, Jin Huang?"

She held the look for a few seconds before laughing, letting the mask of innocence dissolve into her usual sly demeanor. "I will find it soon enough, whether you will or no. You know that. Strange, though..." Phaedra took a step back and glanced at their surroundings. "I would not have placed you in so... plain... a dwelling. Do your cleaning-demons wear maids' clothing, your kitchen-demons don aprons?"

He laughed as well, shaking his head briefly in amusement. "Trust you? I would hope I'd never be so foolish as to trust you to be anything other than yourself," Jin Huang replied, fairly certain that the goddess would take no offense at the remark.

"Ah, well, all I can do is delay that as much as possible," he continued, turning his back on Phaedra (what was that about trust, again?), though the other demon who stood attendance kept his attention on her as the Dragon King made his way back down the hall to the stairs. "Plain?" he echoed back, resting one hand on the banister. "Compared to anything I had before the Fading, I suppose it must seem so. On the other hand, even this much is the height of luxury when contrasted with Gehenna." He shrugged one shoulder, only slightly stung by her remarks. There was a measure of truth within them, however extenuating the circumstances. "Luxuries are hard to come by, even for me," he added, ascending the spiral stairs to the upper floor.

"Oh, of course not," the goddess agreed merrily, following the Dragon King as he began to ascend the stairs. "You know better, don't you? Yet here I am, and you're turning your back to me..." Phaedra grinned, though she made no move to take advantage of the fact. "Trust or no, the game's still played."

"I suppose it is better than ruins," she added, with a sigh, picking at the banister with one claw. "But it is ever so... domestic. Shall I fetch you your slippers and newspaper?"

He made no reply to the comment, reaching the top of the stairs and opening the first door on the right. Jin Huang waved a hand, indicating that Phaedra should precede him. Perhaps the remark about trust had struck home?

The room was mostly empty, but as the lights came up, the richness of the decor was evident. The room fairly glowed golden, wooden walls and floor polished to a high sheen. Two bookcases and a desk sat against the far wall; the desk showed signs of use, papers stacked neatly on it's surface. The bookcases were mostly filled, spines on the book smooth and well worn. To the left was an arched doorway, with a curtain half drawn back to reveal a darker toned room beyond. "It may seem domestic," he said quietly, coming in behind her, "But this place is not intended as a temple, or indeed a Treasury like those I had in my care in the past."

He shook his head, looking faintly amused. "No, this is mostly for the benefit of my retainers. They lost their home when the Planes collapsed, though it is also how they came to find me. So the demons have built themselves a new home; this is merely the start of it." A hand waved out towards the empty land beyond this house. "They have plans for a grand estate. I go along because it costs me little and gains me much." Another grin cracked the stoic facade.

"I would not ask such of you, but how are you at baking? A pie, perhaps?" He laughed and shook his head again. "No? Would you care for something to drink, at least? Truth be told, there is not much to show off. There is my set of rooms, and across the hall are accommodations for those demons who wish to live here, as well as my Aoide. You saw most of the lower floor, a private area and public for visitors. There are kitchens and a dining hall as well." Jin Huang shrugged. "Very plain indeed."

"I might bake the souls of men in the fires of hell, when they die in thrall; is that a pretty enough dish for you, Jin Huang?" Phaedra tilted her head to one side, all innocence. "I am told by my demon friends that their screams make heady fare."

Still, despite her cheerful nonchalance, the goddess had to admit she was a trifle jealous of the Dragon King's enclave. For all that she had her chambers at the Pantheon, that small Labyrinth was beginning to feel restrictive, like a child's bedroom when the child has nearly grown. "It is well-appointed," she said, after a moment spent surveying her surroundings. "I always knew you had excellent taste. Do you offer consultations?"

"I prefer my fare to be a little more substantial." The grin turned sharp-edged for a moment before fading back to one of genial affability and amusement. "But I have no doubt that if you were to turn your hand to such craft, it would be something to be fought over."

A somewhat proprietorially pleased glance around the room followed Phaedra's comment. It really was rather nice, after all. There were still things to be done, but all of the construction was being done in stages, which meant that everything tended to look finished. For a given value of finished, perhaps, but the overall effect remained something the dragon was proud of. "I don't. I would offer to introduce you to those who did design most of the decor, only I would not like to lose their services to you." He paused. "I will rely the compliment, however."

"Keeping secrets, are we?" Phaedra purred, circling the Dragon King, letting the tip of her tail just brush at the backs of his knees. "Doing such in my presence is either very brave or very foolish. Do you delight in tempting me, noble dragon?"

"Neither," he said, remaining still while she circled him, though the steady tick of his tail betrayed some level of nervousness. "I am no thrill-seeker, taking risks just for the sport of the game." He raised one eyebrow as she came full circle, golden rimmed blue eyes sardonically amused.

"As I said earlier, I trust you only to be yourself, and as you have found something you want, well." Another pause, accompanied by a short laugh. "It is simply prudence on my part to keep that which I desire to remain mine from your sight or grasp."

"Which simply tempts me further," Phaedra sighed. "To walk up and take something is no challenge at all. To fight for it with tooth and claw, to wrest it triumphantly after bringing your opponent down, to lay out and execute a beautifully-scripted plan... there's true delight." She ended the word with a purr that, itself, flowed into a light (but never gentle) laugh.

"Hence our games, dear dragon. For who knows more of guarding treasures than you? Or who did, perhaps? I entered with relative ease, and here I am merely a mewling babe compared to my ancient strength." She sighed and affected a bored stance. "So are we all, I suppose, and yet... ah, I craved more."

The dragon listened, amused to hear her lay out the bones of their long relationship in such terms. "Oh, I know. And who better to test my ingenuity against than you, dear lady? We may yet be young and lacking our ancient strength, but would it be any fun at all to match yourself as you are now against Futs Lung of old? I daresay the reverse would not be as enjoyable either."

Equal footing, that was the key. Oh, there was something to be said for a challenge, and indeed Greed had just claimed satisfaction with that very thing, and yet...And yet, an impossible challenge would bring nothing but frustration.

Which would, of course, not end well for anyone.

"Have you gone soft then, old... hmm. 'Friend' is not right; 'enemy', laughable. Congenial adversary... better, but a bit overwrought." She tapped one golden claw against her own cheek. "But we are none of us what we once were... good. The same thing, forever, is so hideously dull... though I do hope you obtain a more suitable dwelling soon. These 'modern' buildings are rather hideously dull themselves." She heaved an exaggerated sigh, as if there was simply no hope for suburbia. Which was probably true.

His shoulders rippled in a shrug. "Perhaps I have simply become more cautious." And that was, perhaps, no bad thing to be in this Age. Then again, he had probably always been more conservative in his outlook.

"Oh, agreed. These buildings are pedestrian, though they serve their purpose well enough for the moment." Another shrug. "I will endeavor to locate more suitable quarters, believe me." Boxy houses, all the same, with no sense of history or grandeur. Hardly appealing at all.

"Caution? Bah." Phaedra made a dismissive gesture. "So, my dear Jin Huang... what delights have you been hunched over in this cave of yours? What troubles Futs Lung in these slightly less troubled times?" She shifted to lean against him lightly, casually, as she might lean on a wall.

A wry twist to his mouth was briefly visible at Phaedra's casual dismissal of his tendency towards caution, but it quickly disappeared as he stiffened at her unexpected movement. "Ah," he said while trying to relax; the amount of poking at his ego that would likely occur shortly making this more difficult than normal. "Primarily the Grigori," he finally replied in what was probably an overly controlled voice.

Insufferable woman!

Phaedra raised one eyebrow again, this time in surprise rather than deliberate baiting. "A heady topic, and not one given to levity," she said, after a moment. "Of course they yet live, or exist, or whatever it is they do... and as they do so, they detest All, for it is not the End they so ardently desired." Her tail whipped back and forth a few times with unease. "Has the Twin Crown laid this onus on you, or do you simply... anticipate?"

"I anticipate. We have been given an incredible gift of time, and it is being squandered by those who should know better." Jin Huang's voice had dropped into quite a low growl by the time he reached the end of his statement. Indeed, where Phaedra's tail was lashing with unease, his was metronome steady with what was clearly irritation - or anger.

"Forgive me," he said after a moment. "I seem to have pressed my own buttons rather strongly."