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 Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:49 am
 He nodded his agreement, "They do..." Forest was smiling as well, amused by the match if it was at it seemed.
"We can..." He trailed off as Xun pressed closer and laughed, embracing Lifewater in a hug and mussed his feathered, wild hair. "Mn, would you care to sit then? I have something for you." He found one of Xun's hands and stepped back, tugging the other a little as he gestured to the cushions piled to the side, "Coming?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 1:24 pm
 "In your company ? Certainly." Xun Jiang was quick to follow, unable to keep his grin at bay. "And such a strange coincidence... I happen to have something for you, too."
He would let Glyph ponder on where it was, and where it was hidden for a bit longer, he decided.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:06 pm
Settling down into the pillows, he arched a ginger at the comment and grinned, "You do, do you?" Patting Xun's hip in a pseudo-playful check for pockets, Forest gestured for Lifewater to sit with his other hand. "Are you going to make me look for it? I will, you know..." He laughed softly as he ducked his head, reaching to look for the little parcel hanging from his branches.
Finding it, he carefully eased it off and primped it, feeling to make sure nothing had been lost. A little nervous, he hesitated a few moments before he inhaled deeply and caught Xun's gaze, "There's a few things I'd like to say but this first... This is for you." Offering the gift bag, he smiled a little shyly.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:55 pm
Hmmm, this was... actually very tempting. Extremely tempting, so much that if they hadn't been in public, he might have very well just let him search for it... Especially if it would require undressing.
But, alas. As it was, he only teasingly moved out of the way just as Glyph's hand came close to the box, and gave a soft tail wapping to the 'naughty' god. "Tsk tsk~"
A few things to say ? Hopefully not bad news, but he put that aside and smiled instead, taking the gift bag as it was offered to him and opened it.
...And he could not help it. A single giggle escaped before he restrained himself, less he accidentally insult his lover. Had they really... ? Yes. They had basically thought the same thing.
He cradled the glass in his palm carefully, watching the water and sap mix together. "It is amazing. Thank you." He could not help a little knowing grin, through, as he reached into his pocket and gently pulled out the box hidden within.
His amusement would likely be obvious the second that box was opened, and he handed it over, feeling a similar kind of nervousness that Forest had felt only seconds before. "I hope you will like it..."
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:05 pm
Glyph leaned forward as the other took up the glass amphora filled with sap and water, looking anxious as Xun giggled. "Did it come off its thong?" He extended one finger and pulled back the edge of the bag to peer inside, then hooked said finger around the brown leather thong curled in the bottom, "Here... would you wear it? Do you like it? I thought it might remind you of us..."
He looked at the box, and still holding the string out, took it with his free hand, easing it open with a curious expression. He laughed when he found the necklace inside and looked up with a grin, shaking his head, "Thank-you. It's beautiful!" Glyph ran a hand over the beads with an appreciative smile turned mildly ironic, "Seems we think alike." Another laugh.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:21 pm
"No, no, it is alright." It was hard not to laugh, but he did not want to send the wrong message. He carefully took the necklace as it was handed over, and finally set his laughter free once Glyph did the same, unable to contain it anymore.
"Great minds do that." He said, impish, as he gently pulled his own necklace over his head, letting it fall against his chest just as carefully. "That vial is wellspring water, and it is can be opened and closed without breaking the necklace. I figured this might be of use, eventually..."
He could not always be with him, he knew, and if, one day, he was not able to aid with fang and claw... This was the next best thing.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:56 pm
Glyph smiled and fumbled for a moment before he got the clasp done up and set the necklace carefully down on his chest. The blue contrasted with the olive and browns of his skin quite nicely and he flashed a roguish smile, "Thank-you... the pendant can be opened as well, but it will probably break. I collected the sap myself and gathered some of the wellspring water as well. It should be helpful as well." He'd added a p***k of his own ichor to the vial so the sap was strong with mana.
"Thank-you." He leaned forward and hugged Xun tightly then, a sudden move that spoke of other matters and when he sat back he smiled faintly, "I... don't know how to say this kindly so I'll just say it. I'm going on a trip, to a deserted world ravaged by Gehenna to collect the gem of one of our own - I finally found out what happened to Forge, Xun. Her host failed again, leaving her abandoned in the wastes of this world. I want to go gather her gem - I am a member of the Council, the gems are part of our responsibility too, with Harmodius resting."
He paused, searching Xun's gaze before he continued, "I shouldn't be gone long. I am mostly myself now, I am not so fragile any more. I would ask you to come along, but I do not know what we'll be facing and I don't want to see you hurt." He bit his lip, unsure how Xun would take that.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:40 pm
He would rather not break it, actually. He could feel Glyph's mana linger within and it was... soothing.
Especially against what came next.
The trip was not the problem. He had known that it was inevitable, was in a way already used to it. Forest would have wandered and tended his realms even if he had not been part of the council, and he was fine with that. He looked perfectly at ease with it, curious even...
Until Glyph continued on.
Host. Failed. Again.
He was silent, speechless, fists clenching the second failed was spoken, fingers quickly turning white. There was a part of him that... No, was not glad, could never be glad for such a thing, not even to a god he might have loathed with all his being. But to know that he and his brothers were not the only ones...
That there were more...
And, more horrifyingly... twice. Xia Lu Ling had survived twice, and now thrived... But he was a Dragon King. And the emblem pillar, at that, closer to the twin crown than nearly anyone else might be. That might have aided his brother.
Could Forge recover from such a thing ? One failure had taken so much from him, he could barely imagine what twice could do.
That simple statement just simply made his mind reel back to places he would rather have overlooked, through thankfully no flashes or memories came to add the discomfort. It was, perhaps, the only way in this the absence of recollection was a blessing.
Xun Jiang knew his reaction was obvious, tried to reign himself him, tried to make himself stop shaking, but it was not working. What Glyph said next only barely registered. "I see..." He finally found his voice. This was as far from convincing as it could possibly be.
And to have to admit to Glyph the one thing he had never spoken about... was terrifying.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:56 pm
The reaction he received was not at all what he expected... Xun looked terrified. Immediately concerned, Glyph shuffled in close and surrounded Xun with his embrace and the fall of his leaves, making soft comforting sounds that were less words and more the sounds of a forest in the flush of midsummer bounty, "Xun, what's wrong?" He didn't know what else to say, really... to set Lifewater off like this...? It was incredibly confusing.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:01 pm
The touch helped, the enveloping presence was more comforting than anything else right now. He leaned in, listened, and breathed in the scent that was undeniably Forest and forced himself to settle, to calm down.
This was no good, no good at all. There was nothing that could be done but find Forge... and bring her back. And hope for the best.
"N...Not here." He said, softly. He was delaying the inevitable, he knew that. He could not, and would not, pretend that there was nothing wrong, would not pretend that this was anything else than what it was. But only his brothers and the Twin Crown knew of his failure... As Forest would.
He wanted to keep it that way, and he was not comfortable talking about it in a public setting, at all. Around them, the music continued, and thankfully, no one else seemed to have noticed.
The dragon king gave an apologetic smile, when he finally looked up again. "Not here... please. I will tell you, but... not where others can overhear us."
That it was immensely private was obvious. That he was scared stiff was also evident. He had no idea how Glyph would take it. Would he be mad, that he had never spoken of it ? Would that drive him away ? It was the last thing he wanted, but in that respect, he was different from his host - Xun Jiang would tackle the issue, because Glyph deserved to know at this point. There would be no evasion, no half-explanations, for better or worse.
He only hoped the worse would not happen.
"I will be fine. I just... need a moment."
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:37 pm
Glyph remained quiet as he waited for the other pull himself together, keeping his arms about Xun in a rich and earthy embrace, supportive but not pressuring. He nodded when the other spoke of needing a moment and smiled, a tad mischievous as he leaned in, brushed an unruly lock of hair aside and pressed a gentle kiss to Xun's cheek, "I'll listen when you feel up to it."
He pulled back and eyed the other then shifted and sat beside him, snugged in close, one arm looped loosely about Lifewater's waist, "Hn... would you like to meet Echo?" Glyph hoped the change in subject would distract or help settle Xun.
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:07 pm
"Nice to meet you, Grace!" Adi chirped, tail wagging. Her fingers remained lightly laced with Elik's - she'd always been touchy-feely, but was particularly so at the moment, delighting in the newness of being with someone. "Oh, yeah! Dessert's definitely the best part. The deer does look good, but...we'd better get to dessert before everyone else does."
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:46 pm
Xun JIang nodded, grateful that Glyph understood. And... would probably understand even more once he did tell him.
He was not exactly sure how to even bring up something like that, but for now he shoved the thought away. This was a celebration, and he was going to enjoy it.
"Yes, I would like to talk to her." He leaned in toward his lover a moment more before rightning himself up again.
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:57 pm
"I have never tasted deer before..." Akakios admitted, curious as he often was. He rarely ever did eat meat to begin with, and... well, ate for enjoyment rather than out of any need for it. Still, if it was there, he might as well try it, if only out of politeness.
After the desserts, of course. Priorities ! So he started to lead the newly formed group toward that table. The way Adi was holding Elik's hand made him wonder if he was supposed to hold Grace's hand like that, too, if only so she would not get lost...Elik would have probably gone for the meat first, actually, being the carnivore that he was, but he figured one did not argue with an unknown god. That and, well, he was outnumbered to begin with, so it wouldn't do much good. Adi's hold on his hand did not seem to bother him in the least. "Which are the best ones ?" He asked, idly. Much of the food of this place was still unknown to him.
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:19 pm
Grace was not quite so curious about the couple as her friend. She lived among mortals, was used to their relationships and the customs that went with them.
She followed them over to the table and eyed the yummy looking food. Her mother would never let her have dessert before dinner. Her father would, he'd sneak it. She smiled.
"The cakes look good." She said to Elik. In her opinion they were probably the best.
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