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 Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:30 pm
Jewels Fit For A Crown Zero Dream  The next step, now that the world was at least getting better, seemed to rebuild - at least, for the mortals, it was their logical continuation. It would be up to his kin to... solve the problem more permanently, obviously. It was a very different setting from the one he had been reborn into - there was hope, determination in the mortal's eyes.
A will to remake and survive.
He had only recently noticed just how many things there where, amassed in his room now - some did not belong to him, some once belonged to Adrian. Some things he did not really plan to use again, and therefore there was no use in keeping them and letting them take up space - something with had became a rather rare commodity ever since so many others had taken residence here. As much as he joked about kicking them all out, he would never dare to. Those gathered in these rooms where much too precious to him.
It was still somewhat of an odd concept, an odd feeling to think about.
He was going though one of the closets when he found it, hidden under piles of discarded cloth. A small box, of something he could not quite recognize, but it's contents where more familiar. Dust... and fragment. He knew what those where the second he saw them.
Those where bones. Carved bones, to be exact. There was a bit of a memory there... He knew who they belonged to, but what where they doing here ?
Closing the box once more, he stood from where he had been sitting, with Lyra peeking over his shoulder rather curiously. The aoidei would know where Nergal was... hopefully.
"Ishum ? Priya ?"
Thabara Ishum was nowhere to be seen, but Priya was - as so often recently - busy clearing away the mess the children had left behind. She had made them clean up most of it ... But all of it would have taken forever, so she preferred having them have their nap and thus out of the way, and take care of the rest herself. "Ew," she muttered when she picked up a broken piece of crayon that was ... moist and kinda soggy on one end. "I wish she'd stop trying to eat those ..." Her ears perked up when she heard her name being called, and she dumped what she'd gathered into a bin, wiping her hands off on her loincloth. Being summoned, maybe, would save her from scrubbing off the piece of "art" Soto had decorated the wall with. Ishum could do that, once he was back. "Yes, Lord?" She inquired, opening the door just wide enough to peek inside. It took her only a moment to realize what Ankou was holding, and to connect it to the slightly confused look upon his face, her eyes widening in shock. Oh no. No, no, no! She should have looked for another place to hide these long ago. But things had always been so busy, and she hadn't really thought Lord Ankou would go through his host's old belongings anytime soon ... Zero Dream "Do you have any idea where Nergal went ?" The god asked, clearly not noticing the catgirl's reaction as something that basically sent visible signs of her involvement. "I just found these and... I think they would be his, wouldn't they ?"
It was where he actually looked up, and saw the catgirl's horrified expression, and rose a curious eyebrow. "Priya... come inside." There was no accusation in his voice, though it seemed evident he had a slight idea of how they got there. Mostly, he was rather curious, now. Why would she put those there ? Thabara "The library ... maybe," she whispered tonelessly, ears flattening against her head. "And yes, these are ... were his." Was he going to tell him? She tentatively entered the room when she was told to do so, despite every cell of her body telling her to flee - but she could not possibly disobey a god's command, especially not that of her own lord's brother. Quietly she let the door click shut behind herself and leaned against it. "I didn't break them!" she blurted out. Zero Dream "I can see that." He invited her further inside, to sit near a table with him. He did such and opened it again. "They crumbled... the remaining pieces are brittle. That is Decay. Broken bones shatter, instead of crumbling to dust." He glanced at her once more - the cat girl seemed so nervous, afraid even, but he could not figure out exactly why. He took one of the fragile pieces in between two fingers, carefully as to not break it. It did not seem familiar. These... where not the same ones.
"I am simply curious, Priya. You have nothing to fear of me. Those... where not the one I made, I can tell. These are probably lost forever, given how much time..." He glanced at her. "You... where not in the Underworld prior to the fading, correct ?" Thabara She sucked in her lower lip nervously, her sharp fangs almost piercing the flesh, before she did as he bade her and sat with him. His words were calming, reasonable, and ultimately causing her to relax a little. He really didn't seem to blame her. She shook her head, causing her bangs to slip forward and hide some of her face, something she was glad about. "They were a gift given to him the night I was born," she said quietly, "to replace the old ones which had crumbled long ago. The year before last," she added, realizing the Spirit Guide probably had no idea whatsoever when she'd been born. Zero Dream "I see."
The Spirit Guide was silent for a moment, eyes half-closed. "It is odd... how things can be crystal clear, as if nothing ever happened, but at the same times, so many memories are also missing. Nothingness is, indeed, never kind." Yellow-gold opened again, and he smiled. It was a calm expression, something rarely seen on the god's usually blank face.
"I was still rather young back then. When I made the first ones... The idea came to me when I went for one mortal soul, one night. He was a jeweler of renom, and followed me willingly, but I could not help but take note of the place where I saw him - his workshop, and I saw many jewelry made of bone. I inquired about it, and the old man smiled, said it was to honor the dead. It was where the idea came to me... Honor the dead, and honor the king, perhaps. I was always good with my hands, it seems."
By then, Lyra was floating a few paces away, listening intently as her tail waved back in forth with curiosity.
"I spent quite a long time going though every corner of all that be, with the valkyries, as I did my duty. I would bring back bones, to make into charms. My initial idea was an actual crown, but I remember that working not so well... It took me quite awhile, I has them enchanted not to break... I cannot remember by whom, but the enchantment must have given in to time. I placed each charm in myself, each with significance. I do not think... he ever took them off."
And now they where lost, but at least, someone had thought about making up for him. Suddently, something occured to him. "But those... He has never worn them, it looks like. Do you know why ?" Thabara Priya listened wide eyed to the monologue, utterly fascinated of the rare insight it gave her. Nergal seldom spoke of the past, and usually not more than a sentence or two at most. If he did, it was with a pained expression lingering upon his face, as if still mourning for all that he had lost. It was hard to picture any of the gods still young ... The thought caused her to smile, a little, but her expression quickly sobered upon the Lord's inquiry. "He ... didn't feel ready yet, he said," she replied tentatively, not sure if it was alright to give away such confidential information. She'd always prided herself in not being a terrible blabbermouth such as Ishum. "Though there seemed to be another issue with them, something he didn't talk about." She paused. "That may have been only my imagination though," she admitted ruefully. "Though ..." She licked her lips before she spoke on. "He asked about them prior to the festival. I told them they'd been buried underneath the rubble of their house, and he ... just nodded. He didn't seem to be too bothered by it. And, to my knowledge, he didn't go looking for them." She bowed her head, ashamed to admit that she had straight out lied to the one she served. No wonder he wouldn't entrust her with his life! Zero Dream ...Hmmmm.
That indeed seemed to perk his curiosity, and as such he moved, laying the bigger fragments on the table beside him. It.... was harder that it should be, he couldn't help but think bitterly, but he was still able to tell what lingered about them.
"This one." He spoke out loud. "Came from a king of a far-away kingdom, slain in battle... see the chip here ?" He gestured. "That is not a carving, but an arrow mark... And this one from a powerful merchant.... A lord..." He called them, one by one, before he paused. The dust he could do little to identify, but there was a pattern here.
He understood now.
"Priya... I doubt he would ever have worn those." He finally said. "These bones all came from powerful, important mortals, perhaps... Only the best for a king, which I figure was the intention, but... These mortals held important titles in life... But in death, they where neither more important than any one else. All where welcome in the Underworld, the dead where to come here no matter their rank in life, to be judged not for their power, but their deed. Beggar, ministel, peasant, king... Each a jewel on the crown. All the souls of the dead where important to him, no matter what rank they held. Each and every one of them. When I made my set, to be part of it was an honor beyond anything else."
He gathered the pieces again, and returned them to the box. "He... might have felt that something was missing." Thabara The feline was mesmerized, she couldn't take her eyes off it as the god laid out each and every bone - or rather, the fragments left thereof - telling of the faint echos of souls and memories which once had been. To her, they'd just been bones, pretty ornaments, albeit carved with great skill. To see it through the eyes of one of the Gods of Death ... Kings and queens, mages, warlords and wise men ... Each of high rank and renown - certainly jewels fit for the crown of a Godking? She looked up in utter surprise when he said it was otherwise. "But, why?" she stuttered, receiving her answer quite promptly. She listened, intently, finally nodding slowly, when one of the lines was vaguely familiar to her. "You may be right ... He showed me once, an illustration in an old book. The dance of death. I thought it was boring." She glanced sidewards, avoiding the Spirit Guide's look. Zero Dream At her last sentence, Ankou couldn't help a faint, amused laugh, just barely audible to the feline's sensitive ears. "I figure it could be." He knew exactly what it was, when his brother went off in some tangent. Some where interesting, some... not so much, expecially to those not exactly related in the inner workings of such things.
This was all well and good, to discuss all this, but it would not exactly fix those in the box to his side... Or make them more attractive. He definitively would have a much smaller world to find things, but there... wasn't quite a shortage of base materials at the moment.
He could not bring back the past, but... he could make new ones.
"You... might want to put them somewhere else, just in case." The fact remained that Priya had lied to her master, and he probably would not be pleased if the truth came to light, no matter how much he did or did not care about the ornaments. "I cannot mend them... and even if I could, well, it would not make them feel anymore right. I can make new ones, but... My valkyries are gone, faded, dead, or otherwise - will you... help me, Priya ?" Thabara She nodded demurely, hesitantly reaching out for the box. She certainly didn't look forward to break the news to Lord Nergal, or to confess to him that she'd lied to him. Unless ... she eyed the small wooden box, a plan beginning to form in the back of her head, which was all too evident by the way the corners of her lips curled up into a mischievous smile. Ankou's request, however, caught her by complete surprise, causing her to look up quite startled. "I ... don't know," she stammered. She was by no means a Valkyrie, nor anything even remotely close. "What would I have to do?" Zero Dream "Well, just a simple thing." Really, there was not much he could have the catgirl do, as she could not see the dead, or ask for permission to use their remain. That would be his task, but... "I fear that this place is rather crowded, and I also fear that I am not exactly the best at hiding things." He turned rather amusingly pensive. "And it would be such a shame for the surprise to be spoiled, wouldn't it ? Can you make sure he does not suspect a thing ? The rest may take me quite awhile, but I should be able to handle it on my own."
There certainly would be little trouble with the initial finding of the bones, or else he would probably ask for her aid on that one as well.
"Oh." He added as an afterthought. "...And find me a box." Really, the one with the decayed set inside was rather.... odd. Thabara "I can do that," she nodded enthusiastically, and then - remembering her manners - got up and bowed, the box with the crumbled bones pressed tightly against her chest. *** Not even an hour later the agile feline climbed upon the mound of rubble which had once been Nergal and Echo's joined house, the box still pressed against her chest. Looking for an opening in the heap of bricks and crumbling wood, she found one soon enough. Heedless of the dirt and splinters, she knelt down, shoving the wooden box into the narrow crevice as deeply as she possibly could manage. Satisfied, she stepped back, looking over her hiding place. There seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary, nothing whatsoever, but she wasn't quite happy with it yet. After a moment's thought though, the aoide picked up a wooden log - it had been part of the banister she recognized - to poke at the rubble and make some of it collapse and come down in a small cloud of dust. There, done. Buried underneath the remnants of the house, just as she'd told Nergal. She hadn't even lied now. She'd only ... been telling the truth ahead of time, when reality hadn't quite caught up yet.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:30 pm
Being of Use The dust was starting to settle, so to speak. Thoughts moved from wondering if they would live another day to other things like rebuilding, to tend to the young and the weak, and reshape the future. There was a will, and there were the means... if one looked closely enough. While much had been eroded and broken, some things had held quite nicely. Others had broken, but where in a state where they could be mended and used anew. These were sources that were not to be forgotten or overlooked in the state the world was in. Everything that had not crumbled to dust could be of some use. Ankou was not Forge - he could not create practical objects by his hands and will as a guide. He was quite adept at carving, yes, but of little use at more practical objects. Or at fancier things like glass-melting and molding. He knew, however, some bases about raw material and how to find them. His current activities often unearthed bones for that project of his... but that was simply a bonus. No, the Guide's current activities could be easily summed by a single word - scavenging. Sometimes alone, sometime accompanied by Jinx, or even Lenneth - he simply could not shake the feeling that there was something different about her, through he could not quite pin-point it, and certainly had more important things to worry about, at any rate. He spent his days outside, going though the ruins in search of wood, glass, metal, any raw material that could yet possibly be used for something, and brought it back to the pantheon. There were many craftsmen there - mortal and immortal - that would surely find use of such thing. Let nothing go to waste. And with the materials close at hand, those skilled in fashioning objets had more time to do just that. It had seemed to be a good idea, and in the end looked like it worked just as well in theory than it did in practice. Anima had not been pleased, he could tell, by his little idea. After all, was he not a god and such thing surely below him, best left to servants or the mortal themselves ? Was he not lowing them to their own level by that act ? Though she knew better than to directly oppose her lord once his mind was set to something, but he could tell the demoness was not pleased, no matter how he explained himself. In the end, he had decided that he did not have to explain himself, and ignored her unless she had something more worthwhile to go on about. It took only a few days of this routine for the aoide to get the hint and back off and stop her complaining, thankfully. The Spirit Guide could not quite see just what. He was a god of action. He did not like to sit and do nothing at all. Even when he was sitting and doing nothing, he still found something to do anyway, like carving. A task, no matter how mundane, kept him busy. And he might as well be useful while doing it. Ankou could not quite do what he was meant to do, be what he had always be meant to be, which was to guide the dead - there was no physical place to guide the dead to, and he was rather limited. Mostly rooted on one plane. Handling too many Doors at once tired him out - two of them had been rather taxing to begin with. Though that was no reason to sit back and do nothing. It simply meant he had to do something else. His scavenging had some perks to it, beyond keeping him moving - the mortals saw him. Knew him, though not many tried to get as close as Lenneth, a fact that he did not mind - but he was on speaking terms with most of them. They knew his name. They knew who he was. They knew what he was, and what he ultimately would do. The flames of belief were small, but they were there. They existed. They may one day become bright, shining where they had once been darkness. He could feel it, rather distinctively, that belief. It called out to him like a siren's song. Without that belief... Without that belief, without those tiny flickering flames, he was nothing. Disbelief had killed him once, after all. Or so he assumed, as the Guide seemed to remember nothing of his own death - a fact which he did not wish to rectify. Sometimes, after all, ignorance was bliss. The mortals needed him. But it was also true that he needed them. They would remember this, as mundane and below a god as such a task could be seen as. It was less risky for him to do those things than for a mortal to do them - he held the agility to duck out of failing ruins, and what injures he sustained healed relatively quickly. For some reason, Anima had not seemed to see this. Perhaps she simply refused to see that things had changed and would never be the same again. Hopefully, one day he would be able to make her understand as, most of the time, she held the role of a quiet advisor, as focus to his and Jinx's more action-oriented nature, and to be constantly at odd with her was not something he wished. Not in the least. The more god and demoness were around the other, the more they seemed to get to know each other anew and enjoy the presence of the other. Time would tell, but for now, it was more efficient to focus on the present.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:31 pm
Answering the summon ((Note - There is more to this rp than this, but only the bit relevant to my characters have been logged))Thabara Nergal's wings drooped slightly, as always they were an indicator of his feelings much more reliable than his face. „Mh. I already thought as much,“ he admitted, pale fingers gently touching upon the vial, toying with the thin silver chain which kept the starry treasure to his neck. „Some things may change, others never do. And while … change may be something required, there has also always been the need for stability, something constant. Eternal. Besides, my domain has always been naught but a shadow, a distant echo of the Living.“ He gave a weak smile, one tinged with melancholy and regret. Still, there was the possibility of one lone star. The Day of the Dead, which he had promised to those living and dead alike, perhaps it could be used to hail that event. Maybe. He led the way, up the stairs, and down the hallway, keeping a deliberately slow pace. Towards a door that was clearly not his own, but his brother's, the Spirit Guide's. Perhaps a miracle would happen, the aodei having sensed his coming somehow, and magically managed to clean up the place in the blink of an eye just before they arrived at the threshold. The loud, eerie banshee-like wail that could he heard even out in the hallway and only be his daughter's, however, shattered his fragile hopes immediately. Ah well. He has fathered enough children of his own. I should imagine at least some of them were as troublesome as--„Welcome,“ he mumbled, clearly embarrassed, and pushed open the door. He invited Harmodius inside with a small bow, quickly trying to scan the common room for the current situation at the same time. Somehow the idea of Harmodius accidentally tripping over one of the children's toys was horrifying much more right now, than any possible threat the Grigori might pose. „And I do apologize for the current … mess.“He glanced at his daughter and Priya, both - child and aoide - seemingly frozen in their fight over a … piece of crayon? Not again... Priya was the one to let go of it first, bowing low immediately as soon as she caught glance of whom it was that her Lord had brought as a visitor. „My Lord ...“ „Daddy,“ the young goddess seemed to have ceased her wailing for now, and instead held up the piece of red crayon that was hers to keep for now. It looked … decidedly soggy. „She says I can't keep this.“„That is, because she keeps trying to eat them, Highness,“ Priya quickly interrupted. „Because you said they're different.“ The miniature goddess pouted, and quickly searched the ground with her free hand until she came across another piece of crayon – a blue one – which also bore obvious marks of having been chewed upon. „Well, they're not. They both taste awful just the same. Bleagh!“ She stuck out her tongue with disgust, and then - a little belatedly – took notice that her father hadn't been the only one to arrive. „Who's that?“ she inquired curiously, lids blinking over empty eye sockets. Reyna Crelos  His sister had proved enough distraction for Priya that Sotiris had long since snuck free of the confines of his family's current living quarters. It hadn't taken him long to figure her out upon her return to his father. Now if he could only find a way to escape the ghosts that his father sent after him his life would have been positively golden! He frowned. Dad had returned. And with some else. The pretty man who hatched from the funny egg that had been decorated with flowers. Who had his father said he was? Creation. He squinted in thought as he hovered around the edge of the entry way just behind where they both stood. Yes. It had to be Creation. He sighed. There would be no sneaking back in now. This was the part where he did usually get caught. Oh well! He had treasures to share with his sis, and she obviously was in need of them since Priya was being a jerkface as usual. " No be upset, Sis!" he declared, announcing his presence as he simply sidestepped his father before he could be grabbed, " Brought treasures." He paused for a moment and pinned Priya with an annoyed look that was strangely reminiscent of his father's own scowl. " No need icky crayons. Have better things for you, anyway." Zero Dream Thankfully, Priya had at least one child that she ought not to worry too much about, at least in theory. Akakios had taken one curious nibble at one crayon, found it's taste to be nasty, and had not attempted the feat again since. There were much tastier things to eat, after all.
Though it would be wrong to think that the purple haired boy, who was calmly laying down on the floor doodling some nonsense that almost resembled letters, did not have his part with his elder brother's escape - if only because he was not surprised to see that he had been gone. "What Soto find ???" The young boy went up on his feet and padded toward his siblings, glancing up to Harmodius with wide, surprised eyes. Who was that again... Oh, oh !
"S'.... Pretty-flower-man ?"
Oh dear.At least, the cat had not been alone in her task to keep tabs on the three little... darlings ? Through her helper did not seem much focused on the task at hand, staring out the window rather blankly, almost as if he had been glancing and listening to someone unseen.
Well, unseen to most, at the very least.
It was the ghost, a young woman, that alerted him of the entrance in the room, and then was promptly gone, just as Ankou turned to face them. "Lord." He said, bowing his head respectfully. "It is an honor, though... you might want to watch out for crayons."
Yes, he'd actually spend so much time with this rampant chaos that he actually said it with a straight face. Echo had seemingly gone somewhere with her aoidei, but it was not such for him. Ivynian  Soft explanations to float down from unseen sources, “If you touch the faces of your brothers to 'see' with your hands, you will note they are different. It is the same with the crayons, though their shape is the same, there is a 'seeing' difference. The difference of Light, which is that heat and warmth that plays on your face when you near a lamp or Lord Illumin, which can be brighter or darker. "
"Flower Man?" Creation looked up to the boy still toying with the coloured wax. "Well, I made some, yes. But I am not only flowers. "He slid his feet, rather then step, so that any crayons in danger would be slide out of a path instead of broken under adult-sized feet. "It is no trouble. In long ago days a family's worth was counted of its blessed children. The Lord and Lady here are well enriched, and you the Lucky Uncle. Perhaps a lesson from elder to younger brother? Though long faces worn at windows rarely speak of secret sweethearts."
"The pieces?" The feel of them in the room was unmistakable. Nodes of familiar energy that had worn close to his own out of mortal thought in ages ago. Tens of ages ago. Thabara „I do consider myself blessed. To have a family like this … it is a treasure indeed.“ There was the hint of a smile upon Nergal's face, widening just a little as he cast a sidewards glance at his brother. He knew all too well about his not-so-secret sweetheart. „I daresay he has begun to catch up already.“ It was evident that he was much more at ease, in the presence of his family, his demeanor less formal. This was – albeit borrowed, and only temporary, from his point of view – 'home' after all. He handed the garment which had been returned to him to Priya to take care of it. Apparently this saved his firstborn from 'getting his ears pulled until they were as long as a rabbit's' – at least if he'd caught the aoide's hissed whisper correctly. „I will have word with him,“ he promised. „Later.“Priya rolled her eyes. So far, her Master's lectures and sermons held to his eldest seemed to either have no effect whatsoever, or it evaporated into thin air as soon as he stepped out of the door and the children were on their own. „Yes, Lord,“ she muttered, glaring at the green boy showing off his 'treasures' to his sister. „You'd better, Lord, because one of these days I'm going to sew a thread through his ears, and hang him up by them. I am certain that'll improve his ability to listen a great deal.“ Nergal quirked a brow, but he knew all too well about the child's startling talent to trigger one's fuse in no time whatsoever, including his own. „I will talk to him,“ he renewed his promise, settling to give Sotiris an admonishing glare for now. „No bugs or worms crawling about in our bedroom, is that understood?“„Treasures~?“ Crys clapped her hands in anticipation of the things her big brother might have brought back from his 'adventure'. This caused her to drop the crayons, of course, but she didn't care – her brother's 'treasures' were usually much more entertaining anyway. She hoped it would be something creepy-crawly. Maybe he had found one of those centipillars he'd talked about? Still, she rose her head to listen as Creation spoke to her, the soft sound of his voice all she needed to pinpoint his location and appear to be looking at him, despite of the obvious lack of the organs needed to do so. She mulled over his words, pursing her lips slightly as she did. Some of it made sense to her, some not. Colors, just as the difference between light and dark, continued to leave her utterly mystified. „I still don't understand ...“ she finally complained with a pout, though she didn't seem to mind much. She did take mental note of the name 'Illumin' however, registering it as a person worthy to be bugged with questions about such things, should she feel like it. Nergal sighed, giving each of his children a quick ruffle through their hair. „I will explain later,“ he promised; then straightened his posture and smoothed out the folds of his garments as Harmodius' inquiry reminded him of what they had come for. There would be plenty of time still to spend with his family later. „Over here, Lord,“ he said, indicating a certain door to one of the adjacent rooms. He strode ahead to open it, avoiding to step on any crayons or other playthings left lying about with practiced ease. Nothing had changed within, it seemed, the room's contents having been mostly left untouched ever since Lady Karaskis had left the last two pieces in his care. Only a bed had been added, for Faran to rest more comfortably. Zero Dream While Harmodius' comment seemed to catch him slightly off-guard, and that he had been about to answer (after all, it seemed like Nergal had not overheard what he had been talking over with the ghost, and it was important, for now, to keep it that way.), but it seemed his elder brother was more than willing to answer for him. And if he had not realized that what he liked to think was pretty secret was in reality the worst guarded secret of the universe, he surely did now.
"Treasures indeed." He repeated Nergal's own words, and seemed honest enough about them, in despite the rather pointed glance he was sending his elder brother at the moment... Which would have possibly been more threatening if his cheeks had not started taking on the same color than the back of his long hairs. He liked the children well enough, even if they made his personal space an ever-shifting chaos. He did, in fact, like to sneak out with Sotiris every now and then, to play tag or some other such of game that suited the more active child's fancy.
He gave the green terror a wink when he looked toward him, in despite still looking quite embarassed indeed, and when the reason of Creation's presence in the wreck that had become the shared living space of many in the last few months, he let himself slide to his feet and caught up with the rest of them.
"There are seven pieces... or, more accurately, there were seven pieces." He started. "Your own pendant, the one you gave to Lady Panacea, the bones and scale of some species of draconic race that I unfortunately could not identify, a decanter filled with blood that has a key attached to it, a soulless body that I can only assume was to be used for his next reincarnation, a petrified mendrake root, belonging to the ghost of a shaman... which merged with the last piece that was found, a living mortal known as Faran."
He probably sounded quite clueless not to know what to do with all these things to make them one once more, and he certainly felt like such if his reactions where any indications. But fragmented, living souls... perhaps these had fallen under the jurisdiction of his Other, whoever he or she had been. That, or he had just plain forgotten how, which was troublesome on entirely too many levels.
Though, with the way Tian Yue had managed to rename the being that walked alongside them, make Harmodius whole again... What if he could have been put together in a similar way ? The crown's consort held many names, who was to say, after all, that Aristogeiton was his true name ? Did mortals have true names much like the gods did ?
This was worth some thought.While it was true that Akakios' mind seemed on a wholy different level of development that his somewhat limited speech would make the clueless onlooker think, it was also true that he had never, exactly, found words to explain to his older sister exactly what colors where like. Which did not mean he had never attempted. Though those attempts where most often than not in vain.
He'd acknowledged the answer he was given with a nod, but it seemed the adults where busy to do adult things and he left them to such, though the boy seemed very amused by his uncle's reaction. "Thinking 'bout auntie Cos again..." He whispered delightfully with a small, amused giggle, that clashed with the look of his face.
Though, when Ankou started to speak, he attention was captured once more, and he listened intently, even as Soto would show his treasure - it was for his sis and not for him, after all, so there was no reason to keep complete attention beyond satisfying the curiosity of just what it had been.
When the three gods had dissapaired behind the door, he padded his way to it near-silently, one ear laying on the smooth surface in hope of being able to overhear some of this. Reyna Crelos Sotiris' scowl darkened further at Priya's announcement of how she would go about making him listen better. Who was she to boss him around?! Pfft. Silly aoide. Just because she belonged to his father certainly did not mean she was the boss of him. He sputtered a bit indignantly when his father ruffled his hair and insisted that they would speak later. He wanted to declare his father a traitor in supporting Priya's demands that he behave. He didn't feel he was truly misbehaving at all! Sure, he went on adventures outside of the confines of their living area, but he had not broken anything (on purpose) in a really, really long time! Instead of yelling at his father he kept perfectly silent and wrapped a protective arm about his sister's shoulders. " No worms on floor," he agreed with a sigh. He had gone out of his way to catch centipillars, too. His eyebrows lifted in curiosity as his father, uncle, and Harmodius trekked into another room to discuss the strange things he was not allowed to touch. He smirked when Kios put his ear to the door. It was best that he listened in. He was cute enough to avoid getting into trouble. Soto turned back to his sister after rummaging through his satchel and handed her a small box he had found while rummaging. " Cannot give you centipillars right now because of Dad," he said with a pout, " But here, has a spidey-thing instead? Dad did not say no to spidey-things." Ivynian Creation’s hand lifted and hovered for moments over the shallow-lifting chest of the young engineer. The stillness of the Eldest was stark, practically unliving, against even that dim unconscious. “There is no choice left to him; it is already begun.”Scanning the pieces he shifted his hand and lay it over Faran’s closed eyes. “The key upon the decanter is of no use any longer, its place and treasure were Eaten. The Sword is lost.”
“Here is what must follow. The mandrake should be powdered and added to the blood. The Body should be burned and the ashes collected. The bones, left alone initially. The pendant will rest upon this boy’s throat and he shall be opened…the blood mixture and bones put into him as his own. Then he will be closed, the funeral rites performed over him proper to a king of men. The ashes painted over all of his skin, especially the wounds of surgery. Then silent and singular, sealed in state for seven days he must be lain. No longer then that. Upon opening the tomb, what was sundered will be seen to be made anew. “
And then? The soul will remember, no doubt, but it has been so long…and for the first time since the beginning I myself am new. And I am not I that he would desire, but the other half of the same. In novelty faith must be given that pining love will not falter or grow into bitter fruits. “Joined, his soul will remember its name, though the body and person will need new calling to answer to. Aristogeiton nor Sanatruces, those known by you, were not Truename, rather they were use-names as much as Harmodius is upon my self. “ He answered the unspoken question as well, the curiosities of the others filtered through his awareness stronger with his distraction. Of all places, he was most there in those rooms and place. “The task is gruesome. Perhaps best to remove its completion from a home of mirth and children. I can take this burden. “
“Your troubles in gathering the pieces alone are a task of wonder and renown. I am in your debt. “The pieces faded one by one, vanishing to some unknown keeping away from the gathering. Thabara  Nergal frowned ever so slightly at the mention of the sword, but the expression was fleeting, barely noticeable. So, one more weapon against the Grigori was lost, how unfortunate … He shook off the vague (and irrational) feeling of being the one responsible, listening closely to the Elder's voice instead. He never would have thought of burning the body, none of them had. It made so much sense that he was barely able to resist the urge to slap his forehead to not have thought of it himself – but his … all their minds had been paralyzed, perhaps, by the prospect of possibly losing one of these precious pieces after they had finally managed to bring them all together … “Mirth and children in my house, hm?” Somehow he found the thought to be strangely amusing, enough to bring the hint of a smile to his darkened lips. But he was indeed relieved to see the pieces spirited away, gone from the presence of his beloved and children. “I had my own reasons to aid in gathering the pieces,” he replied softly. “There is nothing I would ask for in turn,” he added, the talk of debt being too reminiscent of his own. Surrounded by family, the woman he loved at his side … The renewal of his realm was his to take care of, and even what he had desired most … He gently touched upon the phial dangling from his neck upon a length of silver chain. A star for his own skies, however small and lonely it might turn out to be ... Truly, he couldn't think of anything he'd ask for, not right now. He was truly lucky, he realized. “On the contrary. If you would have my aid in what is to be done next, I would be more than willing to help you carry that burden.” He glanced up at Harmodius, his expression sincere. While he'd never been able to read expressions or body language particularly well, there did seem to be some uncertainty akin to his own. “And while it may not be in my place to speak for her in her absence … The Lady Fire had a hand in gathering these pieces as well, and I am certain she would make the same offer as I. In fact she has been a great help, lending her presence and powers to incinerate a great many of the funerary pyres as of late.” Much of this task would be his own to do, he realized, should the offer be accepted. There were little to no servants left in his service, barely any new disciples gained. The divinities of funeral and embalming were still gone, maybe never to return at all, if the birth of a wholly new Lament and Grief was a hint. But to arrange for a tomb, the funerary rites, a pyre for the body, he could do that. The cutting and the sewing perhaps as well - it had been part of the embalmers tasks. Already he was compiling a list in the back of his head, of the oils and balms he would need, the linens and amulets to wrap the body … He could do this, he felt, his enthusiasm and eagerness obvious for everyone to see, even in spite of the possibility of finally restoring his own realm singing quiet but constant siren song deep within his consciousness, ever since it had first been mentioned. "There are, however, two small requests I had intended to bring up anyway ..."Thabara  "Spidey-thing~!" Crys cooed, unaware of the attention her brother's paid to the door their father and his visitors had passed through. Even though, unbeknown to herself, she couldn't help but keep 'staring' at it. There had been something about the stranger their father had brought along, some profound sense of loneliness and sadness, that kept drawing her attention. "Can I eat it?" she inquired, quite aware by now not everyone seemed to approve of her devouring the things that had been gifted to her, especially while they were still alive. Zero Dream Ankou listened to the explanation just as attentively as his older brother did, perhaps even moreso, at the detailing of the steps that would be needed. Right now, it seemed like no wonder that much of this had always seemed to escape him - it was much more complicated than replacing pieces of a broken soul as one into one body. And, without the consort's true name, as his thoughts where confirmed by the Eldest, he figured there was little he could have done, anyway.
Especially at the state his powers were now.
Perhaps the Eldest sending Medicine on this task had been specifically for this purpose...
"Two of the weapons have been found." Ankou straightened and peered upward once more at the mention of the sword... and it non-existence. "I have retrieved the jesses of Rebirth myself, along with the host of Lord Oath." Even though Byrne now... well, he was well-assured Harmodius knew of that. "And I am certain Your Dragons found Gaia's shears and returned them to safety as well." He had not heard much of this, but he was certain that it had to be so. There was no hesitation in the Spirit Guide's voice.
"If the consort's sword is lost, then... Lord, can you remember the location of your own glaive ?" Perhaps eaten along with the sword, perhaps too late, but he had to know. "If it yet exist... I believe it would be safest to have it found and brought here. For when they return."
Not if.
When.
But now he was just pushing his luck, he seemed to notice belatedly, and his speech of sort calmed. "Likewise, Lord Harmodius - if I may be of any help, even if sorely as an additional pair of hands, please do not hesitate to call upon me." He would have His way to be able to do so no matter his location, of such he was certain. He was likewise glad that pieces where moved - mostly out of curious small hands, and that the whole process would happen elsewhere. Had it had happened right here, he was certain, Anima would have had his head for the amount of cleaning up afterward. Thankfully, even with being able to hear the three voices somewhat clearly though the door, Lament did not understand much - far too little to wind up horrified by the process, if he even would have.
It was all very interesting, but also mostly beyond his understanding. "Hmmm..." He pondered out loud, softly, before returning his attention inward. Ivynian “The weapon of my station yet exists, though it is gone from its long rest and lays in trusted keeping yet. ....” He seemed to consider over the object, and come to some unspoken decision, “It will come to a better purpose soon enough.”
“Requests? By all means, speak and what can be granted shall be. “ Thabara Nergal remained uncertain if his offer was appreciated, but decided to drop the matter for now and to not insist. It could still be discussed at a later time should the need arise. „While my brother and I are certainly close, and I know for sure he much cherishes the presence of Lady Echo and the children … I feel we should not take advantage of his hospitality for much longer.“ He offered an apologetic smile to his brother. Ankou had never complained, but he seemed to feel the need to escape the confines of the crowded and lively quarters they shared just as often as he himself did. And Cosine would likely appreciate the privacy as well … „Rooms to share with my betrothed and our children for while we stay at the Pantheion. I will not require separate ones for my own use.“
„The other request ...“ He clasped his hands behind his back seemingly calm, but could not quite avoid that his wings shuffled uneasily. „There is an item I would like to retrieve from Lucius' rooms, if it actually withstood the influence of Decay. A board game, which belonged to his host ...“ He pointedly avoided to look into his brother's direction now. „It is of sentimental value to me,“ he admitted somewhat embarrassed, „and I think … the children would like it.“Nergal glanced down, immensely grateful his blush no longer showed. He had passed by the door to Universe's empty chambers almost every single day, but to simply enter without permission had been completely out of question. He could take his children with him, he thought. If Lament and Grief were to accept the Elder's request, Lucius' rooms might be a good starting point for them to figure out what to do. Ivynian “Seek then a door of supplicants, arms raised in song as they move along winding paths to find the lands of the dead. These doors will bring you to apartments that you may shape to your need and as you find pleasing. The greater part may be achieved by your blessed union, though a space aside is set for each child to shape as their own will, for gods they are, and greater yet they will grow to be. ” “Of Lucius' rooms and once possessions, you are also free to enter and take what you and your family will. Most of what he called his was moved long ago to a place apart. But there is so little that can be...had...in these first spans after Gehenna that all Things should find use and care if there is such to be had of them. “
"You're requests are simple, Underworld, and not deviated from the ordinary. There was little need for hesitation." Zero Dream The Spirit Guide simply gave a nod of the head at the explanations given, and did not press the subject any further, instead remaining silent as his brother voiced his requests. The first he had seen coming, and was more certainly glad for (as much as he appreciated their presences, the Guide also kind enjoyed his own privacy... of which there had been little in rooms so crowded.
The second... certainly seemed to surprise him, but he said nothing. He had not known that his brother had been close to the fallen Universe... And while he wondered what would happen with that, what would become of the sky, as he doubted Lucius himself would return from the Eldest's words... He did not ask, for he was quite sure Harmodius had to deal with that question near-constantly. He could ask Nergal later on. Thabara Nergal bowed respectfully. „Thank you.“He himself would not make use of the granted quarters all too often, he felt, given that he'd likely leave whenever his business here was finished. But for Echo and the children, as well as his brother, this would be a boon. Though he'd rather not think about what his children would come up with for the part of the chambers they were allowed to shape as their own, especially Sotiris. Given, his only daughter's fondness of worms, snails, mud and all things 'squishy' in general was just as worrysome … „Now, if there is anything else I can do which lies within my powers ...“ The death god's voice trailed off, obviously at a loss of how to proceed. If this was his realm, his court, surely this wouldn't prove to be a problem. But in the privacy of where he currently lived … He wished Echo was here. She easily would be able to come up with something, he felt. Smooth out this awkward moment with her laughter, with a song she'd come up this very moment. Where was she anyway? She'd longed so much for Creation's presence, it seemed a real shame she would miss his visit. Ivynian “The greatest help to me, and to yourselves, is to seize your powers, your powers, and raise up again your temples. Raise your followers. Order your duties of old, and evaluate them, and become...Gods. As Underworld, raise up and open the gates to house the wandering and lost souls....they are legion now. As Guide....help to bring them to those gates. I cannot do all these things of my own....not and accomplish what there are no hands to accomplish but mine. ” “Worry no longer for the resurrection of Aristogeiton. Perhaps he will seek you out, though, when he is returned. He will need the help of all the Gods, and will be a great ally among you in dealing with Destruction and in leading Mortal races. In these tasks he is kingly fit. “ Zero Dream Ankou nodded at the Eldest's words. It was up to them to do things, after all. "I have been leading any I could find, alive or otherwise, to this place, for the time being. I have also started going though the ruins to see what can be put to other purpose, what can be re-used." It was not what he had been meant to do, no, and perhaps it would sound a little silly - but with no Underworld, and the fact that he was mostly rooted to one plane, with little to no easy mean to hop from one world to another in search... He could use the Doors, yes, but he found it rather tiring on his mana to open and close many too quickly. That would come later. One by one. Still, those points were not enough to stop him from at least trying to do something.
And he'd, apparently, gained some attention in the process. Within these halls, there could be some protection for the survivors... at least he hoped.
That, and heading too far by his lonesome... did not seem like a good idea. Not at the moment, at any rate.
Followers, temples... Surely he had once had such, but he remembered nothing of it. Perhaps this was better - he would have no memory to try and match once the time came. No expectation rather than do.The small, lavender-haired godling had not moved from the door, though he still did not understand just what the adults were talked about. The child pouted, but refused to give up just yet.
He was sure it had to be rather interesting, but... ! Thabara If there was any reaction at his offer having been denied, Underworld at least did not show it openly. But neither did he insist on the matter, nor did he seem offended, which said enough on its own. Resurrecting Aristogeiton, the intimacy of it, it was probably something best be kept between these two … But he'd at least wanted to make the offer. „It shall be,“ he only said with a curt nod, aware of the constant whispers of the dead more than ever in this moment (while his children were suspiciously quiet, he couldn't help but notice). His temples of old, not soaring high but instead burrowed deep into the bowels of the earth. The tombs hewn into massive rock, built to last for eternity. Some of the ancient structures ought to have survived, and could be put to use for the living, though the idea of it irked him to no end. He put that aside for now, his posture straightening. „The next time we meet, it may well be in my own halls.“ It was both, promise that things would be taken care of, as well as a tentative invitation for some unknown future time. Ivynian “May it be so. ” Harmodius bowed to each in turn, having little else that seemed appropriately formal to add. Seeing and Knowing things were different, and the gathered Ages that had passed since last hoping for any news felt like dust of cement that had fallen long from a great height. A trap watered and hardened with tears and time. Awareness nearly fled altogether rather then fully confront the possibilities in immediacy. And distraction was tantalizingly present and near in the sounds of small breath and bright souls beyond the door. JUST beyond the door in some cases. In mood, however, the airs and Lord-Father in question seemed stolid as ever. Staying on, or requesting leave to enjoy the company of the small ones was no doubt out of the question. “It is impossible to wholly express the gratitude felt for your efforts. ...but again, thank you. I to mine own tasks and thee to thine, as it were. “ Thabara Nergal merely nodded distractedly, thoughts already traveling back to the Gate, the prospect of what could have been done already, if only he hadn't … if only he hadn't … „As it were,“ he agreed absently, already brooding over too many things at once to truly notice the Crown's leave, or that he was possibly being rude. The matter of the Consort done with and out of the way, there was still so much else that needed to be taken care of now. He had been idling much too long.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:32 pm
Relocation midnight_medea After making sure that Isra and her family were safely and comfortably settled in their new rooms Cosine set off on the next errand on her list. Making sure she had a place to stay within the safety of the Pantheon. She felt like a yoyo or a nomad without a place to belong. She had moved from Isra's room in the inn to Kou's give them space, then from Kou's to her own room in the inn to allow his family their space. Now, here she was, back again. She really needed to see about getting her own rooms as she did not like imposing on people.
She climbed the stairs and stopped outside his familiar door. For a moment she stood and listened, wondering if it was still overflowing with godlings, aoide, spirits and friends. Hearing nothing she knocked firmly and absently brushed her fingers through her dark hair to make sure it was neat after her morning of running around. Zero Dream It was none of the deities that dwelt inside that answered the door, but instead a pitch black-furred feline, her tail moving back and forth slowly like a pendulum. "Myaaaa..." She seemed to ponder out loud, before bowing her head in respect. "Lady Cosine. Please, do enter - my lord is within, mya. But please, do be mindful of your steps - I fear there may be still crayons out there that escaped my grasp." If only the godly children did not make such messes... And of course, it was totally above Anima to pick up the mess they left behind. As always. Honestly... midnight_medea Cosine was a little surprised when the feline woman opened the door. She supposed she shouldn't have been, though she was looking forward to seeing Ankou again. Blushing a little at the formality of the greeting she bowed her head in return and smiled.
"Thank you." She said, laughing a little about her crayon comment. Children would be children.
Stepping over a half chewed purple crayon and a red that had seen better days she made her way into the comfortable rooms. Zero Dream The cat would lead her toward the rooms at the back, out of the area that had come to be considered shared and toward the more private back rooms, though for once, the rest of it seemed completely void of presence beyond her own and her master's. The space was also definitively wider than the space in between the doors would make look and... somewhat different than when she had last been there, somehow ? Jinx stopped in front of the room at the very end of the hallway and, after gently batting the door open wider than it had been, glanced inside. Ankou was inside, as one could have already figured out, sitting on the bed rather than on the nearby desk, wearing a t-shirt that looked like it had seen much better days, and jeans in a similar state, which looked rather different on him that how she usually saw him clothed as - modern and casual, but nowhere near that... simple. Or well-worn, perhaps.
But hey, at least he was wearing a shirt, yes ?
All about him where various tools, knives of different sizes and makeshift carving tools. He was actually busy carving something, it seemed, a small piece of white... was that bone ?
He did not move, which proved the arrival of aoide and goddess to have gone unnoticed.midnight_medea Cosine smiled as the walked through the rooms. They did look different. There was more room, it was actually peaceful. In the week or so that she stayed there she had not really been beyond the main living space.
Smiling at Ankou as he worked, engrossed in his task she said her thanks o the cat lady and walked over to him. She sat on the bed and leaned against him a little as she looked down at the tiny piece of bone.
"What are you doing?" She asked, trying to make out what it could be. Zero Dream He never saw her coming, as focused as he was, and he almost jumped when he suddenly felt something touching him - and his expression was priceless. At least until it turned into a somewhat annoyed glare at that cat giggling like a mad thing in the door frame, before she finally turned and left the deities to their business.
"Something." He answered, quite teasingly, reaching out to her lips for a kiss. midnight_medea Cosine smirked at his reaction and looked at the bone in his hand. Something Underworld related she had no doubt.
"Something?" She raised an eyebrow and kissed him briefly. "I have a favour to ask you." Zero Dream "Hm-m." It honestly felt like something heavy had been lifted from him, when the pieces had been retrieved by Harmodius. Perhaps he should not have felt this way, but now he knew the consort would be safe - and that things would go as they should. "I will tell you, if you can promise me to keep it secret." He continued, in a sing-song voice, before letting his lips rest on hers.
"A favor, then ?" He said softly, pulling most of the carving tools away so she could safely sit beside him. "And that would be ?" midnight_medea "I am excellent and keeping secrets." She said with a warm smile, keeping her eyes on his and kissing him once again. She shifted closer as the carving was moved and nodded.
"Yes, a favour. A friend has informed me that it is no longer safe outside the Pantheon. Lord Harmodius declared it. So the inn is no longer safe." She sighed and absently traced a non existent pattern on his t-shirt. "Sooo I was wondering if you might have a spare bed. Or, maybe some room in this one?" She smirked a little. Zero Dream "Fittingly, as it seems Numbers hold many." He said, with a rather fond tone in his voice, one hand raising to caress her cheek in obvious fondness. "These are to be gems... for a crown. I believe I do not require to tell you to who they will belong." He added, with an amused look on his face.
As if there could be any doubt.
His features turned to their usual seriousness as she continued. Well, he supposed things hadn't truly been safe outside for quite awhile... He had not heard Lord Harmodius mention anything about this in his presence, though, granted, their collective minds had been on a completely different matter.
"Hmm." He seemed to be mulling that previous point for a moment, before grinning at her. "It depends. Will I have to pin you in order for you to stay, this time ?" He added, with a light touch of teasing.
The Spirit Guide had never admitted it out loud, that the fact that she probably had felt the need to move away in the first place, lack of space or no, had bothered him. Cosine, he thought, should never feel like she was in his way, or bothering him, and the god hoped he had not given her that impression without noticing it. He had become much more tolerant of sharing his personal space due to the previous events, but the Number goddess had never been bothering him.
"I figure I could find some room, if I tried hard enough, hmm ? Or does your calculations of the surface differ with the idea ?" Oh, now he was just asking for it, but he didn't mind. midnight_medea "Nergal." That was the most obvious guess. He seemed like a god that would need a crown of bone. "I am sure he will be thrilled."
As talk turned to her favour his answer drew a laugh from her lips.
"Pin me down?" A pause as she studied him for a moment, her eyes glinting with slight amusement and a hint of innuendo "Possibly. Though it is calmer here now. There is space to think and move." Her eyes turned to the bed and she made a face as if she were performing some complex equation. "Let me see." She pulled away and crawled further onto the bed, there she flopped into a lying position and made herself comfortable.
"Seems perfect to me." Her smirk remained on her lips and she held an arm out to him. "Help me make sure." Zero Dream One, in fact, could have wondered if he could even have been able to pin her down even if he had wished to try - as the god seemed to have mostly retained his host's slender build.
He had to resist when she seemed to take the bait of his joke, though not in the way she had intended - not though some complex equation the Spirit Guide most likely would have not been able to make heads or tails out of, but instead by...
Displacement of mass, perhaps ? Could he call it that ? Sprawling about was exactly what it was, but...
Alright, at this thought he couldn't help it anymore. He laughed.
He set the pieces of bone and the rest aside on the desk, then held out his arm for her to pull him down. Yes, he was lazy today, thank you. "Oh, if I must..." midnight_medea Cosine gave a snort of laughter and reached out to grab his hand and pull him down somewhat roughtly, just for being a pain.
"Well you do not have to join me if you do not wish." She teased, raising a slender eyebrow.
"I have not seen Nergal and Echo in a while. Are they all well? I assume they have their own rooms, or do you have them all hidden in the wardrobe?" Zero Dream He does not seem to mind the roughness much, st least not outwardly, as he landed (or perhaps more accurately, flopped) down beside her. "Stuffing them in a closet." He repeated, pensive. "I should have thought of that..." He added with a little smirk.
"They have indeed been granted their own rooms, I believe. Echo is mostly out and about helping the survivors, when not tending to the children... And Nergal haunts the library, as he tends to do. I think he is trying to find something that might help... and honestly, he has more chance than me to find anything relevant."
The god couldn't help but make a face as he remembered his own failure-filled trip to said library. midnight_medea Cosine laughed a little and looked up at he ceiling for a moment.
"I should pass on this information to her, that we should get as many people inside the Pantheon as possible. If the grigori attack then it would be devastating for those still outside." She sighed and tried not to think about the possibilities of that. "Maybe I could help him?" She suggested. "I know the library well." Zero Dream "I figure this might be a good idea..." Though, what to do with those that populated the other worlds ? It was not like they could just take them all and plop them in "safety", though... They were not what the grigori seemed to be after... at least not yet.
"I am sure you would be a great help... Very much a better help than I would be." He gave her a small, amused smile. "I believe Kios has started to learn how to read and write, too..." midnight_medea Cosine nodded and turned her eyes away from the ceiling, back to his.
"I may just have to go and find him." She mused, returning his small smile with one of her own. "What exactly is it he is looking for help with? There may be more places to find information than books. They are sometimes rather stagnant." Zero Dream "He has not told me." Or perhaps his brother had told him, but he had not been paying attention. That was highly possible, and not a possibility he excluded, having been... on the move as much as he had been lately, his awareness pulled across multiple wants, needs, and tasks he wished to accomplish. Though that was much less maddening to him than waiting, as he had done so much in the months preceding this time. Months that, while once were a rather laughable length of time for a god, had seemed to stretch out to be much more.
"You may have to find him and ask, though... That is not a hard thing." And neither should it be done so soon, if the hand that rose to caress the side of her cheek and straighten the wooden ornament was any indication. midnight_medea The goddess smiled at the hand that touched her cheek so gently.
"Hmm, I will, though not until the morning I think." She smiled and plucked absently at the simple shirt that he wore. She was far too comfortable for doing anything silly like moving.
"I think, I would rather sleep. Today has been quite exhausting." Zero Dream "That does not sound like such a bad idea." Ankou did not seem all that willing to move away now that he's gotten even more comfortable, and had rather nice company to boot.
Surely her things could wait until the morning, couldn't they ? Surely.
"What have you been up to ? It has been awhile since we had time to sit and talk..." Perhaps too long. For once, his feelings were plainly evident. He had missed her, but now was glad that she was here. midnight_medea Cosine smiled a little and reached for his hand, slipping her fingers through his.
"I had been thinking about how best to tackle the rebuilding. I think I should speak wth science, we could rally all the engineers and carpenters, give them help with setting up the infrastructure." She smiled a little sadly and watched im for a moment.
"Now however, if it is not safe to be outside the pantheon maybe it is not safe for such tasks." A slender eyebrow raised as an idea came to her. "Maybe I should appear to Harmodius myself and ask him to be sure." Zero Dream "That sounds like the best idea." The Guide said, bringing their joined hands closer to his chest, breathing a kiss on his palm. He... had no idea why he was doing this, and the motion seemed to catch even him off-guard for a split second, before he simply accepted it. "This way you can calculate accordingly, yes ? Make sure things will be well, no matter where they stay ?"
The idea of keeping mortals at the pantheon itself, close to the watchful eyes of the gods, he could understand - after all, he had aided in it. But what about those who lived outside this region ? There had only been so far that he could reach on their own, by foot, before the half-mortal body started to tire.
And then there was the matter of other world. Did they not matter, as well ? What could be done for them ? He feared that many were now blank of life and unlife, much like the world where the city of Karsch had been, but surely, there were worlds when some had survived... what about those ? What could they do for those ? Uproot them, bring them here ? Would they be willing ? He was not quite sure...
He brow had furrowed in thought. "And then there is the matter of those dwelling in other worlds... We need to do something for them, as well." In a sense, this could be so easy, yet so complicated at the same time... midnight_medea She smiled at the kss breathed against her palm and watched him as he spoke, worrying about all those who might be in danger. Her smile lessened a little as she thought herself about all those that could not be reached. If there were many still out there.
"They may be safe. I believe the only threat is from the Grigori and surely they will come here. Their target is here." She shrugged a little. Not entirely sure of the situation. All of her knowledge was pieced together from second hand information. Zero Dream It was a possibility, of course - but ultimately he did not know which of the two possibilities were most likely to happen.
"That does not change the fact that they went though the exact same things that happened here. I... do not know what would be best. Surely something must be done, but..." But he had no idea how. Or how to even approach the situation. He was neither a scholar, or charismatic enough to easily rally others.
"But it is possible that they may be safe. Or safer. Though, I do not know what will happen from now on." Anything could, really. But if he started to try and spread too thin himself, he would very easily lose the focus of what was important. midnight_medea She watched him as he spoke and reached out a hand to place against his warm cheek.
"We may only do what is in our power." She said softly, shifting a little to place a light kiss on his lips. "We can spread the message as far as we are able. Other than that we must hope for the others. That they will be unaffected by what is to come. The reign of Destruction is over." Zero Dream "That is likely right..." For now. At least for now. When he would be able to come and go as he wanted, however... When worlds would no longer be boundaries... it would be different. For now, perhaps, that task rested on the shoulders of deities more powerful than him. Than them.
They would find ways, until then. The mortal races were ingenious, creative creatures. He could not deny it. He should not underestimate their ability to rise up and rebound from what seemed to be impossible situations.
"There are so many things to think about right now." It wasn't a complain - more like a fact. He liked to have things to think about, for the most part. midnight_medea She smiled as she watched him think, wondering as she often did what he was saying to himself in his silences. His words made her smile broadly.
"It's wonderful isn't it." Her mind felt quite wrong if it were not full of questions and ideas. She leaned in to kiss him again, cupping his face in her hands. "Let's not think right now." She murmured against his lips. Zero Dream Not thinking, even in spite of so many things to do. That...
sounded like a marvelous idea. He did not want to think right now.
"Another great idea." He said, a smile on his face. "We will go get your belongings tomorrow, if you like ? You've got to promise to let me do the lifting, though." The Guide said, tone teasing. midnight_medea Cosine laughed and nodded.
"Done." she said with a smirk. "I think I can live with that."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:33 pm
Before You Go Thabara Nergal blinked in the bright light when he stepped outside, once again hesitating for the tiniest moment when he lifted his robes to step from the tiled stone floor onto the vibrant green grass. He'd always been one to prefer twilight and shadows over the live-giving light and warmth of the sun, the stale air of underground vaults and caves over the warm breeze that was caressing his pale skin now, the sensation of cold, lifeless rock underneath his bare soles over the soft tickling of grass and moss.
Or so he'd thought.
He crouched down, running his fingers through the grass while bearing an expression of genuine wonder – and then bewilderment and mild shock when a grasshopper jumped out of harms way, surprise almost causing him to lose his balance.
This all … had been before. Grass, trees, insects, these were by far no recent creations.. And yet, to him, in a way it was all new. He'd never walked the realms of the mortals like this before The Fading, he felt, in a physical body so much like the mortals', able – or caring, more like – to touch, feel …
Life was so vibrant here, close to the the Pantheion. Close to where Creation and Gaia dwelt, and Rebirth. He'd heard the rumors, of an egg fluttering about. Secretly, he had smiled.
He sighed, rising to his full height once more, overlooking the area. It was strange, but in a way Destruction's influence had made him feel safer, less insecure. Zero Dream Nergal's experiences on this aspect were truly different than the ones of his brother - who had, in time long gone, traveled endlessly across all sort of different worlds and most likely had seen all that there ever was to see, from medieval nations to futurist utopia, from "normal" humans to the oddest creatures one's imagination could begin to conjure. He remembered little of those things, but yet the feeling of familiarity still lingered. Nothing around the pantheon was truly new to him, even as it was such in his new life - having been reborn in truth after the countdown of Gehenna had already started.
It was an odd thing, to remember and yet to not remember, but the god did not dwell on it. Not much, at any rate - as he consciously tried to avoid. The holes in his memories were a very upsetting thing, but there was little he could do about it, and thus it was useless to dwell upon it.
At least, it was how the Spirit Guide saw it.
He came into view from the direction Nergal was facing - though he seemed to not have noticed the other god yet. In fact, his attention was focused mostly on the female figure following him. Oddly, it was neither Cosine, or even Jinx or Anima - in fact, it was a rather young mortal, blonde-haired and brown-eyed. The dust and debris on their clothing would tell much of their previous activities, most likely going though ruins to scavenge for yet-usable material. They were conversing - well, the girl was conversing, going on at about a mile per hour, while Ankou seemed to take the role of the quiet one, as he often did. Thabara Nergal quirked a curious brow when he spotted his brother in the company of yet another fine young woman, wondering - for a moment - what Cosine might think of this. Nothing at all, probably, as the two seemed to be merely acquaintances. But it was something to keep in mind for teasing his brother at a later time. For now he observed them quietly, ignoring the faint, and somewhat annoying stab of envy he felt. For his brother it seemed to be so very easy for him to gain the mortals' trust, to have them look upon his face openly without fear in their eyes.
Fear ... It hurt his feelings, of some remote part of his, but he couldn't say he hadn't wanted for it. If the mortals did not fear his judgment ... Then what else would keep them from committing the most horrid crimes and atrocities feeling that - ultimately - they would go unpunished in the end?
And yet, right now, judgment ranked so low on his list of priorities. To Make Room for the Dead, to restore his Realm, that was what was most important now. Followed very, very closely by the love and affection he felt for his future wife and family. But to give up on judgment completely? He couldn't do that. Or could he? No he couldn't. He certainly--
"Good afternoon," he said smoothly, the distance to his brother and his acquaintance having been closed to a mere few steps while his thoughts had been running in circles. He inclined his head in polite greeting towards his brother and the mortal woman - at least he assumed she was mortal - accompanying him. "Pardon the interruption, but I would like to have a few words with my brother, if possible." His words were polite, but there was a coldness in the gaze of his gray eyes and tinting his voice which made it quite clear it would be a good idea to scurry away and leave them alone right now. Zero Dream The pair stopped as they first heard him speak, though it was Lenneth who seemed to react first - giving a bow of respect. It seemed Ankou had filled her in on how to properly interact with other deities, though it seemed little of that made it into her interactions with him. But then, she seemed to notice something, eyes going from one god to the other. "You two are... ?" They looked very nearly nothing alike ! Though... this one had a similar... familiarity to him, but not as much as Ankou... It was when the Spirit Guide crossed his arms and cleared his throat that she remembered just what she had been asked. "Ahhh, yes... I will see you later, then ?" She said, and then she was gone, zooming toward one of the teahouses. "...Do not mind her." The god said, once she was out of earshot. "She is... simply a little overly curious."Thabara Nergal seemed appreciative, at least, of her show of respect, acknowledging her bow and greeting with a slight nod of his head. "Brothers," he replied softly, just before Ankou reminded her that she was to leave them.
"Who is she?" he inquired, once she was out of earshot. He was using his experiences with Echo for this, so she most certainly was.
The way she had shown immediate respect, but even more so, the faint hint of recognition - or something very close to it at least - in her eyes ... Zero Dream "Lenneth" Ankou answered, shaking his head slightly. "One of the mortals I wound up leading toward here." He did not mention how, or when. That, and their respecting reactions and support of each other as the sky was swallowed right before their wide eyes, was his - no, their secret to keep.
"Though..." He started, then shook her head again. "She is slightly more... clingy than the rest of them." To him of all, even though there was certainly more powerful and physically impressive deities dwelling this place to catch attention away from the Guide - as it had happened multiple times already.
His expression turned pensive, however. "But there is something about her... I cannot quite find just what, but..." Thabara "She seemed to recognize me ..." Nergal said tentatively. A host, perhaps? But no, that couldn't be. Certainly he would have noticed the presence of another of their kin. "Though I cannot say I have met her before. Her face is unfamiliar." Zero Dream "Did she... ?" He had not noticed. That... was rather odd. "Maybe she saw you at the ritual... ?" Nergal, indeed, stood out rather clearly even among a crowd, he had come to learn.
"So." he let his arms fall to his sides again, yellow-gold eyes taking in a small glint of mischief. "Just what brings you in the great outdoors for once ? Knowledge kicked you out of the library ?" Thabara "For that I would have had to meet him in the first place," Nergal remarked sullenly. He either ignored the mischief in his brother's tone and gaze, or - more likely - did not even notice it in the first place.
"No, I ... will be leaving. Fairly soon, probably." Zero Dream "Leaving ?" The god seemed to grow serious once more, one eyebrow rising. That seemed a rather odd concept, for once that would hardly skitter out of the library, or probably could not even be removed from Echo's side even with a crowbar.
Unless...
"...Would that be the kind of leaving I think it might be ?" He said, but then... "Come on." He gestured for him to come and follow him, as he trailed away from the door and toward somewhere more private. Thabara "Hm." His tone was vague, and he slowly trailed after his brother, the step of his bare feet barely causing a sound, if any at all.
"To try and restore my realm, yes," he added quietly, after they had walked some distance away from the Pantheion. "It was pointed out to me -" there wasn't any need to mention by just whom "- that it should have been within my power to do so ever since I have been fully reborn. And in fact ... I have not tried once since my return." He lowered his gaze. There was no need to mention the return from what either. They both knew. And the pain and mental scars of his time being held captive by the Demon Lord still ran deep. He shivered.
"Still, I am not certain I can do this. The Festival of the Dead tired me out so much, and it was only one night, only one very small area ..." He shook his head, doubt quite visible on his features. "I may fail and be back quite soon." But should I succeed ... Zero Dream "I see." He answered, not exactly sure what else he could say - he was not exactly the one to go to for comforting, but his brother most likely knew that. "...But that was different, was it not ?" He said, after a pause, and continued once he realized he was not being very clear. "The day of the dead... Where the dead walked with the mortals, seen and heard by all... That is not quite the same thing than containing them, was it not ? You were, in a sense, acting against your own nature, which may have made it harder ?"
... Maybe. He had no idea, and was not trying to pretend that what he was saying made sense.
"Is there anything you think I may be able to do ?" He asked, though, with the look in his eyes and on his face, it seemed the Spirit Guide already knew the answer. There was [i]nothing he could do, especially as he was right now... but still, he had to ask. "And what... if things go wrong ?" He did not like to think about it, but... it was a possibility. Thabara "Possibly." Nergal blinked. He hadn't looked at it from this point of view yet, only remembered just how worn out and tired he had felt after the day of the dead. But ... yes, there might be some truth to the Spirit Guide's words. Focusing outwards, to manifest the dead within the realm of the living, and inwards, on his own realm ... these would indeed be two wholly different matters.
"Not yet," he replied softly, shaking his head. "Not now. Once my realm is restored, however, you shall regret you ever offered your help." For the smallest moment, there was a downright grin on Underworld's face, wide and mischievous. But it only lasted for a split second, so it just as well might have been Ankou's imagination.'And what ... if things go wrong?'Could they, really?
"I do not think I will be in any real danger, no matter what. However, depending on how things go, there might be a backlash of sorts, or I may simply collapse from exhaustion." He shrugged, not seeming overly concerned. Exhaustion, at least, he'd always been able to recover from with enough rest. "I asked Echo to come after me, should I not return within a month and a day. The time span seems too short to me, but to her, I figured ... well." He gave a sheepish smile. Zero Dream "Oh, really, would I now ?" He grinned in turn, though his own could in no way be attributed to imagination. "That would make me out to be a rather poor Guide in that case, would you not think, to not wish to do what I do ?" Really, he rather hoped Nergal was kidding, or he would most likely be rather offended by the statement.
"For her, it would likely feel like centuries." He finished that sentence, his expression turning serious once more. He could not think that gentle and emotional Music must have taken the news well, no. "...And the children ?" Sotiris would probably be rather delighted, but... the other two ? Akakios expecially, who seemed rather attached to his father, might end up being a somewhat complicated matter... Thabara "So many have died ..." For a moment Nergal's gaze grew distant, unfocused. "It will be busy. But I would not ask more of you than you are capable of doing. I do know the limitations by this rebirth through mortal soul, flesh and bone all too well from my own experience." The limits, and the vulnerability.
"That is what I thought. She seemed ... relieved that I asked her, and it is better to do something - anything at all, however futile the action - than to just sit and wait for things to happen. I would not demand so of her. Nor of you, really."
But the children ... "I have not really paid a thought to them," he admitted. "I am not quite sure how to handle it." Zero Dream "As if I did not already know." He said, as he finally reached one of the empty tea houses and stared a bit ahead before sitting. The line of renewal, so to speak, seemed to have reached outward... or was it his imagination ? At any rate, he knew that this just may be the last time he would see his brother for quite awhile, and planned to make use of it as he should. One curious crow was perched in a tree nearby, watching the gods with apparent curiosity.
"War, Plague, Famine... These were the worst times, baring the Hell collapsing." One hand reached to his temple, as if to chase away some kind of phantom pain. "There were so many, at the same time. I could barely think, let alone attempt to ignore them, to unnaturally tone them out..." It was the first time he had actually talked of it of what it truly was - others had, of course, noticed his discomfort, but he had never explained it. "They all Called... and I could not Answer."
There was nothing he could do. Nothing at all, save wait for it to pass in order to at least regain some kind of use in the tasks at hand.
"...I am afraid I do not know just what would work." He admitted. It was quite an odd predicament, and not something he could easily answer. Thabara "I ..." He hesitated, reaching out with one cold hand to touch upon his brother's forehead, running his fingers through the soft, multicolored strands of his hair. "I was deaf to their voices for the time I was taken, my powers bound. I would never have that kind of silence again ... It drives you mad." He shuddered. "And then, when it all flooded back after the bindings had been broken, my powers having grown so much stronger in the meanwhile - the effect was almost the same."
"And yet ... I ignored them. How could I ignore them for so long?" He looked at Kou as if he was seriously expecting him to answer that question. There had been a time once, shortly after his rebirth, when he had been itching, yearning to restore his realm, right now. When had he grown to become so hesitant? No, afraid, rather. Zero Dream "I..." Ankou answered, eyelids falling closed, and remaining still, not once trying to move away from the cold fingers that had taken residence on his forehead. He had his own ideas, of course, of why, but he was not sure if he wished to voice them aloud - for Underworld would not be likely to like the answers he had to give, even if he would probably agree to them. Usually, he would not have cared but...
Not now.
Not today.
"I think you most likely already do know why..." He said, softly. He wanted to reach out and try to offer comfort of his own, though he had no idea how his elder brother would take it, after all this - as comfort, or as unwelcome intrustion. "But that does not matter. You should focus forward... not backward. It is the future that is important... the past is set in stone. The important thing is that you manage to get over those reasons, those fears and... do."
"And." He said, lips curling into a smile. "I know you. It would make you rather irritated to have left unfinished buisness behind." He was refering to Aristogeiton, of course, but Nergal would know that. "Among other things." Thabara "Mh," Nergal said rather vaguely, though the tone of his voice seemed to indicate agreement. "Everyone leaves unfinished business behind who enters my domain. Why should I fare any better, eh?"
"However, that does not make it any easier for me ... I long for the past, when everything was certain - even if it did, ultimately, lead to my downfall. Now ... Now I feel like I am walking blindfolded all the time, never knowing if there will still be stable ground where I choose to make my next step, or a bottomless pit."
He withdrew his hand from his brother's face, chosing instead to sit down next to him. "I should probably take a cue from my daughter," he said with a wistful smile. "Her lack of sight surely does not keep her from running about and exploring. And if she falls and hurts herself ... Well, she cries like a banshee, but a little later she is back up and running as if nothing ever happened."
He remained silent for a while before he quietly added: "I ... have a feeling I may not return. I did not tell Echo, but it is the reason - one of several - I asked her to come after me. I do not wish to be alone, and if only she will come for me I know I can face my fears and ... do this." He nodded solemnly, as if feeling the need to affirm his own words, but then he smiled. "I need to be ready for the next Day Of The Dead after all, do I not? It was ... quite exhausting but --" there was the tiniest bit of hesitation before he finished his sentence "-- fun. In a way." Zero Dream Ankou only gave a chuckle at Underworld's first comment, kicking back to lean against the sides of the small teahouse - leaving him balancing carefully on two chair legs. His host had been a master of the art, a long time ago, and the god still did so without noticing it from time to time, just like now.
"It may seem odd, perhaps... But sometimes, the fall end up being the fun part. Sometimes it is not, and sometime it is far from it... You cannot honestly tell before it is time but... it is all part of the thrill. I would rather walk and fall than stand and die." One eye slid open, small flakes of gold dancing in the bright iris before the color settled on yellow once more. "But then, that seem to be a point where we differ. Perhaps it has always been this way. I do agree that you should learn from your lovely daughter on this point... But perhaps not too much." His smile turned into a smirk. "...If we were both like me, nothing would likely get done." He was probably joking, but that was a bit hard to tell.
"I rather prefer you alive... so to speak." The next part was spoken without hesitation. "It is good, that she will go. It gives you something to cling to, no matter what ends up happening down there. And..." He paused, then shook his head. "Given my current... state, It is quite possible that things would not go so well if I attempted to do such myself." There was, after all, a reason why life tended to spark after a realm was stable... or so he believed. Thabara "There is nothing fun about falling," Nergal remarked unhappily.
"I will go through the catacombs. There is a Gate down there which has worked for me before - only it led to nothing, and the void beyond refused to even contain me. My presence was repelled. That was, however, before all that was still mortal was purged from this body. I have not tried again since." It was easier confessing this to his brother than it had been to Echo. Or perhaps it just became easier and less painful every time he repeated it.
"How to make a new realm from scratch from this, however ... I am no creator of things." He gave a lopsided smile. "I just hope I will be able to come up with something once I am there. Does this fit your idea of heading forward without caring about the danger of falling?" Zero Dream The Spirit Guide chuckled. "You... certainly need to stop taking things so literally..." He figured that on that train of thought, however, that one was falling with no wings to fly away, the fun factor did diminish rather greatly...
It was all so easy to speak as an outside observant, though... Had he been the one required to do such a thing... To be honest, he did not know how he would have reacted, if he would have dashed head first into it as he liked to pretend, or if he would have hesitated, waited... been afraid as well. This, however, he did not admit out loud.
"Hmmm." The Spirit Guide seemed rather pensive. "I did not remember that there had been a gate so close by..." Rather handy. in fact. Though maybe he did know, but that this particular world plane had not been important enough in his mind before now to truly notice.
"Rather nicely, in fact." He commented. "Though, it might be difficult to get there... As I expect the underground structures might have given in to Decay." Thabara He'd had his share of falls, and they all had hurt plenty, so his only reaction to his brother's advise for the time being was an irritated huff.
"It is no True Gate, I think ... A spirit door, at a shrine of worship, for only the dead to pass, just as it once was the rule for every grave, every tomb on the height on my reign. No mortal could ever hope to pass through these, though my servants or gods ... mayhaps. It worked for me at least, that is all which counts for now. But the True Gates ..." He frowned, brows furrowing as he tried to remember. "They would be rather well hidden, deep within the bowels of the Earth ... possibly still warded against trespassers ..." He sighed and then shrugged.
"The catacombs should be safe enough. They have been made to withstand millenia - and have indeed done so - so while Decay may have caused considerable damage and collapse, I should still be able to find passage. The dead will find way for me." Zero Dream "Of course." He would not expect them to be otherwise, but... it was likely that it's guardians were gone, with only the wards assuming safety, if they had not collapsed in turn. That the only thing that kept it safe was it's location.
And the fact that there was only an gaping void left behind to swallow the curious... A void where there had once been so many people and things.
Aoidei, servants, valkyries, some mortal souls caught in the fray....
He did not like that thought, so he pushed it away.
That did sound right, though, so the Guide's only answer to the statement was a nod. Thabara Some of the sense of loss he felt must have been blatantly visible upon the Spirit Guide's face however, because Underworld reached out once more, to rest his hand on his brother's shoulder reassuringly.
"It will be remade," the elder god promised with a certainty he didn't feel himself, but none of his doubt was allowed to seep into his voice. "No matter what it will take, or how long, the realm of the dead will be again. And for you and I ... a place to call home." The smile he offered to the younger was surprisingly warm, gentle. While his own unease at being forced to exist on the plane of the living had lessened some, it had never wholly disappeared. He didn't belong here. He could only guess his brother felt similarly. Zero Dream It was hard to remain harder to read in presence of his brother - he always just seemed to know what was going on in his mind, no matter what.
"I know." He answered, shaking his head once more, as if the chase the thought away. It was not that he was uncomfortable here, in the living world, so to say - but there was something missing. Some comfort gone, so to speak. Some place to be able to retire to at will without most being able to follow.
As is, he felt... idle. Purposeless. Perhaps that was what was bothering him so much.
The crow flew toward them, and the god reached an arm out to allow the bird to perch, oddly enough remaining steady even as the bird's talons talons sank into his flesh, causing no trail of blood in their wake. "...They are starting to find me again, now." He commented. Trying to change the subject, perhaps ? "So little remain now, it seems... Before all this, they tended to follow Adrian in flocks. He used to be rather unsettled by it." Thabara "They were there to my aid occasionally. Because of our connection, mayhaps ..." He stretched out his arm as well, wondering if the huge black bird would take the invitation. "Do not worry. There is food in abundance for those who are left." He was talking of the carcasses and corpses of course, left in the wake of the calamity they had just barely been able to avoid. "They will live. And they will breed." Zero Dream "They remember, of course. They are rather smart." It was obvious that the god held affection for the black birds. "I know that all will be well, as they thrived just fine in Destruction's reign, from what I could see of it... But it was odd, to see so many, and then see none."
"Maybe even somewhat depressing."
The crow watched, though showed no want to move from it's perch, moving to start preening one wing. It took a few jerks of the god's arm before the bird did react, scampering over to the other outstretched, less mobile arm, to resume the preening. Thabara "They must be, as they even knew to protect Aislin back then, when she was merely holding the gem bearing my essence." It seemed so long ago, and yet it only had been a mere few years. "They scared her, I think." Creepy birds, those were her thoughts. "Isn't it ironic that they would remember, when the mortal races would not?"
He didn't flinch when the huge, black bird took up residence on his arm. Its talons were sharp, but not sharp enough to break divine skin. He tentatively ruffled its feathers after a moment's hesitation, and then looked at Ankou again. "You too, do come for me, once you are ready. By the time, maybe, halls will be ready to your welcome and rest, Guide of the Dead." Zero Dream "Instinct over memory, perhaps ?" He wondered aloud, finally allowing himself to fall back on all four chair legs with a soft thud. "Adrian.. though them odd, at first. But he seemed to grow quite attached to them, and seemed a bit upset once they were gone..." He shrugged a bit.
"I hold no doubt on that regard." His expression seemed to lighten once more. "You were always the efficient one." Odd that such comments came so easily, even with little to no memory backing them up. Thabara "Perhaps. Perhaps I should take a cue from them as well then."
"Once I have left ... Should you notice ... something that would point to me having succeeded, could you let Echo know please? She would worry less then, I think." Zero Dream "Perhaps."
At the last comment, Ankou nodded, though he had turned his head to look out the distance. He had no idea what time it was - it was hard to do so, with no sun - and how long he had been gone, but he had yet to see a spazzy catgirl barrel in his direction, so it could not have been that long.
"Do not worry... I shall." Thabara Nergal slightly inclined his head to show his gratitude. "She has no way of telling herself, so she must rely on those with skills such as you or Akakios. Or mortal mediums even. To have chosen a wife whose domain of ruling is so completely unrelated to my own ... such a bother." He was joking of course, such was obvious from his smile.
"Well then, there are still things I need to take care of ..." He slowly rose from his seat, careful to not upset the crow perching on his arm too much with a sudden move. Zero Dream "Though, who knows if Akakios will realize it for what it truly is..." He commented, though he seemed uncertain - he believed that there was, indeed, a chance that the boy could tell.
He did not especially WANT him to go, no, and a frown was visible for a split second before he managed to force it away. "I should most likely be going as well." The Guide said, watching as the crow repositioned itself on the more stable perch that was his brother's shoulder before getting up as well. "Jinx must be wondering why I did not return with Lenneth..."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:35 pm
Questions He had debated weither or not to go for quite some time. Part of him wished to – wanted to see his brother off properly, and after all, Nergal would not have told him of the day and time had he not wished for his presence, after all. On the flipside, that moment... was not for him. It would be for Echo, for the children. It would be almost like if he would be intruding, even if the thought felt somewhat silly. Was he, after all, not part of that family ? Uncle to the children, as Echo herself often reminded him ? In the end, he had decided to go. Alone, even as Jinx had initially insisted to go as well – though it was easy enough to get her to let go of that idea. The kitten, after all, knew exactly which of her lord's orders she could contest and which ones she could not. That had not been one she could deviate from. He had gone, but he had mostly remained silent – only nodding when Nergal had actually looked his way, offering only silent support. He could see Echo's mixed emotions rather well, but also how she had kept them in check. The children did not look like they quite realized what was going on... The Spirit Guide could only hope that this would not cause problems in the future, as it seemed there were no explanation given to them, or that if there had been, that they did not quite understand. He had returned to the pantheon among the rest of the small group, but broken away just as they reached to go back to the second floor with the rooms – instead, he darted off toward one of the teahouses, expression as serious and blank as it had remained so far. He stopped just before he would enter, on the first steps, and called out. ”Lenneth ?””Lord Ankou... ?” The answer came rather quickly, with her blonde-haired head peeking out of the window, confusion filling her brown eyes. He could understand why – usually, it was her that sought him out, not the other way around. ”Is something wrong ? You look...””I am fine.” The god answered, in a tone that made it very clear that her attempts to pry would be useless. ”Much is on my mind, is all... Are you busy ?””Do you want to go scavenging again ?” The teen asked, as she moved back inside to exit though the front and meet up with the god. ”Not especially, unless you wish to.” Ankou shrugged, trailing off as she came outside, the young girl falling into step beside him easily, as he had intended. ”There is some things I would like to ask you...””Being ?” The girl glanced upward at him – was that worry in her eyes ? What for ? ”Nothing serious.” He said, in an attempt to reassure her, then continued. ”Nergal... he... reminded you of something, hadn't he ?” ”Well...” The girl seemed to hesitate a bit. ”He seemed familiar... There was just something about him... I could not quite place it... I probably just saw him somewhere. He does seem to have a.... very strong presence.””He tends to have that effect.” Ankou nods, amusement trailing on his expression. ”The ritual, perhaps ?”The girl does not answer at first, which causes the Spirit Guide to understand instantaneously that something was wrong, and eventually she seemed to give in under his glance. ”I know you said that was really important and all....” She hesitated again. ”...I didn't go. I was scared.” If the teen feared some sort of divine retribution, it did not come. Instead, Ankou shrugged. ”Oh well.””...You're not mad ?” Lenneth finally dared to look up at him again. ”Disappointed maybe.” The god shrugged once more. ”But not mad. I can understand the fear in such things.” Had he not been afraid, himself ? Felt his heart skip beats in his chest as he rushed for Creation as he fell out of the cocoon ? Had they not all stared, for one moment, fearing the worst ? ”...Im sorry.” The girl's eyes went downcast once more. ”It was all you ever truly asked of me and... I didn't even do it.””Learn from it, then. That's what mistakes are for.” Indeed, the Guide was not mad, or at least, none if it could be betrayed in his expression. ”If not then... Hm.””He just feels... different. He catches attention... Yet I can't shake the feeling I've seen him before. ...Just like you, actually, but not as strong as you.””Hm ?” Clearly, that got his attention, and Lenneth hesitated. ”Ever since that night... I've felt drawn to you. I don't know why, but... It's like things in my life only started being right ever since I met you, if that even makes any sense. Like if something had been missing, but it's not anymore....As he had thought. ”He is Underworld. And I am the Guide of the dead.” He pondered for a moment. A connection to the both of them ? A reincarnation ? ...Could he dare hope... ? The god stopped walking, and Lenneth did in turn, confused at the sudden stop. And then, Ankou did what he should probably have done in the first place. He Looked. Her soul was different than the one he had seen so far. There was definitively something ancient rooted in there. Sleeping. An aoide ? No, it was not quite right... But he could not tell more. Which left one question – should he tell her ? She was not aware, of course. But... perhaps it would be best to wait until he was sure, until he had more answers to give. ”...Why are you staring at me like that ?” That wasn't very accurate – it looked more like he was starting though her, at something unseen. She was not sure she liked this. ”Nothing important.” Ankou answered, shrugging and starting to walk once more. That seemed to be the end of that, and there was silence until she spoke once more. ”...Are you two really brothers ? You look nothing alike.”...This was rather amusing, and such a... mortal way to put it. Almost endearing even. ”Of course we are. Some will use the term 'brother' and 'sister' to refer to those they are closest to. Even in the more literal sense that you are familiar of, it is perfectly possible for siblings to look literally nothing alike, or even look little like their own parents.” He quite wondered, to this day, just where Sotiris had come from. Lacrymosa looked mostly like those memories of a blue skinned, ashen-haired Nergal peering at his host, and Akakios seemed to draw heavily from his mother with some of his father's traits scattered here and here on a smaller scale. While Sotiris did quite act quite the part of his father's son, he just looked nothing like his parents, color-wise. ”That's really weird !” She chirped with a smile, even if her companion remained mostly neutral and just the slightest bit distant. The young girl never seemed to care much – perhaps she had been alone for so long that now, any company was better than none ? ”If you would like to think so.” But it seemed like the girl had gotten what she wanted, after all – there was the slightest hint of an amused smile on the god's lips. "He's Underworld, you said ? Is is like in the books and stuff ? Ill get so see it one day, right ?” The question was rather naive and innocent – of course she would get to see it... once she passed on. ”You will.” It was all he said, and he moved on to her other inquiry quickly. ”I figure it may have been like that once – mortals books at least mostly get some things right, like the rivers... But who would know now... It is being remade... so It might very well be completely different.” But he doubted it. Nergal was too attached to the past. And he did not wish to admit it out loud, but there would would be some comfort with home looking and feeling like home at least on a basic level. ”I guess that makes sense.” Lenneth admitted. ”That must be so much work... going around all those worlds to take the ghosts there. How many worlds are there ?” Brown eyes were wide in curiosity. For some reason, it was extremely endearing. Lenneth was, indeed, quite curious, smart, and quick on her feet for a child her age. Though there was indeed a part of her that was ancient, even if she did not notice it. ”I miss it. And I do not think I have ever counted. But there were many, little Lenneth.” ”Hey ! Im not little !” The girl pouted. ”You'll be very busy... you won't forget about me then, right ?””As if I could.” His face quite suddenly turned to a mock-pout, the fact it was fake easily betrayed by the previous light teasing. It was odd.... but in a sense, it was harder to be withdrawn from Lenneth than to the other mortals. Maybe it was all a terrible mistake of his, but he would deal with it as the time came. ”Assaulting me with all those questions, driving me mad...””Brat.” She pouted, equally kidding herself. ”I doubt that is the right way to address a god, Lenneth.” He rose a brow, playfully. ”Many would be very upset but such an insult...””But you're not. And you're still a brat.” The blonde-haired girl grinned. ”Let's go do something. Im bored.”And so, the rather unusual pair was on it's way.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:35 pm
Invisible Signs Calm and quiet had fallen about the building of the pantheon, as most of it's inhabitants, mortals and even some deities, rested and slept. It was nighttime, if he was to base himself from the means mortal used to tell the time, from what little clocks had withheld Decay, or been mended afterward. Though it was hard to tell from simply looking. It was dark all the time now, as it had been since the sky had been eaten. If there was still sun, then he had not seen it since that day. Neither stars or clouds - the only thing that loomed over their heads was inky blackness, deep and absolute. He figured that, if the other worlds still existed, then so did the stars, the moon, the sun and the clouds, as well as many other sky occurrences he most likely overlooked - but as there was nothing to link then, they were unseen - separated from each other totally. There was one place where the lack of sky, that inky blackness was perfectly acceptable, and the living world was not it. It felt less uncomfortable than it most likely felt to most, deities and mortals alike, who were not used to such thing. It reminded him of home. Perhaps it had been one of the many constant reminder to Nergal of just what he had been doing. No wonder that he had been antsy, so eager to go and do. He could understand that. The crow perched on his arm gave an indignant caw, causing the opposite arm to reach up and run though the black bird's feathers. This seemed to calm the beast, and the Guide remained where he was, on the balcony attached to his rooms, back against the wide glass door. He had just finished putting some small enclaves and a set of wooden dowels mimicked tree branches, made from scrap wood, in an attempt to encourage the birds to nest in a place that was somewhat safe, closest to the renewal, and where there was more food than other spots. The idea had came to him when he'd noticed Infinity perched on the white fence-like ledge while Cosine was inside, waiting for the door to be opened for her so that she may enter. With this odd system in place, there would be more comfortable perching spots, for her as well and any other crow that may be attracted by his presence. Other birds would likely enjoy it, too, though he was quite sure the crows would chase them away. They tended to do that, he noticed, and he was not quite sure why - territorial issues, perhaps ? If one of the Animal pair was reborn, this may be an interesting question to ask them if he ever met them. There were small lights that trailed nearby, will 'o the wisps that lingered, as if confused as to where the one they sought had suddenly gone to, where he had been close by a mere day prior. Tiny lights in the darkness. His fingers moved, giving one last stoke on the crow's belly, to reaching upward. The small lights seemed to hesitate, but some came closer, curious of this odd person most likely, the most daring of the bunch curling itself around his fingers, sensation cool and soft against his skin, constantly moving. Did they recognize him for who he was ? The Spirit Guide had no idea. He was not the one that these small souls felt drawn to. As far as he knew, they might only react like this due to being curious of this man who could see them, and was not afraid. A nice, peaceful moment... it did not last. Suddenly, there was some kind of force - something that fluttered in and out of his consciousness, as if teasing yet not. The god perked his head upward, the wisp that had taken residence around his fingers darting off suddenly. He knew what this was, instinctively. It was a call. The next second, the Spirit Guide was up on his feet, ignoring the protest of the crow at it leaped a bit to rest on his shoulder instead. He reached out with his mana, his power, and made one of the bigger ghosts stop. It was shaky at best - the call was much, much stronger than his beckon, his order to stay still. This would not take long. "Tell Him." Ankou's brow narrowed, the few seconds of hold taking enough effort to bring sweat to his forehead. Every word important and stressed even as the simple act tired him so. An order, nothing less, even as he struggled. "That She will know."Then he let the ghost go, very nearly recoiling from the backlash at it darted off as fast as it could. He would know. And so would she, unless her son... their son, his nephew... had not done so first. It was the only thing he could do for now.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:37 pm
Shards For The Throne SkieBorne It was another round of routines, another day of searching for the God of Forests and his host. The glass they had collected was finally beginning to look like more then broken containers and bins of glass slivers. There was a sense of accomplishment about them as they observed their collection, tucking a small cup in with the other drinking vessels. Even with the destruction of Gehenna hadn't managed to shatter everything, these little treasures had remained.
Smiling, Glyph turned and headed out into the hallway that connected the apartments of the gods. Where had he not checked yet? Perhaps a notice on the corkboard below would prove helpful, more people passed by there then he could speak to in a day.
A few minutes later, he stood before the noticeboard, surprised as always at the number of notes tacked on. Most were old, stained and ripped and posted over by newer notes but they were there. Malh'reth smiled, Even among the gods, a central notice board is of use.
Glyph nodded, "Indeed." He scribbled his note and stuck it up, front and center and hoped it might catch attention. Zero Dream For someone else, it seemed, today was another round of what had became routine. It kept him busy, even if Anima still thought the task to be below him.
He had not cared back then, and he did not care now. Anything was better than staying shut in between four walls, and all the better to have some sort of use in the process. And it was the reason that the Spirit Guide could be seen heading back to the pantheon, a ratty old bag that had clearly seen better days slung over one bare shoulder, turning to enter the main building. SkieBorne Turning away from the board and heading out once more, Glyph nodded at Ankou then stopped a few paces away as Malh'reth suddenly grabbed hold of his body. The mage hadn't done that in a long while and the god rumbled questioningly. "I recognize that aura, Glyph. An... An something. Opened the door when we went to Baadris."
I'm aware of who it was. Ankou, the one Cosine was familiar with. Is that important? Glyph seemed to frown slightly, disliking having command of their body quite literally yanked from him.
"Yes, it is. I wanted to know what the doors worked like." He replied as he turned, smiling as he reached for Ankou in a gesture of greeting, "I have not seen you in a long time, Ankou. Thank-you for your help in reaching Baadris, it turned out be rather important in the end, I think." Zero Dream It was the aurion's voice that made his steps trail, then eventually stop. He had seen this... those two somewhere, hadn't he ?
The answer to the unspoken question came on it's own, and he nodded in acknowledgment, "It has been... And so I have noticed. I require no thanks, at any rate - it was the least I could do." Especially after Cosine had initially asked him to come, and he had stayed behind... Even if the events that had followed had proven that it had most likely been the best thing to do. SkieBorne "Even so," he replied with a shake of his head, "I still say thank-you. It was quite the adventure... and the people we brought back needed along with their precious, sacred flowers. How have you been? It's been almost too quiet now. We keep expecting something more to turn up." Malh'reth turned slightly to view the lush grasses and greenery of the outdoors, their auras a pleasing riot of colours for the Aurion, "Were you enjoying the revival of the Pantheon grounds? Glyph was quite pleased by them... we've been outside nearly every day now."
The mage chuckled. Strange how before he'd struggled against Forest's influence and now he almost relaxed into it. Zero Dream Quiet indeed. The Spirit Guide has no doubt that this was not over... far from it in fact. But until they either showed themselves up again or they found them... Which would most likely be too early for the god no matter what... there was little that could be done about the Grigori.
"I have been trying to enjoy the quietness while it lasts." He nodded. "And I have found means to keep myself busy... going though ruins and gathering what can be reused by the mortals. Slightly unorthodox, perhaps, but I have far less chance of sustaining injury than they do." Every life was precious, in times like these, and should not be cut short prematurely.
"How have you and the one you bear been ? He... is Forest, is my memory is correct ? Surely the change must be pleasant to him..." SkieBorne Malh'reth blinked at that and grinned, "We've been doing something similar, actually. Glaucon and Glyph approached Hardmodius and asked if they could do anything for Him. They were sent to gather glass. I'm not sure what for, but we're gathering a fair bit. It's been difficult though, because what we have to find are vessels capable of holding water so shards aren't particularly useful."
The mage nodded, "And even then, the Baadris pilgrims work with glass quite a bit so perhaps they might be able to re-fashion shards if we build a forge for them." Malh'reth smiled, "Yes, Forest. We have been alright, quite busy with the glass I mentioned. There's more reason to linger now that the grounds have come alive once more. I only wish we could truly see it." He tapped his temple with one long finger, "But I've grown used to it and it's beautiful in it's own way." Zero Dream "I see... I have yet to find anything that would have been whole enough to be able to hold water, so I can only hope that they have had a better luck than I have. I figured something could be done with even shards, which is why I gathered them... I could give you what I found, or you could let the people from Baadris know to come and seek me out if they wind up with a forge ?" The god stopped for a moment, apparently thinking about something for a moment. "Lady Karaskis would most likely be rather useful for a project like this... have the both of you met her ?"
Something else seemed to catch his attention. "Truly see it ?" It was the god's turn to be curious, now. Was the man blind ? No, it didn't seem like so from his words... SkieBorne "Give the shards to us, if you would. We've a collection gathered in Glyph's room so that there are not piles of broken glass dotted about the Pantheon." The mage paused when Ankou did, blinking at the mention of Karaskis, "Lady Karaskis? No... I do not believe we have met her. How do you think she would be of help?"
Malh'reth's gaze turned back to the god before him and he smiled sadly, "Yes, truly see. I am an Aurion... sensitive to magic and fluctuation in such. My..." he paused, wondering at the wisdom of this admission and then forced the hesitation aside. If Ankou or any of the others had wanted his horn, they would have stolen it long ago, "my horn is my connection to the ambient energies of the world. I channel my abilities via that pathway and my senses are made stronger for it. When I'd first arrived here, there was a shockwave of mana that stole my vision from me and struck me temporarily deaf. I see but I do not see... everything is a mass of auras and mana lines to me, no detail unless I touch it and I cannot touch all the world." Zero Dream "She is of Fire." The god answered, walking off in a slow pace toward the back, where materials had been piling up as of late. "I must assume she would likely be able to generate a flame burning high enough to be able to melt glass easily." She was his first thought, at any rate, the second the idea of a forge had been brought up. Her assistance would likely come of use, though he had seen little of her as of late.
When the aurion started to elaborate on his horn and his sight, the god fell quiet and listened. A great shockwave... Gehenna, perhaps ? It would make sense to assume such. Many had died outright, so to think that some might have sustained some kind of damage was a possibility. "So you only see though the magical energies gathered though your horn, and not your eyes anymore ?" The god's tone was idly curious, and it definitively did not look like he was interested in the horn in any other way than idle curiosity on the matter. If that was true, then it was perhaps no wonder that he had seemed to interested by the Door back then. SkieBorne "I see!" He smiled at Ankou's suggestion and nodded, tucking that information away for later. If they could build a forge and have Lady Karaskis sustain the fire... then this would prove far easier then the Aurion had anticipated. "Thank you."
Again the mage nodded, "I believe so. Take my horn away and I'd be blind... it is not something I like to dwell on, as my profession depends on the visual. I do not know what you truly look like, only the ebb and flow of your aura tells me who you are." He grinned, "All of the gods possess a strong aura, quite beautiful really, and anything of strong magic or life pulses as well. It's hard to describe if you cannot see the pathways yourself." Zero Dream "I must admit I would be quite lost with a sight like that." It did sound rather interesting, but the god was indeed having issues visualizing it in a way he could understand. "But then... I assume most mortals would be rather freaked out if they saw ghosts." Expecially a few days ago, though now... there was not much to see. Not on this plane, at the very least. The further away worlds, however...
The task remained rather daunting. SkieBorne Malh'reth nodded, "It took me a while to figure things out." The mage sighed softly, "I would rather view the the world without the lines and auras I see now. However, I must admit that when you guided our party to Baadris, the door was quite an incredible thing to witness. Do you rule such pathways? How do they work?" Zero Dream "I do not rule over them." The god shrugged. "But I have used similar means often in the past, to make my... work easier. It seems that I have subconciously retained knowledge of multiple things I used often, though such does not tend to reveal itself unless it becomes relevant."
"Those doors work as gateways to other worlds, activated by the mana of the deity that attempts to use it. At least, it is how it seems to work for me. I assume it could be different for everyone, since each realm of influence is different and manifests itself differently." SkieBorne Malh'reth smiled at that and nodded, "I don't think Glyph remembers much either... I certainly don't. I didn't even know there were gods before I came here. It's been rather eye-opening."Indeed. I remember very little of before the Fading, it has been so long and I wonder at all that's been neglected or forgotten. Glyph sighed, shifting within the shared space of their souls. It bothered him at times, to be both powerless and without memory despite a deeply felt need to do what his nature drove him to do.
Another soft sigh, this one audible as Mal nodded for Glyph, "You'll find your way, I'm sure. You are a god after all." His gaze had drifted past Ankou to the are beyond, making it difficult to discern who he was speaking to.
As the Spirit Guide explained the doors, both Glyph and Mal's attention returned to the god. Activated by a god's mana? "Does that mean the gateway would fail if a god did not tend it while it was in use? And any god can use it, even now?" Forest listened attentively, hoping for a favourable answer as such pathways would be useful in his travels to help realms recover. Zero Dream "Nothingness is unkind. Even for gods... We have faded... Died, Malh'reth. Perhaps we should feel lucky to be able to even remember what little we do."
The god continued his steps, eventually turning to face the aurion once more and sit. "It is quite possible indeed... At one point I was able to hold two pathways open at once... But it was tiring. Draining. I doubt I would have been able to use my powers then, even if I had wanted to. I figure if I can do so, the others must as well... Though for those yet in their stones... I do not know, but it seems unlikely." It wasn't hard to guess that there was a reason for those questions beyond curiosity. "There is little of our selves to spare... I remember it well. I cannot be sure, but it is the impression I get. A god-gem's mana is better spend sustaining itself and it's host." SkieBorne Malh'reth's ears flickered downward as if chastized and he glanced away, voice quiet as he apologized, "I'm sorry..." He pursed his lips some as he studied the way dull mana lines criss-crossed the ground beneath their feet. An awkward silence fell upon the mage as he struggled to find some other topic to discuss, unwilling to speak of deaths and unpleasant things.
Glyph, however, eased the mage aside and lifted his gaze to meet Ankou's, "I do not intend to tempt fate quite yet, do not worry my friend. However, I do plan on lending my aid to the torn worlds beyond this one; to help to ease the burden on Creation and mortals alike. I will keep the doorways in mind and approach you for assistance when the time comes, if that is alright?" He shifted and gazed out at the brightly glowing shapes of the grounds around them, smiling softly, "There is much to repair... we should not be the only ones to enjoy renewal's bounty." Zero Dream "It is nothing." Ankou sounded... confused ? He was not really aware of what he had said that may have bothered the mage so. "Such topics do not bother me in the least. I deal with them often. I am the spiritual guide of the dead, after all." It would be indeed problematic if the idea of death bothered him, wouldn't it ? He kept his amusement to himself, however, less he accidentally make the aurion feel worse about it. He had not meant what he had said as chatizing - simply as a statement to clarify.
But then, it seemed his words were often misinterpreted - perhaps due to his withdrawness of his previous life. He... still had much to learn.
"Certainly... though I cannot promise I will be about. I find myself wandering often these days. I can assure you that we are not the only one to benefit from this... The world is healing over. Slowly, but surely. The renewal spreads.... and I can only assume it is the same for what worlds remain. Though... I am sure our Lord would appreciate your help." They all had their own thing they could do in order to help. He had learned such. Though Glyph's influence would be more apparent than his own. SkieBorne Relief flickered in the eyes of the mage briefly before Glyph responded to Ankou, "I agree. If there is healing here, there will be healing elsewhere... though I do not know to what degree and it is in part because of that that I wish to lend my talents." He rose and moved nearer to the Spirit Guide, offering a hand in friendly parting because he'd spotted his Aoidei lingering a polite distance away, expectant expressions upon their faces, " I do not expect a promise, Ankou, merely wish for a willingness to cooperate. Please excuse me, I do believe I am being called for some reason."He nodded towards where Aisling and Natasha were hovering and smiled wryly as they offered waves to Ankou, looking bashful at having interrupted the conversation. "If you would bring those shards to my room when you are able, that would be appreciated - the two demoness' there will be the ones to receive you if I am not present. Thank-you very much for your help, Ankou, I appreciate it." Smiling warmly, Forest waited a moment before nodding his farewell and moving away. Zero Dream "Ah, well... That I can definitively do." The Guide nodded, offered his own hand in return after a moment, then tilted his head, his glance going to the two demonesses as the shared body of god and aurion went toward them. Glyph's aoidei, he could only presume.
"I shall make sure it is done." Ankou nodded, making his way to his feet once more. "If you have any need of me... I dwell behind the door of crows, forget-me-nots and candles - one of my aoidei, at the very least, should be there. Be well, you and your own."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:38 pm
Keep Your Friends Close... The Spirit Guide wandered, as he often did. It allowed him to mentally map the area, and his own progress at looting though broken buildings. Mapped the locations of where the souls gathered for when that time came. Though it seemed that was no longer relevant - it seemed that none of the dead, at least in this world, this city, so close by to the source, as far as the Guide knew, had the strength needed to resist the call that had gone out a few days ago. To resist the summon. Each of the places he had previously 'mapped' where empty, silent. The streets were empty, to both levels of sight. Everything was silent. It felt odd for him at the moment, even if that would most likely have been considered the 'perfect' state of things as they should be, at least as far as his influence was concerned - the dead being where they belonged - even as he had the feeling said perfection was never truly achieved, at the very least, not like this. It was a cycle - even as he had brought the souls down to the Underworld, at that very minute, very second, somewhere else, another died... a circle without end. A job never truly done. Never perfect. After that there had been so many there, that they had once crowded the streets to his eyes, this emptiness was perhaps the closest to perfection it had ever been ever since Life began - and then ended. Yet, even as he knew that this was the way things should be it felt... odd. Foreign. The surroundings around him felt deceptively empty and silent, beside the never-ending whispers of the dying that he could ignore, but never completely tune out. Maybe it was just odd to see the world as most - including most of the other gods - saw it. Perhaps - "Lord Ankou ?"The god's steps slowed down, but no annoyance was brought to light on his features, nothing but a mix of slight surprise and curiosity. He knew this voice, of course, so he did not wonder who it was. No, it was Lenneth's apparent ability to be able to track him down wherever he happened to be that puzzled him. Or perhaps it was sheer luck. But it seemed rather uncanny. It only added to what he knew - that there was something ancient sleeping inside of the young girl - and to what he suspected... that this something ancient was linked to him. He kept an eye on her for that reason - and had recently come to a decision. It was a good thing that she had found him today - it spared him the work of tracking her down. "Lenneth."With his slower walk, it was easy for her to catch up. "Hey." The blonde grinned, and it was always endearing somehow. She never seemed to quite know just how to communicate to him. It was.... amusing. "The ghosts are all gone..."...At least she was not asking if he had seen. He may not have been able to pretend not be amused by that. Oddly, it was hard to tell if the girl was glad, or if she was spooked by it. If she had the power to See from birth, them maybe it felt every bit as alien to her as it did to him at this moment. "Yes. Nergal has called them.""Really, just like that ?" The girl looked rather amazed. There she went, trying to apply mortal restrictions to the things fully reborn gods did, most likely. "Yes, just like that. They are where they belong now.""Im glad." Brown eyes peered upward to deity. "How is that going ?" Curious, ever so curious. "I have not heard of anything yet. Nergal must be rather busy." The god answered that one question without any hesitation. It was what he believed - that there was nothing else to it than that. "It is a good thing that you found me... though it does seem that I need to hide better." The god faked a thoughtful expression, which made the girl pout. It was always so easy to get reactions out of Lenneth. He... was growing to enjoy her presence, he had to admit to himself recently. To keep mortals close was one thing. To keep a mortal this close felt rather wrong. But then... she was not quite mortal, was she not ? Even if, ultimately, he was not the one she would look to and serve once he could reach toward that ancient part of her soul and figured out just what it was, to keep her safe seemed to be the way to go. "Because there is something I would like to ask you.""Really ?" The girl was still looking at him - barely avoiding the remains of a street lamp with a quick side-step. "And that would be ?"He found himself hesitating, again, even though the god had thought he had finally made up his mind. It seemed extreme, to keep her in his own quarters, in his private living space of all things. It made him squirm inwardly, and he had not even asked Cosine what she thought of it to boot... but he doubted Numbers would mind. He would get used to it. The god could swallow his pride and do that. Beside, knowing the child, she would most likely only come in for sleep, and relaxation. "I would like you to come and stay inside my rooms." There. He had said it. No going back now. "After all, I doubt a teahouse is made for long term living " Some other deities would likely want to use it eventually, and may be quite peeved to see the little human girl there. Why she did not stay with the other mortals was beyond him - she seemed a little eccentric on that part. "You would let me do that ?" Lenneth did not seem convinced. Most likely had caught his hesitation. Think what he would of the child, she was rather bright as far as reading people and deduction went. "Yes. All that I ask is that you try not to bother the servants, or..." Just how could he call Cosine ? "..my lover." To the point and yet still graceful. That would do. "You have a girlfriend ?!" Came the inevitable question. That word, again. Mortals seemed rather fond of it. But it did not quite encompass what he felt for the goddess of Numbers - he had seen many 'girlfriends' go from loved to hated in a brink of an eye. He was not the most outward of gods when it came to feelings, but what he felt for Cosine was not something he had ever felt before. It was hard to put down into a specific word - every words that was related to one's love felt rather lacking, each in different way. There had to be one that fit perfectly, but... he could not find it. He could not remember. Lenneth, however, seemed to mistake that sudden silence for something else entirely. "Oh fine. I promise ill be good." She added with a mock-pout. He had been about to ague that no, his silence had not been due to her question, but decided to let it slide. "Where it is then ?""Upstairs in the main building." He answered. "There is an hallway with multiple doors there. And since I know you will most likely ask." There was a small, amused grin on his face. "Yes, sometimes it gets longer by itself. And yes, most of the rooms behind those doors are much bigger than possible. My door is the one with the crow, the vulture and fields of forgive-me-nots." He held no doubt that the girl would remember. "Take your possessions and go - my aoidei have most likely seen you in my presence by now and will recognize you. The room that will be yours will be the first you see from the entrance, though the girls will likely show you." Ever since the pieces of the consort were taken from it, it had remained empty - Jinx and Anima seemed rather happy still to be sharing the same living space... in spite of all logic. His sentence made it rather clear that he would not return with her - he still had some more places he wished to see, and to gather some more bone for those ornaments... He preferred to do that alone. Lenneth had learned to respect it. It was easier to ask the dead for permission, then - though he figured this was no longer an issue, was it not ? "Allright, I guess ill... see you tonight ?" It seemed rather odd, for the girl. Maybe his request had been more intimidating than he had thought. The Spirit Guide nodded, and the blonde-haired teenager turned and started to run off... though she stopped not so far away. "It's... been a long time since someone did something like that for me. Since someone... cared." She had lost much - he could tell by the tone of his voice. "...Thank you." And with those words, she ran down the street, back toward the pantheon. In spite of himself, the god smiled.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:39 pm
Carving Bone There was so much to do still... So many things to get used to. It was still a bit odd for Cosine to be back to living with him, without the rest of the family taking up space as well. To slide his way into bed late a night and sneak out early each morning as silently as he could, careful not to awaken her. But it was a good kind of weird. One that he was more than happy to get used to. He could hear her even now, in the other side of the room, the sound of quill on paper revealing her presence. He smiled. So much to do yet, but every now and then he tried his best to just sit down and focus elsewhere. The previously mortal body that housed him now, after all, still had it's limit, even though he had already considerably expended and pushed them. So when his muscles protested too much, he stayed in his room and focused on the other task he had given himself instead. That is, the bones. The charms. The crown. It would not do to have a king without a crown, would it not ? But, as it was often the case... his brother had decided to go ahead of him. Oh well. Even so, he refused to rush the charms. Nothing else than perfection could do on this particular matter. At least as close to it as he could manage. Even after all this time, he still had done little on that front. He had found a lot of the base material, indeed. Cosine most likely thought it odd that he had a small bag full of bone... or perhaps not. She had never said a word about it. The problem was working with it. He often had something good going on, but he would overestimate the resistance of the material and shatter it. Sometimes it was so brittle and decayed that the very first attempt to carve anything basically shattered it into dust and tiny pieces. It was rather disheartening at first, but the god had gotten over it. He would simply need to keep at it until he got enough that were solid enough. He had three pristine ones as the only proof of his efforts, carefully carved into ornate hooks. How much would he need ? He did not know. More than he could think was enough, for variety and mix-matching. The patterns on them looked random, but they were not – the god had, in fact, taken the time to figure out to who the bone belonged to, once he got the basic shape down and it looked like they would withhold further carving. Who they were and, most importantly, what they did, and represent them all on the outside. These were not intricate, masterly-skilled carvings by any stretch of the imagination, but they worked well enough. It was hard to figure these things out with his mana still so weak, but the bother was worth it. It was also hard to keep these inexperienced hands from shaking, but he worked his way around that by propping himself against one of the desks. He didn't carve much while laying in bed anymore – not since he started sharing it, anyway. The first had been an artisan, working mostly with fine silks to craft garments for the upper class. A young man devoted to his craft, and to his wife and their young daughter. He died in the time of War, distracting the armed men that rushed into his home while his wife escaped with his daughter. On the ornament was carved tiny notches to stimulate fabric, and the intricate carving of silk and expensive embroidery. That one ornament alone, with all that carving and careful polishing to smoothness, had taken him almost three day on it's own, scattered there and there as he found the time, going by some rather clumpy messy sketches he had jolted down. It was very likely that no one else would have been able to understand what they were if they looked at them. It did not matter much to the Spirit Guide – likely no one else would ever see those, and the ornament was much clearer. The second had been a child – merely 7 years old, full of life and energy, and with a love for the flowers that had grown so scarce in the last few years... at least until the time of Plague came forth and stretched out it's influence like a wave. Her young body was not enough to bear the strain of infections and she died in the arms of her mother. On that ornament, Ankou carved the flowers the girl so loved – simple ones. He had no idea if he would be able to get the likeness of more complicated flowers correctly on such a small surface. He could do better than this once, he was certain, but it was gone. Forgotten. This body was not used to small, intricate movements, as Adrian had rarely used it for such. Hopefully Nergal would understand... if he remembered about this at all. The third was different from the first two, and he hadn't needed to look at it and concentrate on the lingering memory of the soul to figure it out. The very configuration of the bone proved it – it was hollow, and yet oddly strong. He used this to his advantage to create a rather unique shape, and he had to admit it was his favorite of the three so far. The bone had belonged to a fairy, who had followed an human friend into the city to visit – what happened to said friend was unknown to the god, but she died in the first lashing out of Gehenna. The carvings were rather simple, the loose shapes of butterfly and gossamer wings, as well as simple swirls. The ornament's shape on it's own stood out and did not seem to require much. Too much decoration would ruin the effect. Ankou finished the carving on the last one and set it down with the rest, safely into a small plastic container so that it would not get lost. He would have to find something better suited for the task before presenting them to his brother – sheer pride in his work demanded such – but for now this did the job just fine. There was a good thing about Nergal being gone – he no longer had to hide them anymore, in fear of them being seen by their intended recipient before they should have. He pondered looking into the bag for another bone and starting a fourth, but decided against it for now. He'd finalized the second one and did the third one in one sitting... his hands were starting to cramp up. It annoyed him, but the god refused to do sloppy work, and such, the rest would need to wait.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:40 pm
Some More Discoveries Another day brought forth another adventure, so to speak. This one took longer than most others had, as the god and his two companions were reaching outward to the smaller village a kilometer or so uphill from the town the pantheon stood. Or, at least, what had once been a small village. There was little more than rubble and wooden skeletons of broken buildings, still standing mostly by sheer force of will – as Jinx unfortunately figured out as a simple light collision with one of the supporting pillar had sent the whole structure crashing down on her. The catgirl had managed to wriggle herself out unharmed, of course, but her tail had taken the very distinct appearance of a bottle brush, and it was a few minutes before she could coax her fur to no longer have it stand on it's ends. The walls had crumbled for the most part, leaving sometime one or two side of the houses just barely standing with the rest destroyed, almost like a broken shell. There was not a soul to be found. Pretty much literally. It was not quite the uneasy absence and lack of life that he had felt when he had entered the burning city with Eddard, but it came close. It took the god yet another moment to remind himself that this was how things were supposed to be, at least on the spiritual front, and that the state of things that he had grown used to, the multiple ghosts littering the landscape as far as his eyes could see, had been the abnormality. Though this was far from normal in the living front. The village was a ghost town without ghosts, empty, it's inhabitants most likely having moved down to the bigger city for protection. There was still the danger of hostile demons roaming about, though most had either settled down or been dealt with by now. What bodies had been left behind had been picked clean by scavengers, like crows and other beasties, a long time ago, only leaving crumbled white bone behind, most of them too brittle to be of any use for the crown, though the god could get lucky there and there. ”Would you rather go back ?” The god asked, looking over his shoulder at the mortal girl that trailed behind him and his aoide. He could tell that the girl looked somewhat bothered by something. ”No, it's... fine.” Lenneth shook her head and looked away. Even with little experience in such matters, the Guide did not believe that excuse one wit. The girl looked much too pale, and acted much too subdued for her to be 'fine'. The blonde teenager, however, stubbornly refused to turn back, instead carefully sliding into a smaller building, stopping for a moment to kneel. ”Oh...”Ankou backtracked then, standing in the large hole where there had once been a doorframe. What Lenneth held in her hands was a small ragdoll, dirty, missing one button eye and riddled with holes, most of it's stuffing long gone. The girl surveyed it with heavy eyes, and only noticed the god was standing beside her after a few minutes have passed. ”I...””Lenneth. What it is ?” It still surprised the girl sometimes how Ankou could become authoritative without even raising his voice, and how much the little differences in the tone of his voice and in his demeanor actually carried though. ”This is where I lived. Before... Well, you know.” The blonde teen shook her head, and worked herself up. ”I used to babysit the little girl that lived here... She carried that doll everywhere.” There was no telling what had happened to her. Or her family. Or to anyone else that had lived here, on that matter. As far as any of them knew, she was one of the many piles of bone dust that littered the streets. ”Are you sure you do not want to go back ?” The god asked, again, tone still level and patient. It was hard for her to be here, and now he knew why. He could not hold it against her if she wished not to come here again, the home of many happy and tragic memories, from the nearly haunted look in those chestnut-colored eyes. ”No.” The girl shook her head again. ”I need to do this. To come to terms with what happened here. If I don't... then ill't just haunt me forever, you know ?”The god nodded, and said nothing else. If the girl wished to talk about it further, she would. The Guide would not pry. He turned to head back toward the street, stopping once he realized the mortal girl was not following him. ”Do you want to bring it back ? Or leave it here ?”The girl was silent for a moment, wondering why he would ask her something like this... but she then understood, and nodded. ”Ill bring it back, and patch it up with the spare fabric. Ill't make another little girl happy. It's... What Sarah would have wanted.” The blonde slid the doll carefully into the ratty messenger bag at her side and met up with the god and the aoidei once more. ”...Sorry about that.”“Myaaaa... Don't worry.” The cat said softly, squeezing the girl's hand comfortingly. Both Jinx and even Anima had taken to the girl rather fondly, to Ankou's relief. He had figured a mortal so close by might annoy especially Anima, but it had not been so. With that taken care of, the god turned his attention back to the matter at hand. There was glass all over the place, broken windows mostly. He took a special attention to the glass ever since he had been told that Glyph, Glaucon and their hosts had a need for it, and that there may be an actual forge in the future, making sure to bring back as much as he could manage in order to have the artisans of Baadris have something to work with once the time came. Drinking glasses, bowls, vases... simple things that most did not really give much attention to once they were gone, now they were desperately needed, as he had gathered from the aurion. It had been good to see that there were others working toward similar goals than he, and that what he was doing turned out to be useful to a wide range of others. The Guide slid his way though some rubble, his slender shape allowing him to slide his way though the space left by caved-in walls with relative ease, allowing him to slide into what had been another small house. There did not seem to be much here, at first glance – broken glass and wood like much of everywhere else, but it was something much, much smaller that caught his attention, ending up with Ankou crouching to pick up one of the many small objects in between two fingers. A small wooden bead, with a hole in the middle, paint mostly peeled away due to decay. Still, it was particular, and he could not shake the idea that he had seen this once before... He sent the bead spinning up and down in the air a few times before it finally hit him. Cosine's abascus. Her's, of course, was made with glass beads, the small tink tink tink of glass when she used it unmistakeable, and the beads themselves were a little bigger, but he recognized the shape. It only took some more exploration and shifting through debris to find what had once been the base and confirm his guess, as well as the rest of the scattered beads. There would be little truly practical uses for these, but... it all gave him an idea, so he pocketed the ones that were whole. It would make for a fun little side project. After gathering the usable glass, fabric and wood into his own side bag, he had been about to slide his way out until his eyes caught upon a shape in a corner, two wooden shapes. Taking them, he realized that they were a box, the top and the bottom having come unhinged, with the wood chipping there and there. The insides were covered in faded velvet, which betrayed that it may have once been used as a jewelry box, or of something of the sort, even if the top was adorned only with a simple handle with no visible mean to keep it locked. Whatever it was that the box contained, however, seemed long gone, most likely looted long before the god and his companions had made it there. The box itself, however, interested the Spirit Guide more than what it had contained. If the hinge could be fixed, it could also work very well for his purposes... After taking another look to see if he had missed anything else that he could carry on his own, the god slide his way out the same way he had slid in, careful not to push too hard on anything as the dangers of another cave-in were still very well present. When he made his way out, however, there was only his aoide waiting for him. ”Where is Lenneth ?”“She went to check something uphill, myaaa.” Jinx looked rather concerned. “Wouldn't let me follow her. Should we go look ? It's been awhile...” ”We most likely should.” The Guide agreed, and so they went, upper into the hill just as Jinx had said, and Lenneth was indeed there... standing beside two makeshift graves and crying very openly. It was then that it dawned onto him. This had been her house. And those graves... had been her parents. “Lenny !” Jinx all but dashed for the girl's side, but Ankou stayed put, and silent, a few steps behind. The girl had been right in one thing – there was something she had needed to do, in order to be able to go forward with her life. He would wait for her there as long as it would be needed, until the young girl was ready to leave and go back.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:42 pm
Door-Opening : You're Doing It Wrong There had been a knock on his door early in the day – and while Cosine and the aoidei were still asleep, he had awakened some time ago, and was able to answer the door – only to see Echo standing there, shyly, oh-so-scared that she might have bothered him, and requesting assistance. It was... rather endearing. It was hard not to like Music, he had come to know in the times they had spent sharing the same living space. She explained to him the state of things – of her promise to wait one month, then go to see just what was going on if there was to be no message. There had been none. The goddess spoke of her ideas to reach that goals, ideas that the Spirit Guide agreed with for the most part. It was a logical order of progression, going from the easiest means of transportation to the out of the way, complicated ones. He agreed to help with no hesitation – help he would give readily, where he could be able – but the steps... were for her to take. The second she had spoken of the promise they had made... the god had realized it. He had understood what Underworld had meant to happen, and he respected it. She was to find her own strength... and he was to find comfort. Stability. It was dark outside, as every day before this one had been, so it was hard to call it morning, even though he could feel the morning dew under his bare feet. He did not bother with shoes much anymore, unless he was heading outside the pantheon grounds where he was likely to step on something. He trailed a few steps ahead of her even as she stopped, tilting his head to look at the blank sky for a moment, as he often did, but he said nothing. Remaking the sky from nothing... he did not envy the task the Creator had in front of him, and understood very well that such things would take time. It may just be awhile yet before he could see the sun again. Finally tearing himself from the blank span over their head, he turned to look at the goddess ”Are you ready ?””Yes.” She bowed her head slightly ”Thank you, again...” Again. He was glad for the gratitude, of course, but it had been the sixth time that she had uttered those words ever since she had knocked on his door. It was... amusing. ”You are rambling.” The smile that had come on his face, however, faded away as he focused on the matter at hand. ”At any rate... You have done this before ?””Once.” Once. Well. It could have been worse. She could have no idea how to do it, and be looking at him in hope to teach her something only she could figure out. In fact, Ankou was quite certain every deity did things their own way. Perhaps Echo followed sound waves from one place to another. It was interesting to think about. But still, one attempt was better than nothing at all. ”The idea is much the same than what you have done, then.” But that left it on how to word it. He remembered, barely, how he had done it, in ages long gone... Something he had done so often that it was all but inprinted in his mind, where so many other useful things were gone. At least it came in handy now. ”Just think of how you did it... But try to focus downward, instead of walking. Slipping down though the earth.””I understand.” Came the answer, with no hesitation, and she closed her eyes. He could feel it, a faint spike of power around her, and he barely resisted the urge to take a step back in reaction. She seemed on the right track, at the very least... But one minute passed. And another. And then, finally, she opened her eyes once more, looking puzzled. ”I found it, I think... but it... slipped away ?” A frown settled on her face. Slipped away ? That... seemed rather particular. ”Hmmm...” He pondered this, for a moment, but... perhaps he had to see this himself. ”Maybe it would be better to open a Door for you, then.” He had barely finished his sentence that he had turned, zooming back toward the building. Indeed, he needed to see this for himself... Though it was only once she had caught up with him that he saw the uncertainty on her features. Drat... ”If the realm is still in flux, then I figure it would most likely be harder to lock on to it, so to speak, since I believe you most likely orient yourself by listening.””I do ?” She had never noticed ? Most likely more focused on the destination than the process. Second nature. ”It would make sense, would it not ? ” He nodded, letting a smile slide on his features to comfort her. ”Everyone has their own ways of doing things, after all.”That seemed to do the trick... thankfully. He had not quite been sure how to deal with this. Once they had reached the hallway, the Guide stopped in front of one blank door and, without another word, applied one hand on the smooth surface and closed his eyes, forcing his conciousness outward. Finding the Underworld was not hard. Due to it's nature, it “ghosted” along the existing realms in his vision, overlapping but not completely. Old gates, entrypoints all over the place... connected to everything by sheer nature. Yet... ...She was right. The ghost-shape shifted. Moved. Grew. And for a moment, he could only stare. What... ? He reached out toward it, but the connection he tried to make broke the second the shape shifted again. Until it settled... it would be rather hard to reach like this. Or by world-walking. Unless the god was experimented, and knew exactly where to go. Echo was none of those things, and he did not dare send her in blindly. In short, Nergal would probably have a few choice words with him if he dared... No, there had to be some better way. He let go, then, returning his awareness outward and taking a few steps back, hands reaching to his temple to qwell the pain that suddenly flared in his head. All that shifting, apparently, gave him an headache. ”Are you alright ?” Oh. Right. Echo. He had almost forgotten she had been right beside him. ”Yes, through... I was not able to make the way either. It is... growing too fast.” ”Growing ?” The idea seemed to puzzle her just as much as it had puzzled him. And there he had the faint hope that she might know something he had not... ”Exactly what it sounds like. As far as we know, it might be perfectly normal... Though it does make matters more difficult. But I imagine what entryways that were already fixed – the gate down in the catacombs, and the world tree... I figure going though them would work.” The first thing to answer him was a nod ”These were my next ideas... I will let you know if I need of more help, but I should be fine...” She managed a smile, in spite of it all. ”Thank you...”The goddess turned, and started to walk away, her steps light and elegant in spite of the fact that her mind was clearly elsewhere. And she had done it once more. My, my... ”You are rambling... again.” He said, and only allowed himself a chuckle once she had entered though her own door.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:43 pm
A Gift For The One You Love He had brought the abascus beads back with him a few days ago, with the intent of a fun little side project. He had, after all, wanted to make something sorely destined to her for quite some time, but the god had never gotten around to it. He was always busy. Always wandering some place or another, carrying things back and forth. Likewise, she had much to do – their time together was short, but always enjoyable. But this day, he was staying put – he had a rather specific project in mind, and to be honest... he knew this yet somewhat mortal body he currently had needed the rest. He had no ideas where Numbers was now, and that suited his purpose just fine. After all, these kind of things were always better left as surprise, were they not ? Sanding what was left of the paint on the beads to reveal the wood underneath was no challenge, given how it was already peeled off, and at this point he discarded a few more that were more badly cracked than they had looked to be at the first glance, and detracted from the overall appearance. Uncracked beads, of course, were nowhere to be seen, but there were some that had smaller cracks, or crack in locations that could easily be hidden, or small surface cracks that could be sanded off. Had it not been for the situation, Ankou might have been more picky, keeping in mind exactly who this would be a gift too – he wanted only the best for Cosine, after all... But as it was, this was likely the best he would find, less he go around carving his own. So, slightly flawed would have to do. He had ended up with six, now free of chipping paint. Less than he had hoped, but still enough to do something with. The wood revealed below was dark – what kind especially he could not tell beyond that observation – and he sanded them, polished them for hours, hours that gave him ample time to think and decide of what he would do with them, until he was finally happy with their appearance, and determined which side was less broken in order to have the imperfections hidden by the design, or the goddess' hair. With that done, and a design in mind, all there really needed was to select the rest of the beads and put it all together. The god finally went back to his feet, and stretched – he had been sitting far too long, and his legs were starting to cramp. He scanned the storage room – which had been turned into a bit of a library for Numbers to keep her records – to see what he had at his disposal. Very little of what he scavenged was here – it was better left downstairs for everyone to see and be able to use – but a few tiny things usually kept his attention. Like beads. He had put them in the wooden box that would be used for the ornaments when they were done – glass jars were better put to other uses – the cheap plastic ones were discarded automatically, which left him with what little other wood and glass beads he had. More along her colors... green. Green and yellow. Perfect. He caught an handful of each and some heavy thread, and returned to sit at the desk, kicking his legs yp against the back of it, leaning dangerously with his chair only touching the ground by two legs, and started to weave and strand. Most did design sketches for things like this, but it was rare that he did so himself. After all, it was a hobby or sort for him – not work, and nothing related to his influence. Perhaps it was odd that he liked making such things, but he did not care much. It was a way to relax. He started with a small green bead, securing it close to the pin that would hold it in place. After that came a bigger yellow bead, followed by one of the polished wood abascus bead. Then he repeated the pattern in reverse – a yellow, then a green. Another yellow, another abascus bead. The design fitted well, and he liked it, so he continued on, carefully weaving knots in the multiple strands after each beads to keep them from coming loose too easily. When he ran out of natural wood beads, he finished the pattern and worked the rest of the thread in something akin to a tassel. And now only one thing was missing. The Guide let out a whistle, and one of the nearby crows slipped inside though the open window, perching on the god's outstretched arm. He spoke a few words to the animal, and it outstretched one wing, preening and pulling a rather large feather away, dropping it in Ankou's outstretched hand before relocating to his shoulder to watch the rest of the work as the feather was attached to the string of beads. He watched the whole for a moment, contemplating – but then decided it looked perfect as it was. Now all he had to do was to find a suitable time to gift it to Cosine.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:43 pm
Funeral Rites The idea of clearing out and stabilizing the catacombs' underground tunnel was a good one. He figured, after all, that Nergal would have wished it done eventually anyway, so why not simply do it now ? The god attempted to help every now and then, but the mortals seemed rather against him having to do any kind of work on that subject in particular. Which, more often than not, left him sitting back and doing nothing at all. There was little else that pulled at the Spirit Guide's nerves like sitting back and doing nothing at all, and therefore he had mostly kept himself out of the whole operation, beyond observing from a distance. The mortals did not seem to shy away from him, but he did seem to have issues truly connecting to them like Echo did. But then, that caused little surprise to him. Music just seemed to be able to connect to anyone. Kind, beautiful, and always willing to reach out. Unlike him, who was a more closed individual by nature. More withdrawn, who did not wear his emotions on his sleeves, so to speak. He could not see himself being like that. Not now, and most likely not ever. He would, most likely, have to find another way. There were other ways, of course. After all, in days long gone, even the aspects that most mortals considered unattractive or revolting had their own priests and their own followers. That specific day had started rather normally – he had gone to see what it was that he could do today, but that had cut short soon enough, with Lenneth dashing to meet up with him... announcing that there had been another causality at the site. That was the third to lose their life, mostly in unexpected cave-ins, but at least they were nearing the end of their work, so with some luck, there would not be more. At least, it was what Lenneth, Allysia, Echo and everyone else hoped. Ankou... found it rather hard to be too affected. These were things that happened, and every life was to end one day, even though these lives were more precious than ever, keeping in mind how many had died in the near-apocalypse. There were still survivors pooling in even now, from far away villages and towns, congregating where the gods dwelt. It was something he was well used to. Death did not phase him much anymore. Mortals died, and such was the nature of things – through the Guide kept himself quiet on that aspect in respect for their sorrow. But what had affected him was what happened when Lenneth brought him back toward the site of the underground catacombs. The mortals had taken some time off their clearing, gathered on the surface. The three bodies had been recovered, in spite of the danger in doing so. Mangled, but recognizable – two men and one woman. The group wanted to know how to send them over, so to speak. How to do it right, and make sure they would be welcomed in the Underworld. They lacked anyone who could carry out funeral rites, no priest were among them, and given the various origins of the assembled group, they could not quite decide on what to do, each having grown up with their own rites for the deceased and their own beliefs. And, with the lack of that particular deity about, that left him as the man to go to, apparently. He had not been quite sure what to think of this at first. All those pairs of eyes locked on him, awaiting the god's answer almost as if it was a lifeline, made him somewhat nervous. He was not used to this. Not used to be the one looked upon. To be the one that was noticed. Feared. Loved. While he had brought many to safety, they had tended to gravitate to the deities that were both more bold, and more developed in their rebirth. But now... it was not those deities that they needed, but him. It was thrilling and disconcerting all at once. He had never been on the forefront, he felt, left the handling of followers to the aoidei to focus on the spirits of the dead. Perhaps it was one of things that he had done wrong. He would not repeat that mistake, he had decided, and had accepted. At first, Ankou was not quite sure what to do with this. He was not Funeral. He was not even aware of how most of those things went. His focus was almost always on the souls, not the bodies left behind. He knew that rituals tended to be diverse from race to race, and most often than not involved burials (to get the deceased closer to the Underworld, perhaps ?), but that was about it. He most certainly was not the most qualified for this. But, as far as he knew, he was the closest to that which was actually here. And to deny them... would not be very beneficial. Once Ankou caught himself over thinking the matter, he shoved it all aside and focused on the task instead. Nergal could tell him that he'd done it all wrong later for all he cared, but the important part was the now. And thus, he acted on what little he knew, and on instinct, as well as what the group had to tell him. First, the three bodies were cleaned of dirt and earth, clothed in pristine clothing and kept a time for the survivors to come and visit their friend for the last time, to offer prayers. The souls were absent, it seemed, having died so close to one of the entrances that they had most likely found their way on their own, with both knowledge and belief to lead them. Thus, he could not exactly ask for permission, but he presumed they would be willing. Or they would not have been there to start with. He took one bone from each body. Each would, in time, end up being one jewel on the crown. After all had done what they wished – thus making the 'ceremony' be more of an eclectic, mixed affair of many races and cultures rather than something organized – they headed toward the graveyard where the Day of the Dead had been held, and buried the three in three separate, but close, graves, marked with engraved wood until more permanent monuments of stone could be made, a single flower left on each one. Echo had played and sang, of course, her eyes almost as heavy with sorrow as the mortals were. It was not hard to see that she blamed herself for this. They would need to talk... later. He mostly had stopped taking the direction of things then, so to speak, and left the group to deal with what they needed to deal with. Live their grief though and recover. That... could have gone worse, the Guide figured. Perhaps this was easier than he had thought it to be.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:44 pm
Four More Jewels For The Crown It had been a few days since his largely eclectic funeral rites, of sort – the dust had started to settle, the grief of the rest of the group settled somewhat by the sense of true closure he had been able to provide, but not all of it had gone. Perhaps it would never truly fade. As they would never truly forget. Grief was a powerful thing. A powerful force. But now, he had the three bones he had taken from the three who had died in the clearing of the catacombs. The ones who would becomes jewels on the crown. They were strong, unlike those he had worked with previously, who had died before decay had it and been further weakened by it's influence, and the influence of Time. Strong, having belonged to those who had withstood all that and lived until very recently. They showed still visible marks of kneading and mending, marks that were not present in the older, more eroded and worn down bones he had used for the previous ornaments. The very texture was different, and the 'presence' of the soul much easier to find. And yet... It was not of this presence that he based himself on to carve the length of bone into ornament. It was not what he was looking to, not this time. No, what he held as inspiration was what he had heard from the living. From the survivor. From those who had called these three mortals family and friends. It had seemed fitting. The first two, surprisingly he had come to learn, had been siblings. Twins, even – the elder female, the younger male. They had always been inseparable, and had been named Reina and Arastor. They had grown up together, like two fingers of one hand, and while many, jealous of their special bond, had tried to break it, nothing had ever been strong enough to separate them or cause strive in between the siblings. They had even found similar vocations as they had grown, opening a jewelry store in their native city of Koiso, the ports attracting business. Reina had been an expert at carving and hand-picking precious stones, as well as handling the customers as they came in. Her sense of detail was unmatched. Arastor, the shyer half of the pair, preferred to stay in the back, and work the metal, making rings and wire-wrapping the stones his elder sister had carefully worked on, day and night. They had lost much in the flooding of Kioso, yet refused to leave the city of their birth, and those they had loved so much. Arastor had been the one that she had called beloved, and the one she had married – and now she was left, alone, mourning and wailing the loss of her love and the sister to whom she had been so close that they might as well have been her sister by blood. Had he not rushed in an attempt to save his sister, perhaps he may well have survived. But, Allysia had said, pushing her glasses upward to hide reddened eyes, it had been better this way. Arastor would have never been able to survive without his Reina. But her heart had not seemed to be in those words. Her logic only sheltered her of so much, and the words brought no comfort. Twins, who had been born, grown up, lived, loved, and died together. They would remain together here as well, as long as there was time left for this world, shapes different but matching. Reina's ornament he carved with an inline of jewels and wire, faint as with the carvings of the previous ornaments, only really meant to catch the eyes of one only rather than adorn. Arastor's ornament was left as it, shaped like the rings he liked to fashion, like the ring he had offered to Allysia the night of their wedding. The last had been given the name Eric, and was not of Koiso but had ended up joining the troupe as they all returned with Ishum and Anima. He had left his hometown – ravaged by plague and famine – in order to find an answer as to what was going on with the world. The 16 years old boy had ended up staying with the group beyond the rebirth of the world, learning of the gods and putting his talents as a mechanic to good use, repairing what he could the best he could. Cheerful even in the face of the end of all, he had become close friends to most, and his death was no less devastating to the small gathering of mortals. He had chosen a shape similar to Arastor's due to their friendship, though thicker and less ring-like, and left it plain as he had done with the other. Nergal would be able to tell the difference. No specific carving had come to his mind, so he would not force it. Perhaps inspiration would come to him later and he would return to it later on. The Guide paused a moment, to stretch his legs and work the cramps out of his hands – the first three had already taken quite a few hours, but he felt like he had one more left in him before he had to rest.. This one... was also special, in it's own way. It was not a recent one, like the bones of Reina, Arastor or Eric, but something older, before the time of Decay like the first three he had carved. But this one he had sought out ever since he had gotten the idea of this whole project, but he had only finally found it recently, in an open mass-grave. That woman, has been a skilled performer. A Musician. It only seemed right. He could tell surprisingly little of her – either the influence of the bone had started to fade by being thrown in with to many others, or he was starting to get a little too tired to see what he wanted to see. Yet, what he could tell was strong – even now, the cracked bone seemed to still sing and play, and music seemed to fill his mind. He had carved the shape carefully with the many tools he had been able to make, or to find in his scavenging – slowly, ever so slowly, a rough shape first then ending with the more precise strokes, carving find lines of instrument string along it's surface. And... that seemed well enough for today. He had likely spent the entire day locked up in his storage room, carving and shaping and looking. He did not usually do so much of this kind of work in one day, but today had came with heavy rain – a boon for the plants, of course, but not so pleasant to move under. That was well enough, and awareness was starting to flee him. The last ornament was put safely with the others, wrapped in light cloth, and the Guide wandered off to sleep.
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