|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:29 pm
Time Well Spend With A Friend midnight_medea It was a rather plesant day, if that was possible in the land of ash. The sky was a lighter shade of grey than usual and the air seemed lighter, less oppressive. Humming to herself Lien arranged some flowers in a vase. She had found them on her morning walk to see Jessica and the kids.
They had been poking up through the ash close to the forest and had amazed her. She thought that Echo might like them and that she deserved them for the performance she had put on at the concert a night or two before. It had been amazing, like nothing Lien had ever seen before. The people, they were actually happy. It almost seemed like the world was not falling down around them.
That, she decided, was a true power. Zero Dream  But true power had it's cost.
Echo had been resting, gathering her strength again. Seems like holding something this long had sapped her more than she had initially thought, but the goddess still regretted nothing.
At least for now she was taking it easy, sitting on the couch and sipping tea, a notebook open on her knees in which she wrote every now and then.midnight_medea Finishing with the arrangement she picked up the vase and carried it through to the livingroom.
"Morning." She said with a bright smile as she pleced the flowers on the coffee table. "That was an amazing concert."
She took a seat in one of the comfortable chairs and tucked her legs up under her.
"Truely, i have never seen anything like it in my life." Zero Dream "Thank you... I was hoping that you would appreciate it." The goddess said with a smile. To tell the truth, Lien had been one of her reasons to do this, one of her many inspirations, even if the young woman hadn't really noticed it. And while many would have let the fame rise to their head, it didn't seem so for Echo. If anything, the goddess seemed a little more... confident now, in her way of talking and in the way she looked at people, as if she only now had proved herself in their eyes.
"Oh, Lien, these are lovely..." The goddess' eyes went wide, one blue-streaked hand reaching to gently brush the petals as she leaned forward. "Where have you found them ?" Hopefully she hadn't paid too much for these... Echo would find a way to pay her back if she did. midnight_medea Lien smiled as she admired the flowers and leaned back into the comfortable chair.
"They were growing, by the forest." She replied simply. "I was visiting a friend of mine and noticed them on the way back."
She wondered if that meant that things were changing. She doubted it, but it was good to see these small rays of hope poking through the dark ash.
"It was amazing, seeing people so happy. My friend, her children were having so much fun, dancing around. She said she'd not seen them so happy since destruction took hold. You must be tired though. Is that why you haven't been around much?" Zero Dream These... These are been growing in the wild ? Amazing... completely amazing. She would have to tell the mother once she saw her again... It seemed like a miracle. A small, lovely miracle.
"I am glad they enjoyed themselves, also." That was a lovely thing to hear, actually - that the woman had made herself some friends in this world that was not initially her own. The children, especially, needed such happiness to be able to keep on going.
"I seem to have expended more energy than I thought I had, so yes, I am tired. However, I seem to be regaining my strength steadily... There's no need to worry." She said with a small smile. midnight_medea Lien smiled warmly and watched her friend just to make sure that she really was all right and not just saying it.
"That is good, though it seems like such a long time since we have been able to talk. Is much new for you?" She asked. Zero Dream "Yes, much too long..." The gentle goddess said with a smile, even if it was a bit sad. She shouldn't have just pushed everything and everyone aside just like that... but what was done was done, all she could do would be to make sure not to do it again. The goddess did seem well enough, even if she was obliviously tired. One blue hand went to pet Vertigo's head, the cat having taken residence in her lap.
"I think.. I think this isn't new, in the sense that it was always a part of me." Echo began, visibly in thought. "But new in the sense that I hadn't realized it until then. Does that even make any sense ?" midnight_medea Lien nodded and smiled.
"Yes, i think so." She said watching Echo and the cat on her lap. "Like, it was something you had known but forgotten. Something that needed to be unlocked. I mean, it makes sense. You are the goddess of music. It seems only natural that such a power should be yours."
Smiling still she looked to her hands in her lap, hands that would not be hers much longer and sighed.
"I wonder if my goddess has such healing, uplifiting gifts." Zero Dream "Yes, that would be it, I believe." And then, Echo felt silent for a moment. The worry was definitively visible on Lien's face... But what could she do ? They rarely ever talked about the deity that would eventually take her over. All the other knew was that Lien had, in fact, accepted her.
"Perhaps. Or perhaps she heals in a different way, helps the world with other things. We cannot all be the same, after all... Even within the same influence, each and every one is unique, in their own ways." Thoughts of Khiviance and Desiderio came to mind. The two sides of Love. "Just like everyone else. Are you two well, by the way ? I... I probably should have asked such before but." I was busy... no, no, that is not a reason. midnight_medea "Yes we are well." she said with a small smile and a shrug. "She is the goddess of numbers, Cosine. Though no one seems to recognise her name." Lien smirked a little and looked up at Echo. "Though, I am not suprised, she is shy, reserved. We met with Destruction and I was surprised. He is not the monster I would have assumed him to be." Zero Dream "Cosine, hmm..." Echo grew quiet for a moment and let her eyes close, and for a moment, did nothing but listen, just in case... but nothing came. "...Nothing comes to mind right now, but if you leave me some more time, perhaps I may remember something..."[
She perked, then, and glanced at her. "...You met Harmodius ? He... well. Destruction scares me. You are much braver than I am, I must admit." midnight_medea "It's okay." Lien said with a smile as Echo tried to remember if she knew her goddess or not. "She has a twin aparently, one that is newly joined with a host. I want to find them but I am not sure where to start looking."
She smirked and moved her hand as another furry companion jumped up to join her.
"Harmodious, he is terrifying, though ... he was rational." She said with a small shrug. We have no choice but to love him. Zero Dream "A twin, hmm ?" Echo peered at the small woman with an interested glance. "A rare thing. We are almost all related to one another in loose ways, some in more direct sibilings way, but this has to be the first time I heard of twins. Interesting..."
But then something stirred. A vague thought, something that subbornly refused to reveals itself as she spoke of relations.
Something's missing, the song said.
Something's missing...
Echo shook her head, doing her best to clear her mind. Not here, beside - there was little she could do about it right now. "Well, if you say that he has newly merged... The pantheon might be your best bet. Hosts sometimes flock there for answer or shelter, as mine did. At least... it used to be so. Right now, however, I am not quite sure..." She hadn't seen hosts in there since quite awhile... and she hadn't seen much of any recent hosts at all, beside Lien.
Terrifying... and rational. That sounded like him indeed, from what she had heard of others. Given that she had not gathered the courage to seek him out herself, it was all she had to base herself.
"If he was not rational, the world would be ashes by now." midnight_medea "I do not doubt it would be." She said with a small smile. "Though there must be a better way to get people to take notice of the gods. Better than destroying people's lives." she sighed and shook her head.
"I met a woman a few months ago. Her plane crashed not far from here. She had lost her husband and two children to this age. Two young children, one just a baby. I doubt she believes in much anymore. Let alone think of turning to gods. Destruction's logic is twisted."
She shrugged a little and sighed heavily.
"Maybe I will go to the pantheon. Searching will keep me busy whilst I wait to die." Zero Dream Again, this whole thing. Lucius had spoken to her about it - that this might be Destruction's way to have the mortals take notice of the gods. It made sense yet at the same time it didn't, to her. There where windows of opportunities, true... but at what price ?
"...That is horrible." Echo shook her head again, more softly. "I... I wish I could act more directly. But that kind of power is not mine to wield."
Her blue-stained hand ran into the starry pelt of Vertigo, who was still nested on her while purring softly, and she likewise sighed. She wanted to tell Lien that it wasn't like that... but she'd been lying and the other was right. No matter how one looked at it, she would "die". No matter what the goddess would chose, Lien as she existed now would cease to exist.
And no words she could say would change the situation any. midnight_medea "Ah no ... I." Lien paused and smirked a little her fingers stopping to scratch the kitty she had acquired under the chin. "I did not mean to make you feel bad. Just ... express concern I suppose."
A smile colors her lips and she looked back up to her friend, feeling a little guilty for causing the look of hopelessness that had settled on her features.
"Would you like some dinner? I can make you something if you like?" Zero Dream Somehow, the goddess managed a smile. Not quite as wide, warm, or true than usual, but it was a start.
"You have nothing to apologize for, as my bitter thoughts are my own and caused by myself. I still need to learn to deal with them."
Echo seemed to ponder this for a moment. "Dinner would be lovely, but only if I get to help this time." The little twinkle in her eyes was back. This was a good sign. "What do you have in mind ?" midnight_medea "Hmm I am not sure." She said with a smile, easing her lap warmer off and standing. "Of course you can help, I saw some spices the other day and we have some rice and things."
She chewed on her lip a moment whilst picking cat hairs off her clothes.
"I know, I will make you something from my home land. If I can remember how. Come on, I'll teach you." Zero Dream And, with those simple words, the goddess was thrilled. It was something just so easy to catch her attention and deviate her thoughts off less-desirable routes. "That would be lovely."
Echo stood, the cats following her as she made her way to the kitchen, not really bothering with the cat hairs herself. She hadn't really felt like getting dressed today, so her sun dress seemed almost out of place compared to her usual long sleeves and silks. Almost too simple, in fact. Thankfully, almost every mark and wound had long since faded... and what didn't melded with her patches of blue skin well enough for no-one but the goddess to notice. midnight_medea Lien smiled as Echo joined her and started to search for ingredients in the tidy kitchen.
"Do you like to cook?" She asked as she pulled out a pan and a bowl to wash the rice in. She would admit it had only recently become a skill she enjoyed. Nakamura's ownership had been useful for some things. With her own apartment she had actually got to use her own time how she wanted. Zero Dream The goddess perched herself on a nearby stool, peering like an attentive young student.
"I am not all that good at it... but I do enjoy it, yes. It is something quite new for me. New and interesting." After all, before, she had no need for food, or sleep. In her mortal shape, both activities where first needs, which eventually became pleasures. Foods of all colors and shapes, from many worlds and places, the same ingredients put to different uses to make different tastes... What was there not to be amazed ? midnight_medea "My mother taught my sister and I when we were children." She said with a warm smile as she placed the rice in a pan to cook and hunted out the spices. "I used to like it. Especially when we would go to my grandmother's. She used to teach us old recipes and lecture us on being good housewives."
She laughed a little and leaned back against the counter.
"Not that either of us had plans to be housewives, well I didn't I wanted to be a nurse." Zero Dream "I would make a rather horrible housewife, given my track record so far..." The goddess gave a low giggle, doing her best to be attentive and remember what blend of spices Lien was using. "Il'd never wanted to be anything else that I am. Is that odd ? I mean, it figures that in a sense, it does, but..." She let the thoughts stir in her mind for a moment, glancing at her friend with close interest, curious about what the other woman thought. "Even as deities, we are not perfect, after all." midnight_medea Lien smiled and turned to make them both some tea.
"I would too i think." She said, taking the precious tea leaves and using them sparingly in the decorated pot. "Isn't there another influence you think might be interesting to have?" She asked, turning back round to face the goddess. "I suppose it is always fun to imagine alternatives, even if they are not possible." Zero Dream The goddess pondered this for a moment, sapphire blue eyes following the woman as she moved, taking in the details of her every moves as she continued to prepare their dinner. Tea was something she was familiar with, but that did not lessen her curiosity any.
"Well, yes, sometimes... And I've often wished I was in a position to better influence things. But, in the end... ill'd still rather be me, I think. I cannot imagine myself being anything else than what I am. I am music, and music is me." midnight_medea Lien smiled as she handed Echo a cup of steaming tea and leaned back against the counter as the rice cooked.
"That is good." She said with a soft smile. "That you are happy with who you are. I suppose it would be worrying if their was a goddess who wasn't. Happy that is. Especially as we are supposed to look to you all for guidance."
She smiled and blew lightly on her tea.
"It must be a nice, secure feeling." Zero Dream "In a sense, it is, but, too much is just like not enough." Echo looked thoughtful, as she stirred her own tea with a spoon. "After all, we all faded once. This is a symbiotic relationship, at least this is how I feel about this. Mortals look for us for guidance, as we are immortals, living for ages and eons, the creators of almost all that surround them yet... yet, with no mortals, we are nothing at all. With no mortals to wish that we exist, we do not exist at all." She paused, and took a sip from the cup. This wasn't exactly fine porcelain, but it was good enough.
"Many forget this, I feel. I also feel like this would be a mistake. This may be natural curiosity, but I like mortals." She paused to take another sip, then rested the cup on the table. "I love watching them, hearing them laugh, listening to a young child take it's first step on a piano... There is an odd beauty in those notes, innocence that no one who actually knows how to play an instrument can really replicate. I was never able to play that way. I probably never will, but that is alright. I feel that there is a lot of things I have yet to learn, things only mortals can teach me."
"Was I always like this ? This is hard to tell. I have died, have been nothing for centuries... eons... ages. My essence scattered in the Void, most likely, until it was seen fit for me to live again. I remember little beyond what was woven so close to my own self that it remained. True memories are scarce but incredibly powerful - feelings remains stronger, because of what I am. So does sound. Sometimes I have to images but if I sit still and just listen, I will hear snippets of conversation as if it was a song. But beyond that ? Gone. Possibly forever. There may be yet things I will remember, there may not. I might..." She paused for now, apparently having to think hard for this one. "...have been the number one queen b***h of the metaverse, and I only remember my nice moments. This is insecurity, no matter if I want it or not." She smiled a bit, clearly intending to make the young girl laugh with that statement.
"So I've chosen to learn anew. From my host. From the people of this city, from my aoidei, from you. I was to be close to the mortal races - to learn, to understand, and probably due to a little bit of fear, one must admit. I doubt I'd be given a third chance if I fail now." She frowned a bit with realization. "But I must be boring you, am I ? I apologize. This old lady is rambling." She said with a wink. midnight_medea Lien listened intently to her friends words. She felt the same, so many of the gods seem to think that the mortals owed them something. Though without the believe of mortals what were they? Faded pieces of stone. continuing to listen she placed her mug on the counter and turned to stir the rice a little as it began to bubble and froth.
"I think your words make a lot of sense." She said with a smile and a small laugh at Echo's jokes. "And, it does not matter what you were before. Yes, the past shapes us and is solid, but it it just that, the past. The future is what we can change and shape. I think to learn from people is noble of a goddess. You are special Echo. I believe that, your kindness and intelligence." She smiled and turned back to face the songstress.
"I believe I have been given to Cosine to help her. She is shy, not confident, I truely believe i can help her to be like you. To see people, to try to understand them and to love them. To give her some strength so she can be the goddess she should be."
She reached for her tea once more and leaned on the counter again.
"Life is for living afterall, no matter what your situation. I know that well." Zero Dream "A past mostly forgotten is what shapes me. Shapes us. We just have to pick those broken pieces up and make something new from them. I believe there is much she will learn from you." She said with a smile, but quickly grew pensive as her eyes fluttered half-closed in thought.
Could she really promise something she was not sure she could fulfill ? She looked at Lien for a moment, and remembered exactly why she had to.
"...I will be there for Cosine, if she wishes me to be." The goddess announced, her voice soft. "If she has any need for me, I will be there. There may be hurt at first, of course, but I am a creature of emotion, and I do not know if I will be able to contain the pain. I will not pretend I can, but I will tell you this."
She rose one hand to gently touch the tip of Lien's hairs. How, she wished she could make the young woman see herself as she saw her - let her see how beautiful and important she was. "...My host, Zero, was young, Lien. Younger than you. Not even an adult yet, not even close to be, but grown used to act as such because it was what was expected of her. In her stay at the pantheon there was a goddess that took care of her. Her name is Beryl, the lady Wind. She cared for my host like a mother... I held out, as long as I could, and in the end... In the end I stole her away under her own eyes. I cannot blame Cosine for something I have done myself."
Her hand moved, to gently cup her cheek. "And if Beryl has found the strength to forgive me, and guide me when I could not stand on my own feet... Then I will find my own strength and do the same. This, Lien, is my promise to you. And to Cosine. To the both of you. I will not let either of you down if I am needed." midnight_medea Lien listened to her and smiled sadly. Yes, it would happen. She thought. As much as she liked to pretend that this time as a host would last forever.
"Thank you Echo." She said softly, looking down as she touched her hair. it reminded her of her mother. Or did it? Memories were so hazy now. "I have met few people as kind or as gentle as you are. Cosine is silent today, but ... I think she will have need for friends. I wish to ask my human friend to help her too. If she wants it. This is our destiny, it is not your fault that we are consumed. Not entirely."
She smiled alittle and reached for a fry pan as the rice seemed to be cooked.
"What does it feel like to be loved Echo?" She asked as she transfered rice to the pan. Zero Dream "But I still feel responsible." The goddess trailed on, letting go at last. "And so I take responsibility."
The goddess smiled, a bit enigmatically. "It depends what kind of love you are asking about. There are many. How do you feel, when I am with you ?" midnight_medea Lien smiled warmly.
"Like I am ten years old and back in my family home." She smirked and stirred the rice in the pan as it hissed with the heat. She thought how to put what she wanted to ask and started to measure the spices into the pan. It was funny, someone like her being embarassed to ask this.
"I mean, love, love. Not that of family or friends. The kind people write poetry and songs about." Zero Dream Ech paused for a moment, mulling the question in her head.
"...That is a very hard question. I honestly think that it is different for everyone. For me... It just makes me feel like everything is alright, and nothing will ever go wrong anymore. It makes me feel strong, really." She paused. "...We do have two deities of love, one who lives at the pantheon. He would probably be able to give you a much better answer than I. I sing about love - I don't really need to understand every aspect of it in the process." She said with a smile. midnight_medea Lien listened to her as she stirred her creation and smiled sadly.
"No, that is what I wished to know. A real answer, not that of some love god." She said, turning the heat down and reaching up to get two simple bowls.
"It makes me sad that I will never know that." She said softly, placing the bowls on the counter and turning back to her meal as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.
"I've known many, many men. But I'll never know what it's like to be held by someone and feel their warmth and love for me." She smirked and wiped her cheek. "You probably think I'm silly. Just, suddenly being surrounded by real people, people and gods who care deeply for each other. It reminds me what I have missed." Zero Dream "It is not silly." Echo said softly, one hand raising again to brush what was left of the water from her cheek. "And I am sorry for that, also, if only because it means that no-one bothered to look and see the true you." The same thing for Zero, actually... But Zero had been young, so young. How old did mortals to be before they felt to urge to love that one way, at any rate ? There had been Revei, but from Echo's perspective, that was honestly muddled and unable to truly understand - her own feelings of friendship for the dream god had overridden everything else.
She wished that Lien could find and feel it one day, but with her current situation, this did not seem a smart thing to advise - so she kept that to herself.
"Mortals can be cruel. Just like gods." midnight_medea "I think I have only just discovered the true me." She admitted, scooping her flavoured rice into the two bowls. "And yes, mortals can be so very cruel, and maybe it is that dark side to our nature that makes gods dark as they are."
She shrugged and handed Echo a bowland a spoon.
"I hope you like it. And, I have found other kids of love and warmth I suppose. All is not lost. Maybe one day Cosine will find the kind of love you have." This was something she hoped for the shy goddess within her. She did not want her to hide in the shadows of her books forever. Maybe there was a god out there who could draw her out.
"At the risk of changing the subject. You like children?" Zero Dream Echo only nodded in answer. That made sense. It took taking her out of that horrible world she had been trapped inside of for so long for the young woman to truly understand herself. The goddess was glad this happened.
"I love children." She said with a smile. "I haven't really been in company of any for a long time, but I do." After all, not only Beryl had taken a mothering attitude toward her host. She had done it herself, in despite of the odds. "They are adorable, I feel. Adorable and pure. We should think the way children do sometimes, and I would be sure it would be easier to short through some troubles !" She said with a laugh, before she tasted the dish.
Hmmm... "That is really good." midnight_medea "thank you." Lien said as she joined the blue goddess. "Well then, maybe I have an offer for you. You remember I told you about my friend. The woman who came to the concert with me. I said I would watch her two children for a while next week. She needs to go and find some things."
Lien smiled and scooped some rice into her spoon.
"I could bring them here. You could help me out if you like? They really are the cutest things." Zero Dream "That is a great idea !" Echo really looked excited by the idea. Hell, she was already thinking up lullabies... just in case they would be needed.
Heaven save the world if the goddess ever became a mother herself.
"I bet. How old are they ?" It would be hard for her to understand what numbers meant what age, but she could try. midnight_medea Lien smiled as Echo shared her enthusiasm for the babysitting task. Enthusiasm for children was not something she had ever thought she would find, though through her adopted family she was learning what it was to be a child again. How to laugh and have fun.
"Caleb, her son is two, and Grace, her daughter is five I think. She had the prettiest red curls. Both of them love to dance too so I am sure they would have a lot of fun with you." Zero Dream "I will have to find ways to amuse them then." Ah, dance. Of course Music loved to dance. Even if she hadn't done so in quite a long time indeed. She would probably get to do so with the young ones then. "What else do they like ?"
Oh, Echo seemed to already have plans to spoil them rotten. midnight_medea "Hmm let's see." Lien said, shifting excitedly. This was going to be a lot of fun she decided. "Grace is a typical girl, though they don't have much. She likes dressing up and things like that, colouring. Oh maybe they would like to paint, though i am not sure where we would find paints. Um, Cay likes to make noise,oh and he loves animals. Jessica got Grace one of those Floox creatures for christmas and he just loves it, and the cats when they came here." Zero Dream "Well, there is sure enough cats here to make them happy." Echo was certain of that, as she peered to one of the furry faces that had joined them, peering expectantly as if wanting a taste of the rice.
"Finding paints would be hard. We might be able to find her some kind of doll in good shape. What about this shop you talked about ? I am sure I can find something you can trade." No more of Lien giving up her belongings, this was her turn. "We might be able to find crayons... Maybe. I have alot of paper around the house."
That was an understatement. The goddess had enough blank notebooks to open a paper shop, thank to the resourcefulness of her aoidei. midnight_medea "Hmm, I might be able to find some." She said with a nod. "A doll too. I'm sure we could make a dress. I'm not the greatest sewer but I could give it a go."
She smirked and continued to eat for a little bit.
"I think they will really enjoy this. They need a day of fun, and their mum really could do with a break I think." Zero Dream "Yes, it would probably do her good." Having to take care of two young children, mostly alone, with the world as it was, must be quite something for the poor woman. "Ill'd be glad to allow her some rest. And if we can make the children happy as well, then all the better. Ill go see what I can find the afternoon... At worse, I am sure I have some dress that we could take fabric some somewhere. You will have to sew however, I am hopeless at that." The goddess laughed. "As I said, I am not very... domestic, I guess." midnight_medea "I am not great but I shall try." She smirked, finishing off her dinner and reaching for her tea. "I will clear this all up. You should go and put your feet up. Make sure you are rested properly. Thank you Echo, I enjoyed this. it's nice to have a good long chat every now and again I think." Zero Dream "Yes, it is. And I should probably do that, yes..." Normally she would have offered to help, but she had not quite recovered yet and she was getting a bit tired. "Wake me if i am napping too long, please ? So we still have time to go looking."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:30 pm
It's plain to see it's trying to speak
Cherished dreams forever asleep
Hopelessly I'll love you endlessly
Hopelessly I'll give you everything
But I won't give you up
I won't let you down
And I won't leave you falling
If the moment ever comes
Hopelessly I'll love you endlessly
Hopelessly I'll give you everything
But I won't give you up
I won't let you down
And I won't leave you falling
But the moment never comes
-- "Endlessly" - Muse Me ? Annoyed ? This was getting ridiculous. And it also became plainly evident that Nergal was avoiding her. At first she had thought she was making it up, that she was just being paranoid. He was probably busy, just like she had been busy with her concert. Maybe it was what had caused this, but it was what she needed to do ! It would have been like if she butted heads with him for having gone to Koiso. It made no sense at all ! Usually, even if she was busy, even at the start of her writing for the concert, he always dropped by and listened to her. They exchanged a few words at least, and they would each be on their way. And that suited her just fine - they where both busy, and even if she hadn't been, not every of their meetings and conversations needed to be deep stuff, gods reborn, or the past unearthed, or maybe it was her mortal part speaking. Not everything needed to be about memories, powers unawakened and realms thorn apart. Usually he made up excuses for this normalcy, and it amused her greatly at times.. Adventurous cats (that Ishum most likely planted there to begin with), or he overheard something... But nothing as of late. How long has this went on ? She had no idea precisely. She had been so busy. Too busy to realize what was going on around her. She had noticed a bit ago, but did it go before that ? And now she was sitting alone at the table, staring at a single cup of coffee. Usually the scent lured him just like a siren's song. From what seemed to be unbelievable reaches. Usually it was a no-fail method, but it was failing rather hard right now, and this was not helping her mood any. And this was what sealed, in her mind, the fact that Nergal was avoiding her. Or was he now... ? The tip of her ears twitched as she closed her eyes and took the time to listen. No, all was quiet, beside the soft sound of paws on the hard wood floors, as it had been for almost a week now. So, while he had previously been avoiding her, the other not seemed to have just went up and left for heavens-knew-where. But why ?The goddess would be lying if she ever said that it wasn't hurting her. But right now she felt more angry than anything. Like a raging fire that barely simmered under the surface. He'd missed the concert, but that, surprisingly, wasn't what proved to be the core of this upset feeling. Alto had taken one foot in the kitchen, saw her, and turned tails. Hell, even the cats where smart enough to avoid her right now, so It couldn't be pretty, she thought with a scowl, taking the cup and a sip - she didn't want to waste it, but... blergh ! The black-haired woman added another helping of sugar to the black liquid. How did people drink this thing, ever more so willingly ? A thing that would probably elude her for ages to come. After all, it wasn't like she couldn't hear him if she concentrated enough. She'd caught a conversation in between him and Ishum the night before everything went to silent on his half, but they had been too far for her to truly hear what the pair had been talking about. There was no mistaking it, as she could have distinguished the sound of his voice among million others. Too bad right now it made her sound like the stalker girlfriend, her mind supplied, and the goddess had to snort. Why, thank you, Zero.But of course, there was no one to answer her. Not anymore. It had been awhile since her and her host had become one, but the goddess still found herself missing the young girl that she had somehow come to see as her daughter. But this was past. Little she could do about it, it was merge or let her die... And she hadn't been willing to let her fade. ...Back on track now. So he was there, trough sometimes the house felt silent for long periods of time. This one was longer than others, but she could hear Ishum every now and then, when he was not at the pantheon. What was it that was so important that he couldn't even spare her a minute when she had went over and knocked, what seemed to be weeks ago, knowing full well he was there ? Was it something that Kore had to live with as well ? Oh, bad thing to think about, now she was even more upset. If only she could have her right now, if only she could talk to her ! But she was gone and there was nothing she could do about it. She was surrounded by deities, but Kore was gone and no-one, not even Creation or Rebirth, could truly do anything about it. Maybe true miracles where beyond even gods... She hastily took another sip of the coffee cup. Blergh. Maybe she would seek Ishum and ask for an explanation. Not right now, not with her normally gentle temperament buried under a thunderstorm. That would probably scare off the skittish beastmaster right out of his skin. So for now, her questions remained unanswered, and, finally giving up and emptying the rest of the cup in the sink, she fled the kitchen to find her violin. The wild, untamed music that would probably give out her inner fury to anyone who took enough time to listen to it. Better let it run it's course, then she might be able to think rationally afterward...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:32 pm
Sing For Absolution Thabara  He had been back for a while now.. Tired and exhausted he was, from that 6-days ride it had taken him to return back home from Shadow's hidden sanctuary, and yet he was hesitant to return to his chambers, despite the fact that his sore muscles downright screamed for a hot shower. He had remained in the stable instead, tending to his mount all by himself despite Priya's offer to do so.
Home.
Was it really the right term to use for this place? He'd always liked to think of this house as a place he always could return to, anytime, and be welcome.. But it was naught but a temporary thing, could only be temporary.. The conversation with his brother had been a reminder of that, powerful just as much as painful. Even now the core of his very being ached and yearned for that place which was no more, the one place he and his brother would ever be able to truly call 'home'.
He sighed and picked up the brush after he was done cleaning the white erras, starting to groom the gentle and patient equine. He truly wasn't in a hurry to return to his rooms..
Even down here, he knew, she would likely show up sooner or later. Given Echo's sharp hearing there was no way she could possibly have missed his arrival if she'd been around, but maybe..
Maybe his dawdling around would give him a little more time to come up with a proper excuse for having behaved like a complete idiot towards her.Zero Dream The answer to Nergal's own question as of where the goddess was, and exactly why she hadn't come yet, would have been evident if he had taken a closer look in the stables. That is, that Echo's errais, Aria, was missing. Given that the goddess rarely allowed anyone else to ride her, the goddess was probably gone on horseback.
It would prove to be true a few minutes later, when the slow tap of hooves approaching would come to his ears, announcing her presence a few seconds before she came in view, dismounting and stepping inside the stable to do much the same thing than he was going. The saddle was a bit crooked - Ishum hadn't been the one to prepare her, and it would prove itself true when she started taking it off with her own hands. Before that, however, there had been a pause - she had seen him. She knew he was here, indeed, but wasn't quite sure what to do. Should she give him the silent treatment, alike to the one that he'd given her before he left ? While most of her anger had simmered down, it had rekindled itself a bit once she had seen him there. So, at first, she said nothing, as she moved, put the saddle away, and sat on some hay to start grooming her own mount.
She was clothed simply, but elegantly - blue and black, blue top with a black skirt, along with a black overcoat. For one that usually wore robes covering almost every inch of her body, it seemed a bit odd to see her like this - odd and possibly distracting. Different. As if something very subtle had changed in the time he was gone.
"So.. You came back." She finally spoke, her voice an odd mix of relief, annoyance, and a bit of simmering anger. A far cry from it's usual pleasant tone. Thabara Nergal hadn't noticed at all that Echo's erras was missing - too lost was he in his own thoughts and feeling downright homesick - or else he would probably have chosen to be anywhere but the stables. But as things were, he froze the very moment he heard the sound of hooves approaching from the outside - had there been a way to escape, he would have probably vanished the very instance, but unfortunately - due to their nature of being an ex-backyard - the stables had only one exit.
He was trapped.
So he only dared to at Echo from the corner of his eye, wincing internally when she offered him no smile, not greeting, not even a single word until she was done unsaddling Aria.
"I.. am sorry," he replied weakly, without truly looking at her or else he would have noticed the goddess' unusual attire. He did register her tone of voice however, mostly the anger vibrating within. "I missed your concert." Zero Dream Again, he was first met with silence. The goddess twirled the brush in her hand for a moment, before starting to comb through Aria's mane. Watching him squirm was oddly satifing... but that was probably the anger talking. She had no problem with looking at him head on, eyes slightly narrow - not deathly so, but enough to yet drill her discontentment across. Had she known her eyes narrowed in eerily the same way as Kishara's when she was angry ? Probably not.
She pondered what to do for a moment. The urge to just lash at him was strong, but she resisted - ence, perhaps, the odds parts of silence. She'd showed him the basics of how to communicate and solve conflicts... and it would be the cherry on the proverbial sundae to ruin it all now.
That, and very hypocritical. And with how he looked now, it would almost have been like kicking a puppy.
"...I am just glad that you are okay." She admitted. "Through with Priya along it was foolish for me to worry." Some of the anger had faded, but not all - at least his apology seemed to have been accepted. She knew it stupid, and probably a bit too possessive and selfish to at least know where he was going all the time - if only so she wouldn't worry needlessly.
However, it seemed like missing the concert was not all the goddess was upset about. She paused, again - it felt different enough, since her glance broke off him then. If she did not ask now, she might never work up the nerve to do so again.
"But, if I may be so bold, I believe we have something else to discuss. I... noticed that even before you left... You where... avoiding me. I would like to at least know if it was something I did, if at all possible." So oddly formal. Her voice so oddly weak. She'd never been so direct before, but she had to know. Thabara When she voiced her relief about his wellbeing, Nergal's head drooped. He didn't really deserve this much forgiveness from her - in a way this situation would have been easier to deal with for him had she remained angry. "Still, even with Priya around.. I should at least have let you known that I was going and where I was going.. That way.. I truly did not expect to be gone for weeks. Originally I was hoping to be back in time for the concert.." He shook his head slightly, obviously at a loss at what to say.
Did Ishum not tell you were I had gone to? he was tempted to ask. But that would be too easy, blaming the poor beastmaster for his own shortcomings.
He could see her gather her courage before she spoke again, and internally he flinched at Echo's overly formal tone. That.. that just wasn't like her..
That was more like he himself.
So, she had noticed, even despite the preparations for her concert keeping her busy. He truly had hoped that she wouldn't. For a moment the young god stilled, not moving at all, not even breathing for the time being, with only his thoughts running like quicksilver droplets over a smooth surface. Then he laid the brush aside, very calmly, and turned to finally truly look at Echo, something he hadn't done for months now. She seemed different, stronger in a way, even despite her apparent nervousness.
"Do not think that way," he finally said. "Do not ever think it is your fault if I.. Just don't." That outbreak was a little unusual for him, but it only showed how upset he was that she would think she'd been the one to--
It had been his intention to avoid hurting and worrying her, but it seemed his action had caused exactly that.
Well, he'd told her now that it wasn't her fault.. That was all she had wanted to hear, wasn't it? It would be so easy now to simply change the topic by bringing up the matter of his brother, Nergal realized, his visit to Shadow's temple and what he had seen, experienced there.. Disgustingly easy, and he loathed himself for even vaguely considering that option.
"I.." He made a hesitant step towards her, than another one, and another, until he was close enough to take her hand. "I must apologize once more, it seems. It.. was my intention to avoid a certain topic to be brought up again, to avoid questions that would inevitably be asked.. I did not want to worry you." His hand twitched slightly in hers, trembling for but a second before he suppressed that treacherous movement. He wished he could be closer to her even, for a moment that desire was almost overwhelming.. But this seemed to be neither the time nor the situation for it. In fact he was rather glad Echo hadn't pulled her hand from his right away. "But it seems my actions have achieved exactly that." Zero Dream "Ishum did eventually tell me the jist of where you went to." Probably a mix of him being sick of hearing her pacing around, and the fact that she'd half-scared the poor dear once she'd finally asked him. She'd apologized for that, of course, but it did not change the fact that she felt awful for it. "...That might be partway my fault, after all... who am I to expect to know your every moves ?" After all, it wasn't like she was his mother or anything.
The thought was vaguely hilarious, but any laugher that would have resulted remained absent.
That... or maybe she was already thinking herself as something she yet wasn't.
It was her turn to feel horrible, after she'd seen him still. The very tip of her pointed ears drooped slightly, but she forced herself to remain standing upright. This was something she had needed to ask, she knew. If only for her own peace of mind, even if that was slightly being rattled. He denied it, and shifted the blame away, but...
It wasn't until he took her hand that she truly noticed how serious he was. How actually sorry he was. Words where one thing, but actions where a whole different matter, and it just seemed to make everything inside her melt away. When the goddess felt him tremble, her other hand rose to steady the one she was already holding. So cold... he always felt so cold. "Then all that was needed was to tell me you would rather not talk about it." Her voice was, once again, back to what he was used to hear - the formality melted away like if it had never existed in the first place. There was no accusation in his voice, and while some of the hurt remained... it was less than before. Either it was fading, or she was locking it tightly away. At the moment, he couldn't tell. The goddess herself couldn't tell. Thabara So she had known where he had been.. Well, it would have come as a real surprise to him if his chatty aoide actually hadn't spilled the beans about what he'd been up to. But the other thing.. even Ishum didn't know.
"That too would have worried you, I think," he told her softly after thinking it through for little while. "Especially if that request was to concern whatever took place and was spoken between me and the Twin Crown when I went to meet him." Destruction. His hand twitched once more before he let his fingers intertwine with hers. So warm.. Not for the first time he wondered if she found his own physical coldness to be repulsive. But if that was the case, she would let him know, wouldn't she? And she didn't seem to mind.. "But you should know. You, of all people.."
..because I love you.
He didn't dare to vocalize that last bit, but instead he moved to lean against her, very, very lightly. If she was disturbed by the chill of his body, she could still move away from him, couldn't she? Zero Dream Destruction. So that had been it. He had told him something, something that had rattled the Underworld deity rather deeply. Kore.. ? No, the goddess had a feeling it went deeper than this. Beside, she knew about this... This apparently was something she didn't know about.
It was hard not to ask now, but she somehow managed to abstain.
"It would have." She admitted. "But I would not have pressed on..." Given how it seems to eat at you...
She paused for a moment. "But then... I worry about everything, don't I ? Seems to be something I am perhaps too good at."
The cold didn't bother her. Oddly, it had never bothered her. The first time that she realized it, it did surprise her - and maybe even still, every time they first touched, it still surprised her a bit - but she'd never been disturbed by it. Or disgusted. This was what Nergal was, and that was it. Just like she was warm, and just like noise followed her.
Their truer nature, emerging now that host and deity still formed an odd chrysalis of half and half. A mix more true for one than the other.
The urge was too strong - she let herself lean onto him, hands still laced together. "But if something, anything... is ever too much - I can listen, at the very least. You are aware of this, yes ?" Thabara "I am." He closed his eyes, taking in her scent, listening to the soft, calming hum of her wings. She smelled of warm summer days at the beach, the salty breeze of the sea, and faintly of thyme and rosemary.
"Change was what we talked about.. Apparently my inability to do so is what was my inevitable downfall in The Fading. And also.." He hesitated. "There may be a way to restore my realm. But that.. It may come at a high price." Zero Dream The goddess listened, intently. Change... "...Change is a scary thing, indeed. It involves taking risks, but sometime, we have no choice but to."
Kore's words came to mind then... It made sense, now that she thought out it. Everything connected smoothly. However, the next thing was what truly caught her offguard, what made him look up at his face with a mix of worry and expectation. A high price... A high enough price to make him hesitate like that... it couldn't be a good thing.
"And... that would be ?" Her eyes fluttered closed. While the cold of his skin might have been upsetting to anyone else, it wasn't for her. It was oddly comforting, oddly soothing. Thabara "No choice indeed." He spoke quietly but the tone of his voice was growing slightly bitter. "I do not want it, I will openly admit that. When I was reborn I thought it would be only a matter of time until I could restore the remnants of my realm to what it once was, to return everything to how it had been, to how it should be. But now.. Now I no longer know what is right anymore, and that is a very--" He paused for a moment, interrupting himself before the word 'scary' could escape from his lips, settling instead for: "--disconcerting thing."
He shook his head slightly as he shifted uncomfortably. "He was right. I have changed already. Back then, I do not think I knew how to doubt." The rules, the rituals, the laws, the right and righteous way to do things, the only way.. It had offered certainty, safety, but it had also been a cage, albeit a gilded one - and in the end it had been his coffin. Still, this uncertainty, the knowledge that there was no true right path, that he'd have to figure anything through trial and - very likely - error.. It was frightening. He had yearned for freedom, but being a prisoner of one's own rules and rituals had certainly been easier.
"Still, I will not fail a second time. The dead cannot be allowed to wander the realm of the Living much longer. Judgement, Bliss or Eternal Damnation - these things can wait, but the dead must be contained once more, no matter what." He bowed down slightly, his lips almost brushing her ear as he whispered: "'Tear me open, break my bones, twist me inside out to harbor them ALL if it needs be' - these were my thoughts. 'That may just work' was what He replied.."
He turned, shifting to lean against her back to back since it was easier telling her while not having to look at worried and possibly frightened face. "The price.. this physical form quite certainly, this case of flesh and bone." His hand tightened slightly around hers. As irritating as it was to be bound to the Living world for now, the ability to touch was something he was rather fond of. Especially if it was touching.. her. "My sanity or memory - a possibility. And yet I-- Oh." That last sound was surprise, mostly, as his eyes widened slightly and his free hand raised to touch his chest.
He had forgotten about their wings. Zero Dream "One must do what one must." She said, softly. This probably wasn't helping, but... "We cannot fail again, any of us. I doubt we will get a third chance to be should we do." After all, being brought back a second time seemed like it was hard enough... "I do not think any of us will truly be the same, ever again. I know I am not, and I probably never will be."
And then he continued on, and her own hand tightened in his. She could see where he was going ALL too clearly, but to actually have her fears confirmed... The lost of a self, possibly physical AND mentally, for a realm... for something he would do without a second thought, if it actually came down to it. She could lose him, truly lose him, then. The last of a physical form was worrying, but not as much as it could be - there was still the Underworld, yes ? He would still exist there.... yes ? Still, she had to tighten her eyes shut to stop the tears. It was a good thing he'd turned away from her.
But what could she do, if she came and saw no recognition in his eyes ? But, of course... she could not stop him. Neither would she even dare think of it more than a fleeting second. If she was in the same situation, if she had to sacrifice herself for her art...
She would also do it without hesitation. And so would he, when the time would come. There was an odd feeling that overtook her, something totally foreign, cold from within, but she ignored it. "And yet you must. I understand. But you will promise me. You must promise me, that if it all comes down to this..." She sounded so desperate... She could simply not give him a choice on this. "I will see you before it happens, if you have the option to do so."
The odd feeling continued. It was like a sooting feeling that somehow was bringing her anxiety down a notch. It was truly impossible to explain... The eerie silence of a funeral...
Wait, what ?
One blue eye finally dared to open, half a second later it's twin followed suit, and she couldn't help but stare. "...Oh."
There was a pair of wings emerging from her chest. She hadn't even thought they could do THAT. Thabara "Hm.." He wasn't sure himself if that soft moan was supposed to show acknowledgment of her words, or if it was rather a reaction to the strange sensation her wings caused within.
It was:________Rhythm
Like multiple heartbeats, forcing his own to quicken and join the beat.
And it was:________Harmonies
A choral of voices, blissful, countless.. countless.. Was it the dead which had joined the melody, through Her, throughHim?
He couldn't tell. The only thing he really was certain of in this extatic moment was:________The Underworld was filled with Music
And he wished it would never stop. Zero Dream Neither of them where moving, she realized belatedly.
To be blunt, she didn't care. In fact, it seemed... better that way. She didn't want it to stop.
This was...
________Serenity
The calm, cold air of a graveyard at night, where the dead lay undisturbed.
________Soothing
A new state, a new self. A soul purified through Death and Rebirth. The circle continuing itself endlessly with one man at the wheel.
A shiver ran up her spine, and yet she barely noticed how the mist-like wings where cold, given that her own temperature had lowered a bit. She did not care. In her now peaceful stare of mind, she simply could not bother to care about anything, beside standing there with him.
Nothing else mattered. It was... bliss. Thabara Time seemed to have come to a halt for the two dazed deities, none of them could tell if they remained standing like this for hours.. or just seconds. But in the end, almost inevitably, it was Nergal to move first, to tear himself from the blissful sensation for long enough to actually think. If her wings had such an effect on him..
"Are you alright?" he asked, softly.
With mortals, the touch of his wings had always brought forth shivers and chills, and uneasy haunted glances - as if someone had just stepped on their graves. What it might be like for the goddess.. He could not even guess. Zero Dream And then, slowly, the blissful feeling started to fade. She found herself frowning at that fact at first, but her features smoothed out once clarity returned.
Was it only here or was it cold in here all of sudden... ? Her eyes had taken an haunted look indeed, but neither of them had really noticed it in their respective dazes. Only it hadn't really been unpleasant.
Far from it, in fact.
"Yes... I am fine." She managed after a moment, shaking her head as if it would help clear the leftover of her daze. She was shivering a bit, but nothing that would have seemed too serious for the god. Or all that traumatic. Thabara She was shivering, he couldn't help but notice. So he moved, gently, letting go of her hand and stepping away from her just far enough to be able to slip the heavy coat he had inherited from his host from his shoulders. The moment he left the reach of her wings he felt Empty, more so than he ever had before, but he ignored it.
Instead he turned and put his coat down on her shoulders, gently, once more.
Then he embraced her, from behind, her bodiless wings piercing his chest once more, but it wasn't the same sensation as before.. Still, it made him feel less Empty.
"I'm sorry," he said, resting his cheek slightly against Echo's silky hair, very much regretting that he wasn't really able to warm her. He wasn't entirely sure what exactly he meant by it - his previous failings? Guilt that Echo might feel a similar emptiness such as him now? Or was he trying to apologize to Kore that he abandoned the vague memories of her so easily for a new love..?
"I.." His voice trailed off as he wondered what would fill that emptiness within if there was no Music. Souls, perhaps. Souls of the countless. Countless souls. All of them.
All of them.
His right hand moved down, caressing, touching, searching hers.
"I promise," he whispered, gently.
"I promise that, before I go to seek out the Twin Crown once more about the remaking of my realm I will come See You." For farewells maybe. Possibly. "If a lie cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye."
He had no idea whatsoever when or where he might have picked up the 'pinky swear'. The idea seemed silly at first.. yet it felt right. Unbreakable Oaths had been part of his domain once, their breach his to judge.
And he had done so, mercilessly. Zero Dream It was probably a good thing he couldn't see the amused smile that drew itself on the goddess's lips as he did his little pinky swear, vague amusement over-riding the worry of the gravity of those words for the moment. He would have probably been so offended if he had seen it, but she couldn't help herself, it was so amusing.
So unlike him.
She snugged herself in both his arms and his coat, her hand locking inside his again. After the blissful calm faded, worry was quick to reel itself back in the empty spot it had left behind. The black haired goddess, however, smoothed her face the best she could. She had to be strong. If only for him. He'd had enough worries on his mind, as she just now realized the true extend of. He doubtlessly knew how to read her well enough by now to tell, but every little bit helps. Or so she hoped. "...I am glad."
Anger was gone, absent, locked away and forgotten for the time being, washed away by cold wings and cast aside, leaving her with an odd sense of clarity, as if she simply understood better. They had just been closer to each other than almost any living being could even dream of being, and perhaps in a way only they could truly be.
Another chill overtook her, but it was not from the cold. No, it was something... an intense need and most of all... longing. Love was indeed stronger than anger, in this case.
It felt almost like she'd fallen in love with him all over again. Somewhere, she thought, Rio must have been very amused.
At last, she let herself twirl, winding up face to face with him and peering up at his face. "We should go inside." Her voice was soft, any hardness or eerie formalities erased. "Then you can tell me about your trip. I can tell you about my concert." An impish smile drew on her face. "...And I will make you some coffee. I found some mocha in a tiny shop the other day, Tempo said it was delicious, but it would be a shame if he wound up drinking the whole thing."
If that didn't get him inside in three seconds flat, then the end of the world was much closer than she feared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:34 pm
Aftershocks And so they've sat, and talked. It was pleasant, really, to just listen to the Underworld god as he spoke of his travels, of the goddess of shadows and of his brother. That was odd, she hadn't remembered he had a brother - or perhaps she had never noticed. It was very possible. At that very moment she could have spent forever just listening to him, but the effects of a mortal body had sent her toward her bed sooner than she would have wished. The simple joy of having him back around was almost enough to override her fear of what he had told her earlier in the day - but now that she was alone once more with only the buzz of her wings to keep her company, the worrying thoughts returned. It felt somewhat useless to think about it, since there was nothing she could do to change it. She wouldn't stop him, of course. She couldn't stop him. Yet... she worried. She could only hope for the best - if she had been mortal, she might have prayed for the best, but who was she supposed to pray to ? Herself ? She gave a soft snort at the idea as she fussed and tossed over on her other side, staring at the wall. Sometime the merge caused the oddest concepts to enter her mind before she caught them - she did not regret it, but she was in fact glad she hadn't messed up everything in the process. Because, oddly, more than ever, she felt needed. She'd noticed faces that came each week as she sang. And she had to admit one thing. It felt good. Electrifying, invigorating. She did not feel like she was using them, no - it was quite of an odd feeling she couldn't quite pinpoint and explain. Feeling like you had a purpose, a reason to be here and to wake up every morning in despite living into a world that was shifting and breaking down around yourself was a wonderful thing. A light in a sea of darkness, almost. In a sense, maybe it was what she had needed. The first step was always the longer one, the hardest one. But now ? She was glad she hadn't backed down, and she was happy with herself and what she had accomplished. It was a far cry from what she felt like only months ago. Confused and lost and losing things one by one. So many feelings, some foreign, some not. Just like when Nergal's wings went through her heart and touched her more directly that it could ever have been. The simple thought sent shivers down her spine once more. Was it odd that she wanted it again ? No, it wasn't, she figured after some thought. She loved him, deeply, and this... This had been mind blowing, and she couldn't help but wonder if it had been the same for him. How had it felt on his side of things, she wondered once more, but she had not dared to ask. And then there was Lien. It couldn't be long, now - the goddess was yet mostly dormant inside her gem prison, as she had once been, but it would remain so. It couldn't remain so. She would have to find the strength inside herself to let the young woman go, just like Beryl had let Zero go. She couldn't help but be nervous and fear a bit - she did not know if she could do that. She refused to distance herself to ease the pain - no, she had to give Lien happy memories before Cosine was ready. She had promised she would be there for the both of them, and she would do her best to keep her promise. If anything, she had to at least be able to bottle her tears and pain and spill it out when the goddess would not hear. She could probably do that. Her thoughts would not stop spiraling, but eventually she did manage to settle and fall asleep, her body and mind worn out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:34 pm
Such A Pun-full Dragon Sosiqui After meeting Colin, Tian Yue decided that it might be good to walk for a while - true, one could go far and fast soaring through the skies, but it was also easy to overlook things. Miss things. And that meeting with Colin and Endiovar had been enjoyable... perhaps there were other godlings newly come, wandering and lost. Needing help. Needing... rescue?
Well, maybe not rescue. But guidance.
So he found an excuse. "Toki, which way is this tea shop of yours?" the dragon asked, pausing on a ruined street corner. He was aware that an apparent human and... well, an apparent crazy with bunny ears on... were not terribly imposing, but he was utterly unconcerned about being accosted or ambushed. Starfang was at his side, and if need be he could shift and become very, very dangerous indeed.
The Aoide tugged at one bunny ear. "Where... where... oh! Yes. I remember. I found it just the other day." He beamed.
Tian Yue suppressed the urge to sigh. "Yes, you told me that already.... so where is it?" he prompted again, after the Aoide gave him a confused look.
"Oh!" Goodness, he is having a scatterbrained day, isn't he... "Yes, yes, right!" Toki flapped his wings and flitted up a good ten feet over Tian Yue's head. "Right. It is past the park. A small place! It has been buried behind rubble, but I found it. Me! Toki!" The Aoide smiled broadly and flapped his way towards a clearing ahead... that might hav ebeen a park, in a better time. Now it was battered, bruised and wilted.
As Tian Yue followed Toki, he suddenly stopped. Was that... He tilted his head to one side, concentrating. Yes... no, I didn't imagine that! Music... someone is playing music...? "Toki... let's take a detour." The dragon didn't wait for his Aoide's repluy, but instead immediately turned his steps to enter the nearest park gate, listening, trying to follow the melody to its creator. Zero Dream What the dragon king was hearing, in fact, was the sound of a violin - and not so far away, at that. Eventually his steps led him to a clearing of sort in the park, where there where seats and a scene of short - in a slightly better shape than the rest of the equipment there, as the scene seemed to have recently received a fresh coat of black paint, which hadn't had time to start chipping under the influence of decay just yet, but it probably wouldn't be long.
And on that scene, there was a figure that the young dragon king might recognize. The goddess played her violin, in front of no crowd but two winged figures further back. The instrument's playing seemed to get a bit... more heavy, with feelings that where not quite allowed to be let out as they where.
And then, her voice rose. Clear like crystal, deep and powerful, a voice that could almost not be connected to the small form standing in the middle of the scene.
"Wherever you will go, I will find you, I will love you, hopelessly, endlessly, even should this dream end..."
Thankfully, her long coat allowed enough mobility to allow her to play and stay warm at the same time. For the concert, she had went for pretty, and pretty had been a bit chilly - perhaps one of the cause of her tiredness on the days that had followed, and a reminder that she wasn't quite whole yet. Not quite herself, but perhaps she would never be so again. Not after everything she had done and lived in this new life.
If everything was to be different, then why should she be the exception ?
"Even should this dream ends... I will stay behind, for you."
Eventually, she allows the sound of the instrument to die down, staring at the rows of seats for a moment before she sat, her "tail" of string shifting, as if they had a mind of their own, to avoid being sat on. The bow of the violin, as well as the instrument itself, went to rest on her lap, her hand going to a notebook there to write down something - the song was obviously unfinished - before her head tilted to watch her two present aoide - Concerto, while he now allowed himself the luxury of coming back home and staying more often, had again gone to cater to the need of Rio and his daughter. They where both speaking in sign language, possibly squabbling - as if the goddess would not notice ! It brought some some sign of amusement to a face that had been rather blank before. Sosiqui Tian Yue stilled as he realized he was at the edge of the park's ampitheater, and that it wasn't empty. Spellbound, he listened to the song, and after a moment he realized that he knew the player. Echo. No wonder, he thought, with a soft smile. Such a gift, to listen to a song spun by Music herself...
The emotional draw, the feel of the song seemed to go on longer than the actual music itself, and after a thoughtful pause, Tian Yue began to clap, offering a half-bow to the goddess. "Pardon, Lady Echo... I could not help but listen." Zero Dream Echo perked a bit in apparent surprise when she heard a voice she did not instantaneously recognize. He did seem familiar, and he definitively knew of her, but... ? Hm, she could have sworn she had teen those hairs and those glasses somewhere, but...
Ah ! There it was. She gave a soft smile. "Thank you, lord Tien Lung. It is quite an honor to have one of the dragon kings as an audience, I must admit." She slid the violin and the bow back into the base, protecting the instrument as she gave herself a push and allowed herself to land on the ground safely. Sosiqui He was recognized! That was somewhat gratifying, but also reminded him that she didn't know about what had happened, since they had met before the merging... still, he couldn't possibly see Music reacting badly.
I should print out cards with explanations on them, and hand them out. It'd save time.
"It is an honor to listen," Tian Yue replied, pleased, his tail waggling briefly under his robes. "I am called Tien Lung Tian Yue now - the host and god you knew have become one, as you can see. Oh, and this is an Aoide in my service, Toki." He waited for the Aoide to speak, but when no sound came, the Dragon King turned around. "Toki?"
The Aoide was nowhere to be seen, and Tian Yue's brow furrowed. He was sure Toki had followed him... "Where did he get off to?" Zero Dream And, just as the dragon king expected, the goddess did not react badly. After all, if she was to condemn him for it, she might as well do the same for herself, first of all.
"I see. I am pleased to meet you anew then, Lord Tian Yue." It did seem a bit non-similar than what she and Zero had done - especially with something as radical as a new name for the whole. But then, if the dragon wanted to explain, he would do so as he wished - she did not need to bother him with questions.
Perhaps Echo's expression was part of what had clued Tian Yue to turn, an eyebrow raising idly as he mentioned an aoide. A gesture that seemed oddly.. human, on a goddess, as she caught herself wondering if he had an invisible aoidei for a moment and doing her best to repress the amusement that thought had caused. "Should we go look for him, then ? The park is large, and he may have gotten lost, with what is left of the woods." Sosiqui Tian Yue sighed, looking slightly put out - though at Toki, not at Echo herself. "Perhaps it might be wise," he admitted. "Toki can take care of himself, but he's... er, slightly... odd. Slightly off. He was... awake and alive even after the Fading, keeping watch until this day." And that much time could do something to a mind, even to one kept as close to divinity as an Aoide's. "He is an excellent servant, though," he added quickly. "Don't feel obligated to come with me if you'd rather not, though... I don't want to interrupt your practice." Zero Dream "I see..." So devoted... but he had paid the price. "My own sealed themselves in crystals, they told me, triggered to break should I walk the world again. They sealed themselves... in what remained of my temple after my passing." The goddess had a visible shiver. "I... havn't dared to go there. Not yet. Eventually... I will have to. If only to see, and to have a chance to truly understand myself. But not yet. I do not dare yet." In truth, she was... afraid.
"I would be glad to come with you - Even I should do something else, every now and then." The goddess said with a smile. "A little walk would do me some good, my legs are getting cramped from standing so long in one spot." Sosiqui "I would be glad of your company, then," Tian Yue said cheerfully, and offered her a half-bow. "Your Aoide were perhaps less optimistic than Toki was. For better or worse. I've been to a place like a temple, once... somewhere precious to me that lies in ruins now, though not quite as badly as somewhere here might be. Outer space has its own troubles, but it has far fewer lifeforms to rot and chew." Zero Dream "Perhaps they where... But I believe I would have done the same, if I had been in their position." Echo answered, leading the pace toward what was left of the forest that had once surrounded the amphitheater.
"I figure my temple would have been the most precious thing I had... Which is why I feel that I will need to make my way there, eventually. If only... because I can." She nodded to herself. "And to see if anything remains, even after so long. I doubt it, but..." Sosiqui "I would like to restore the Gallery someday... but not for some time. The worlds need restoration before my own concerns." Tian Yue reached up and snapped a brittle branch easily off of a half-dead tree; the leaves crumbled to dust with the movement. He frowned, slightly. "But we won't have to put up with much more of this... not here. Not when I come into my power again. I will protect this place. The return of life will draw mortals and followers, and we will thrive." Zero Dream "I must admit that I will look forward to the day... I will help, as I can. If I can." It almost seemed silly - Music, extending her help to one of the kings ? She could do nothing next to what they where capable of.
"I have been holding small events here - a major concert on Christmas Eve, and I hope to have more to follow. I cannot repair, I cannot protect, but, perhaps... Perhaps I might bring hope, give the mortals the hope and will to live long enough so that your shields will protect them. It is all I can do for now, so I may as well do it... The first one was a success even I hadn't anticipated. Everyone loved it. I saw smiles on their faces, twinkles in their eyes, that I had only seen through eyes not my own." Sosiqui "No, that is something, something very important..." Tian Yue shook his head and let the stick in his hand fall to the ground. "I used to think that the only way to save the world was to do momentous and mighty things, and I made myself very frustrated and feel very worthless when I couldn't do things like that... but someone helped me realize that wasn't what I needed to do." He smiled, and fiddled with the edge of one sleeve. "Anyone can save the world if you look at it in bits. One bit at a time." Zero Dream Save the world, hm ?
"I think you would be better at this whole "saving the world" business than I would, lord. But, I can make them dance, at the very least." There was a smile in her face, until she looked upward with a small frown. That was in situation like this that being gifted with flight might have come in handy... The waves on her back gave a sudden shift as her conscious thoughts shifted to it, but she was, of course, grounded. "I hope he did not go too far..." Sosiqui "A dance is a step. A single moment of joy is a step. Hope is a step... and you can do all that, believe me." Tian Yue followed her gaze upward, then sighed.
"I guess that would be more effective, wouldn't it? One moment." The Dragon King crouched for a moment, then leapt into the air, his robes flapping awkwardly as he flew upwards, gaining height over the treetops. "TOKI! Toki, where the hell are you? Toki!" he yelled, pivoting in mid-air to try and catch a glimpse of the wayward Aoide among the distant trees, or perhaps the streets surrounding the park.
Nothing.
"Damn it, where is he?" Tian Yue grumbled as he descended, heading for the ground.
"Yes?"
Tian Yue jumped upwards several feet and hovered there, whirling. Toki was on the ground a few feet behind Echo, looking up at him with a completely innocent and confused expression.
"How long have you been there?!"
Toki tilted his head to one side. "A few minutes?"
"For the love of-" Tian Yue shook his head and landed next to Echo with a thump. "Toki..."
The Aoide's face took on a look fo distress. "My lord?"
"Nevermind." Tian Yue sighed, resigned. "Toki, this is Lady Echo, Music. Echo, this is Toki."
Toki immediately dropped to one knee in an elaborate bow. "Lady Music! An honor." Zero Dream Well, that hadn't exactly been something Echo was expecting to see, sapphire blue eyes going wide and tailing him as he lifted off.
So he could, in fact, fly without wings. How interesting, and a bit odd, she had to admit. It made a twinge of jealousy rise, but... she shoved that as far back inside herself as she could once the dragon king came back, misplaced aoidei in tow. A glint of amusement danced in her eyes, but she did her best to keep that hidden as well.
....Where those bunny ears ?
"Pleased to meet you, Toki." The goddess said with a smile. Sosiqui "Toki..." Tian Yue hesitated. He wasn't entirely sure the Aoide needed to be involved in the conversation he was having with Echo, but it seemed stupid to send him home after making such a fuss over looking for him. After a moment's thought, the dragon settled on a compromise. "Please go back to the amphitheater and wait for me there. I would talk with Echo a while longer - if she permits, of course," he added, glancing over to her with a questioning smile.
Toki got up from his kneeling position, then bowed. Zero Dream "Of course." The goddess answered, then cast a gentle glance on the pale aoidei. "My own await back there - if they are actually done squabbling among themselves..." The goddess' melodious voice was heavily dipped with amusement. "...And thus should they wonder where I may have gone, do let them know, if you would be so kind, that I have gone on a walk with your lord, and that I am definitively in safe hands ?"
It would do no good to send Tempo's overprotectiveness in overdrive, after all. Sosiqui Toki bowed again. "Of course, my Lady - I will do so at once!" He bowed yet one more time, the bunny ears on his head bobbing up and down, then turned and leapt into the air himself, his wings beating as he zipped back along the path, the way they had come.
Tian Yue sighed and shook his head, though he was smiling. "That's Toki for you. Faithful to the last, even if he isn't all there sometimes... he'll do precisely what you asked. Even if your Aoidei have gone to the edge of the earth, by the stars, he'll find them and inform them! He went six hours away once when I asked for a cup of tea." Zero Dream "Really ?" The goddess rose an eyebrow in surprise. "That is quite particular, I must agree." All that devotion... it was almost scary, in fact.
"Shall we carry on, then ?" She said with a smile. "Now that my owns shall not worry about my wereabouts ?" Sosiqui "Of course - I have been too busy with petty troubles lately to really enjoy..." Tian Yue glanced around him at the brittle trees.
Well, at least there are trees. They could be gone, blasted, kindling. "To enjoy what pleasure can be found in this world. Your company included," he added, with a smile. "We divine beings are too hermit-like, it seems." Zero Dream At his last sentence, she couldn't help herself - she laughed, the sound pure, pleasant, and somehow uplifting, like a thousand tiny bells ringing at once.
"So it seems, doesn't it ? Perhaps our greatest flaw." She nodded, slowly, and softly. "I see so little anymore of my own kind... Partly my own fault, I must admit." Sosiqui "It is part of the Age that we are in, I suspect... it makes us disinclined to go and seek out others, perhaps. I know that if I don't pay attention, my Lord's influence can shove at my emotions, turning them down darker paths." He shook his head. "Much of what we see is wrong in us is truly just a sign of the Age." Zero Dream THat seemed to have Echo's attention, head tilting to look at the dragon king in a mix of curiosity and thought. "Perhaps..."
...Her own uncertainty... ? No, that seemed too easy of a way out, in all honesty. Way too easy of a way out, she decided.
"It makes sense, that most of us would rather remain in what little we are able to protect." The goddess said with a sigh. Sosiqui "Once my power returns... right now, its area of effect is so small that I don't often erect it, especially since I tend to be within the Pantheon most of the time... and I suspect canceling the influences of other gods randomly would be considered somewhat rude." He made a face. Not that anyone had ever complained, but ever since Illario had reacted so dramatically to the shield, he was somewhat wary of springing it on other living things, let alone gods, without asking them first.
"But when the time comes, I will be able to protect this place. I will be able to fulfill my duty." The thought sent a thrill through him, and his grin to Echo had something wild in it. Something draconic. Zero Dream That did not surprise the goddess to much, and did not really scare her either - that was to be expected, given that Tian Yue was, well, a dragon king. His other form must be quite something to behold, she couldn't help but think. She couldn't help but envy him, a little - so beloved by the lord of all, with such a clean-cut path of action in front of him. Or so it at least seemed.
"I... must admit I am still a bit uncertain of what I need to do. I know what I am doing now, but beyond that... Not so much." Mostly because even herself couldn't even remember what exactly she had been doing before her own demise. Sosiqui "Heh..." Tian Yue glanced down, his smile softening, and kicked at a rock on their path, sending it tumbling into a tree trunk with a solid thunk. "My be-all and end-all right now is waiting for that moment when I can do what I was created to do... after that? I don't know. But does anyone know what to do for all their lives? Even mortals? I know I didn't, when I was Crispin." He made a face. "It's not a failing, I don't think." Zero Dream "Of course not." After all, who the hell could know everything ? Beside Fate...
"I just think it would be easier if I even knew who I was. I don't. But then... it would be useless, because I am not the same." The goddess looked pensive as she walked. "Even without my host, I wouldn't be exactly the same, I think."
It was so very easy to talk about something that was usually kind of hard to talk about, to an ear that had gone even deeper than she had. "Zero had no plans beside vague ones, and she couldn't have cared less. I wish she could have taught me that..." Sosiqui "I certainly don't think it's easier... but then, I've never been anything... well." Tian Yue made a confused gesture. "In a sense I've been both a Dragon King and a human, but in another sense I've never been anything but me, right now. It doesn't help that both dragon and human memories don't feel like mine anymore, not entirely... no. I have enough to give me guidance and sometimes make me hurt..." His smile took on an ironic cast for a moment. "But we are all changed. I know how someone who was not me would interact with someone who is no longer who they were. That's about as useful as a broken compass. We have to forge something new... I don't know. I guess, once I got it out of my system... it started to be almost exciting. We have more freedom than anything has since the First Days." Zero Dream "THat must be quite confusing indeed." Echo answered, her tone sympathetic, but not pitying. At least what little shards she could recall she could identify as hers. Her host's memories she had discarded, sent to the void - mostly out of respect of the teenager's privacy. Maybe that didn't matter, but it had made the goddess somehow feel better about what she had to do.
"My flashes of clarity, sound and images, are few and far in between - I remember emotions much vividly. Voices rather than faces, I remember in Song and Music rather than shapes and brings." It almost made her wonder if, somehow, it was how she simply stored things in her memory. "I, also, remember enough to hurt." Her smile took a sad undertone.
Kore...
"...Enough to make me hurt even if sometimes there isn't really a reason for me to feel this way, but I figure this is who I am." She shrugged, sending the layers of clothes that formed her sleeves in motion.
"I might agree, if I had been there to see the truly first days. I know myself young, as far as deities go." Sosiqui "I didn't see them either - not me, not my predecessor either. Dragon Kings are young as well, really. The... Thirteenth Age, if the books I read in the library were correct... but that doesn't matter."
He paused. "I know what you mean, though. I can make plans and feel as gung-ho as I like, but the moment I think about actually carrying some of them out, I freeze - because I don't know what to do, and it almost seems better to not know and not do, then to try and fail..." Zero Dream It was almost odd, to think of how both Tian Yue and herself where similar, in despite being also completely different.
"Even with a book, I wouldn't be able to tell you. But then, this isn't exactly the most important thing of my past that I wish I could recall."
Then she smiled, almost amused. "Three days before the concert, I was so scared. If I had been a cat, I would have clawed my way to the celling and never let go. Such unfitting of a goddess, really." She said with a touch of playful sarcasm. "You could say I am also familiar with this "Make plans, then wish you could dig yourself a hole and stay there" business." Sosiqui "But it went well, didn't it? I can feel the slightest touch of your power around this place." Tian Yue stopped walking and tilted his head up, looking at the trees as they dangled brittle needles at him. "An... echo, if you would... oh, stars, I'm sorry. That was a horrible, horrible pun." Zero Dream Echo was silent for a moment, blinking... then she laughed again, that pure laugh. "Oh, that indeed did work out well in the end. I had nothing to worry about, but I tend to worry about everything and anything. Ill forgive you, even if that pun was indeed quite horrible." horrible... horrible...
There was a playful short of smirk on the goddess' face, visibly proud of herself. "I was wondering if I could still do that." Sosiqui Tian Yue visible paused at the echoes, then began to laugh. "And you are at least as horrible as I am - and a sight more clever." Zero Dream "Ill take that as a compliment." Sapphire eyes seemed to almost glow with her whole amusement at the whole thing. The goddess was clearly happier than she had been in quite awhile. "You are such pleasant company, you realize that, yes ?" Sosiqui "Am I?" Tian Yue looked surprised for a moment, then grinned. "I only echo your own pleasantness." He took one step back away from her, impish. Zero Dream Ohhhh, reaaallllyyyyy....
Echo pondered her next move, equally impish and clearing her throat before speaking. "You're so naughty, lord Tian Yue, perhaps ill have to echo you instead ?"
The shift was slow, deliberate, and quite controlled - and awfully close, but no cigar. His voice was a bit too masculine for her to pull it's tone perfectly, being a woman and all, but she'd come close enough to be boggling. "As you can see, I am not a one-trick pony." She said with a grin. Sosiqui Tian Yue actually jumped as her voice flowed into a passable imitation of his own. "Hmph... so you're not," he said, with a bow. "Since I'd rather not ruin the robes I'm wearing, perhaps I should call myself bested... unless you want to turn around." He clasped his hands behind his back and shifted back and forth, his tail wagging lightly at the tip. Zero Dream Echo rose an eyebrow, amused expression still intact. "Only if you promise not to do anything funny while im not looking." She said in a sing-song voice, but played along and flipped around, staring at a tree like a good little girl, the strings of her tail waving along with the slight breeze. Sosiqui "I won't do anything weird," Tian Yue promised, then grinned as she turned around. It's not weird. It's quite natural - for me, anyway. He quickly untied his robes and let them fall, then shifted into his dragon shape, moving as quietly as he could and holding his tail up so he wouldn't make any telltale noises that would indicate the shift to Echo's ears.
He tip-toed (inasmuch as a dragon can) up behind Echo, then sat up in his best 'looming' pose.
"Boo." The word was said quietly, almost laughingly. Zero Dream It was a good thing that he couldn't see her face - or how her ear twitched as she heard the robe fall down. Honestly, he was quite lucky that Echo wasn't that evil. But she remained still, like a good little girl, trying to contain her laugher when she heard him attempt to stealth about, her mental image of the whole quite hilarious, until he finally spoke and she peered aside to catch a glance without turning.
"That should be considered cheating." She said with a mock-pout, trying to look as serious as possible, but falling. Very badly. Sosiqui "But it isn't, I assure you," Tian Yue rumbled, amused. He shifted to give her more personal space, then laid down, his ears perked. "It seems we've walked quite far, Lady Echo. Could I offer you a lift back to your Aoidei?" Zero Dream "I don't quite have anything to counter that, so I shall admit myself bested." Then, her face turned from amused to a look of almost child-like wonder. "You would ? Really ?"
This was exciting. She had only flown once, with Beryl. But that had been Zero, not her. Sosiqui "Unlike my brother Zhijian, who is sworn to bear only the Twin Crown, I can carry who I like, where I like," Tian Yue said, with a toothy draconic grin. "The best place to sit is just above my forelegs, with your legs in front of mine - or so Morgan tells me." Zero Dream "Morgan ? You know her ? How is she ?" Echo couldn't quite stop the influx of question that assaulted her mind. She'd only met the girl and her goddess once, offered them shelter, and they where gone early the next day, yet she still found herself worrying a bit.
She hesitated for a moment, but moved to go and sit, positioning herself as well as she could with her skirt being in the way and all. Sosiqui "You could say that," Tian Yue said, with an amused snort. "Morgan is my lover. And she's doing well... the goddess grows stronger, but they are together, not fighting within. A good thing." He could never have borne it if Tien had ended up being like Phaedra.
He quieted as Echo seated herself, then stood up slowly, careful not to startle her. "Are you seated well?" he asked, shifting from side to side a little bit on the ground, getting the feel of her weight and the way she moved. Zero Dream "I am glad to hear that. Oh, a woman of taste then." Echo said with a playful smirk.
Her grip lightened lightly when he stood, but the goddess remained calm, confident. Tian Yue would not drop her. "I think so... Am I hindering your movements ?" Echo had a bit of experience with riding, but that was with Aria, not... well... a dragon. A dragon of her own kind. Sosiqui "No..." He shifted his weight again. "It's fine. Hold tight to my mane!" Tian Yue lifted his head and roared playfully at the sky, then crouched and leapt up into the air, his tail lashing up a small flurry of fallen needles from the ground. Within moments they were high above the trees. Zero Dream And Echo clung on the best she could, mindful to not pull on his mane too much.
But she had to admit... it was amazing - completely unlike anything she had ever felt before. With Beryl it hadn't been the same - mostly because Zero had been the one to truly experience it.
But now ? It was her moment, and she enjoyed every second of it. Sosiqui Tian Yue rumbled, pleased at the goddess' reaction - the view could be depressing to some, seeing as it allowed only a fuller understanding of the extent of the destruction around them, but flight itself remained a simple joy.
He did not disturb the silence with words; instead, he turned and coiled lightly towards the amphitheater below. It was not very far at all, but he circled around a bit more than was really needed. Just to make it last longer. Zero Dream Likewise, Echo did not dare speak, afraid to break the moment if she did. The only sound was a soft hum of her wings, which circled in trails in between goddess and dragon. The view was a bit depressing of course, but it was easy to overlook in light of experiencing something truly new.
Another thing surprised her, and that was just how soft Tian Yue's scales where. She hadn't ever touched scales before, and wasn't quite sure what she had expected them to feel like, but it wasn't quite like this. Sosiqui Quietly, then, Tian Yue gently spiraled downward into the open clearing that held the amphitheater. He landed as softly as he could on the clear space between the front row of benches and the stage, then lay down on the ground to allow Echo to dismount easily. "And here you are, Lady Music. Was it to your liking?" he rumbled, flicking one ear back in her direction, amused. Zero Dream The goddess let herself slide off the dragon's scaled back, and allowed herself a gentle rub along his neck. "That was even better than I had expected." She answered, all smiles. "Thank you." Sosiqui "You are quite welcome - ah," Tian Yue raised his head and stood up as Toki scurried towards them.
"My lord! Oh - I was worried when I saw you in scales. Did something happen?" The Aoide looked flustered, then blushed when Tian Yue threw back his head and laughed.
"No, you silly creature - I was simply giving the Lady Echo a ride back. I could hardly do that in my other shape, could I? Well..." He glanced over at her. "I could, but it would lack grandeur and majesty... and dignity..." Zero Dream "And I would probably have been a bit heavy for your lord to carry me at arm's length." Echo said with a wink, head tilting as she noticed her own aoidei peering from the back. "Ah, done bickering I see ?"
The look on Alto and Tempo's face, as well as their blush, was well worth it, and Echo laughed. Sosiqui "I thank you, Lady Echo," Toki said, bowing low to the goddess. "I do not often get to talk with other Aoidei." He glanced over at Alto and Tempo, then waved one hand shyly at them.
Tian Yue laughed again. "Did you have a good time?" Sometimes his Aoide was so childlike... it was strange, yes, but also a bit endearing. Quote: "That is no problem at all - I am sure they where quite honored themselves." The aoidei echoed the goddess' words with a nod, and Alto waved back with a grin.
...A grin which made Echo wonder just -what- they had been talking about... but nevermind that. Sosiqui "Well, then." Tian Yue shifted a bit, then held out the bundle of robes he held in one foreclaw to Toki, who took them and carefully refolded them to be neater before hugging them to his own chest. "We should probably continue on our errand before it gets much later - but if you should be in the Pantheon again, Echo, you and yours are more than welcome to come and visit. In fact, I would be rather put out if you didn't! Toki too."
Toki's eyes grew bright at the thought of having visitors of his very own. Quote: "We should probably do the same as well, shouldn't we ?" Echo sent a glance to the two aoidei, and they leapt off the scene to get closer. "And ill have to do that. Feel free to think up some cruel and unusual punishment if I skip it... ...is that what they say ?" She said with a grin.
"We'll see you soon then." Echo said with a smile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:35 pm
Heart Of Shadows ...Something felt... off as she entered the room. It was the first thing she noticed as she slid into her own room, towel firmly rolled around her mane of blue-black hairs, bathrobe warped around her body. Even if the second floor of the house was considered sorely her's, the aoidei did often come - to clean, or whatever else... therefore, a bathrobe was only a simple investment of security and preserved modesty for a woman living with only one other lady among a sea of men. One foot went to close the door after her form, and the stood there for a moment. The feeling wouldn't go away, it only seemed to amplify. Something felt odd. Not threatening, no, but odd, in a way that the goddess couldn't quite explain. Blue eyes wandered the room, not quite narrow but a bit slanted in caution for better observation. There was the desk, and it was untouched - she could tell. It seemingly was buried in various papers, pens, pencils, sharpeners, binders, and other supplies her servants had scavenged for her from various stores that had closed down. But even in her chaos, Echo had a relative order. If anything had moved, if the piles of papers had been tampered with, she would without a doubt had known, but they where the same. This wasn't it. Her glance moved to the wall, where various trinkets rested on makeshift stands. Guitar, violin, flute... everything was there. What was it, then ?! The goddess took a few steps in, and sat on her bed, now knowing that this was about to answer her own questions. She almost screamed when something cold touched her arm while it was rolling it's way down her lap, and her eyes, wide with surprise, where redirected to the object in question. A black... heart. A black, shadow-y heart. The Weaver, then ? She had received a few gifts from one calling itself the Weavers of Shadows. The others had perked her attention, but she had been so busy with other matters, like her concert, one hand scooping it up, the cold sending a chill down her spine. The tendrils of shadows danced. Danced... like... like... ________ A shimmering blade under the moonlight, bare feet on the cold earth, moving along the darkness________________ A cold hand on her arm, a soft whisper caressing the tips of her sensitive ears________ A friend and teacher in the most unlikely of places...The strength of the yet still unfortunately vague memories sent Echo reeling backward, almost toppling off her bed as she reached to hold her head in faint hope of making the emerging headache recede, the small, shadow-y heart falling on the pure white bedding. Yet it was all she would get to understand, and now her curiosity was throughly awakened. There would be only one way for her to maybe figure this out. Eventually, she would have to meet the Weaver. She could ask Nergal for the way to her temple when she saw him again, and when she could, take on the journey herself. She would do her best to seek out and rebuild that little fragment of what once was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:36 pm
The Pickiest Teacher Of All "Do-sol-fa, Melody." The goddess' voice was still gentle even at it's most serious, as she paced around slightly, the sound of her steps in timing with the metronome that was nested on one of the tables. "Not Do-sol-mi.""I am sorry, miss Echo !" The little mouse girl squeaked a bit, before pulling the flute back at her lips. Being taught music by a goddess, especially one which had created it, was quite an honor, but the offside of the blessing was that one then wound up with the hardest teacher to please in the whole history of... well... ever. Right now, she wasn't exactly feeling worthy of the attention, but she knew for a fact that Echo wouldn't allow her to outright give up, so she gave another look at the sheet music in front of her, and then started anew. Melody's apartment was no-where like her own, and it was the first thing the goddess had noticed. She could tell that her and her lover where doing her best to keep it in a decent shape, but still entropy was eroding the building down, slowly but surely. The floor creaked in places as she walked. It still amused the mouse girl deeply that Echo's pacing was in tune with the metronome. She could tell that she only about had half the goddess' attention span, but since she managed to pick up her errors just fine, it seemed to be enough. She would need to visit Charles soon. And find the Weaver. And possibly see Tian Yue again - the dragon was such a darling... Oh, and spend more time with Nergal. Definitively spend more time with Nergal.... One of these days she was going to have to the test the coffee lure, if only for her own amusement. Do-sol-fa-mi..."Good, Melody, good." The goddess forced herself back in the present. Her student deserved her full attention, after all. "You are improving very fast, dear.""Really ? I am ?!" Echo could see her little tail twitch from one side to another with excitement. Did the mouse girl realize how cute she could be ? Probably not. "Hm-m." The black-haired woman nodded, stepping up to turn the metronome off. "We'll take a break now. Your poor little fingers must be cramping up by now.""Actually... yes, they are..." She admitted, gaze going to the floor. Echo had looked so absorbed that she hadn't wanted to disturb her... She hadn't yet worked how she actually had to act toward the goddess. She knew Echo as a goddess, a rather powerful being on her own right, one worthy of worship... but at the same time she was so friendly, and did not exactly act like what she was taught of gods as a child, it was hard not to see the black-haired woman as a friend. Little did she know that this was probably exactly what the goddess wanted. "You need to let me know of things like that." She scolded playfully, giving her a wink. "Put that aside for now, dear. I brought some tea leaves for you and I to share..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:37 pm
Just A Little Teasing~ Meepfur Rio lounged on his stomach on one of the downstairs couches, legs bent at the knee and feet in the air, just hoping that maybe someone would come along. He hadn't seen much of anyone outside his family in ages. Not that there was anything wrong with spending time with your family, but it would be nice to see another god now and then. Especially someone new! That would be fabulous. Of course, anyone at all would be.Adi, bored with just hanging around, had curled up on one of the round couches and fallen asleep. Zero Dream Concerto, as always, was never too far away. Adi was simply just too adorable and watching Love's daughter was probably a full-time job on it's own, but he liked it. He missed Echo sometimes, but he still liked it.
The aoide perked slightly when he heard the door open, but then he apparently heard something else and all but ran in direction of the door.It wouldn't be long until Echo stepped in the room, face pulled in a mock-pout. "Oh, I see how this is." She gave a michevious grin. "I bet Rio likes me more than you do !" But it was easy to tell that the goddess wasn't really angry. She watched the brothers act like chatterboxes for a moment before she turned amused eyes to Rio. "Hello there. Confortable, are we ?" Her head tilted. "...Is that Adi ? Dear gods, she every bit as cute as Concerto told me." Meepfur Concerto had definitely been a godsend...or goddess-send, as it were. Orin had it easy with Kin! He lived in a temple full of other servants. Rio had a cat...and, more recently, flooxes. While good for entertainment purposes, they were pretty lousy when it came to helping.
He perked when Music entered, quickly pushing himself up off the couch. "Echo!" Rio wasted no time in giving her a hug. "Isn't she?"The half-werewolf stirred at the sound of voices, tufted ears twitching, and soon she was sitting up with a yawn. Adi looked around, blinking sleepily before smiling at the pretty lady. Zero Dream And Echo also wasted no time in hugging him back. Rio was one of the gods she really felt the closest too - it was very easy to forget formalities and just be around Love, just like with Tian Yue. And he always knew how to make her smile.
"How have you been ?" She grinned, then glanced down at Adi, returning her smile. "Hello there, im Echo." Meepfur "Oh, wonderful!" Rio stretched his wings, and the candy appendages creaked slightly. "How about you?""Hi!" Following suit, Adi too stretched her wings, though hers didn't make any weird noises - they were soft, not hard. "'m Adi." Zero Dream "I've been doing great." Oh, there was many things she needed to tell him - she should sing him the first song from her concert, he would love it ! But, but, the sheer cuteness that was Adi derailed her mind for a moment. She finally let go of Rio and knelt down to get a closer look to the little girl.
"Pleased to meet you. Say, Adi, I need to ask you something, it's very important. Has Concerto been a good boy ?" She did her best to look serious, as if it was a matter of high importance. Meepfur "And how's Nergal~?" Rio simply couldn't resist! Oh, he'd be sure not to tell on Ishum, but he just couldn't keep the knowledge to himself. It simply wasn't in his nature. Echo was a friend, anyway!Had Concerto been good? Adrienne, still not fully awake, had to take a minute to think about the question. Soon, however, she nodded. "Yeah. Snores sometimes, though." Zero Dream "Yes, he does that." Echo announced, but then was completely caught off-guard by Rio's next question.
How did he...
...
...Ishum.
She had to resist the urge to facepalm, but did the next best thing, probably, humor-wise - she blushed, and her ears started wriggling a bit, nervously. "Erm... well ?" Depending on what the aoide chattered about, this might get embarrassing quickly. Meepfur Aww, Echo was so cute when she was embarrassed! Especially when her ears wriggled. He definitely had no regrets about asking, just for that. So. Cute. He grinned, wings fluttering. "Ohh?"Adi scratched behind her ear, head tipped curiously. "Who's Nergal?" Zero Dream "...Yes." She must be blushing if he looked so amused. Oh dear. The ear-fidgeting stopped, but then her wings seemed to pick up that slack, swirling a bit faster. Oh dear, again.
"Nergal is..." Echo sent a pointed glance at Rio, but in her blushing, looked nothing threatening. Or convincing. "... a friend of mine." Meepfur Hehehe! Rio could have giggled, but was careful not to, even though it got a lot harder when she tried unsuccessfully to glare at him. He did grin, though. "Aww, you can tell me! I am Love, after all."
Honestly, could it really be all that surprising when he got nosy?"Oh." Adi kicked her paws against the side of the couch, picking at her fingernails while she listened to the adults. What was Rio making Echo blush for? Zero Dream No, it wasn't really surprising, but Echo had no idea that Rio even had an inkling of the notion of an idea...
"You are a nosy little man, Desiderio." And, to top this off, she stuck her tongue at him. How mature and ladylike.
"I can't tell of things that are not official, so there." She said in a sing-song voice.
If anyone else was listening, she would never hear the end of it. Meepfur "Little?" Rio looked himself over speculatively. "I'm not little!" He was 5'8"! Not tall, but certainly not short either.
"Oh, please! Official?" The god giggled. "That's nonsense! Since when did these things need to be official?" And what was 'official,' anyway?" Zero Dream "Yes, little !"
...So says the 5' tall woman. What a shining, valid argument. The goddess was sure feeling very silly today, it seemed... Seeing an old friend often did that to her.
"Since I've said so !" She pouted. Another shining star of an argument right there. But of course, Echo was barely containing her own laughter. "Beside, if I admit to it, you'll only tease me more, you little brat."
Again, she failed at looking serious with that... err... insult. Meepfur "I only tease you 'cause I care!" Suddenly, it was incredibly tempting to just reach out and tickle Music, and for a moment Rio couldn't decide whether or not to do it. Of course, however, temptation soon won out, and his hands darted out to tickle. "And you're so cute!"Adi just giggled and watched. So much for being grown-up! Zero Dream It turned out, in fact, that Echo was extremely ticklish. She tried to dart away in time, but missed, and was left at the god's mercy.
"Heheh.... Rio ! Stop..." She couldn't even form a sentence in between giggles. Oh, Love, the sly one, knowing all her weaknesses ! This wouldn't do, really, so she tried to retaliate, but he had the advantage of longer arms.
"O...Okay, okay ! I... I surr...ender ! I admit !"
So much for being grown-up indeed. Meepfur "So you'll talk?" he teased shamelessly, continuing his onslaught without mercy. As far as interrogation techniques went, you couldn't get any better! Harmless, fun, and effective - especially fun with tiny goddesses of Music! Zero Dream Oh, Love, really, Rio sounded more like the god of Pure Evil right now, as far as Echo was concerned.
"N-nnn..." Oh dear. "Okay... okay... Just... not.... stopthat ! here !"
After all, she wasn't quite ready for the world at large to know. Not yet. Not until it was... well... more "official".
"And you... gotta..." Evil little love god ! "...Promisenottotellanyone !" Meepfur Victory! Giggling madly, Rio finally let up, ceasing his torture of the lovely goddess. How would Nergal feel about that, he wondered? Thoughts of grumpy, staid Underworld made him giggle even more. Maybe he was ticklish? That would be delicious! He'd have to ask Echo sometime.
"Done and done!" He beamed. "Where to, m'lady?" Zero Dream When she was finally let free, Echo all but flopped on the couch to catch her breath. "You're evil..." She said with a grin.
"Well... your rooms, maybe ? Somewhere more private at least ?" Meepfur "Naww, I'm not evil! Just ruthless. Ooh, my rooms? Are you sure he'd approve?" he teased, unable to resist. "Sure! If Concerto doesn't mind staying here with Adi?" He beamed at the aoide.
"I got in trouble for letting her come down alone," he pouted, "Just because she met Harmodius." Zero Dream "Im sure that won't be a problem." He did earn himself a small glare with that other comment, one which almost looked slightly threatening at that. Enough was enough, really. But then she stared.
"She... met Harmodius ?" Dear gods. Well, there was the proof - being cute would save you from EVERYTHING. Meepfur "Mm-hm!" Really, he didn't understand what was so horrible about it! She'd been just fine. "Apparently they got on very well, though he couldn't remember his name. So he asked her for one.""Tails!" Adi chimed in, smiling happily. Like Rio, she really didn't get what the big deal was. Zero Dream ...Did not remember his own name ?
Echo honestly did not like the sound of this, but she forced her face to smooth, the worry to go away. It did not look like Rio understood what could be so worrying, and little Adi even less. "That was really nice of you then, Adi. Tails is a very lovely name." Meepfur While Harmodius not remembering his own name was indeed worrisome, the fact that his daughter had been alone with Destruction didn't bother him in the least. And as for the name...well, in the end, everything would be alright. It was just the way things worked in his world."He has lots," Adi explained, beaming proudly. She'd thought it was a very clever name to offer."Be good for Concerto, alright? We'll be back!" Not to interrupt, but Rio wanted to hear about Nergal already! Zero Dream Echo just nodded and smiled, then proceeded to follow Rio, telling Concerto and Alto to go watch over Adi in the meanwhile. She wasn't at all worried about the young girl with her two aoidei watching her, but her own future seemed a bit worrying at the moment, to be honest. Meepfur Rio was all too happy to lead Echo up the stairs, then the short way down the hall to the green door, which he opened up to the room he'd inherited from Eamnonn. Inside it was green and lush, and on the bed was a breathing pile of white and gray fluff. One of the three pieces of the pile's noses was whistling while it breathed, a funny kind of snore. Not a single member of the floox-pile bothered to wake when the door opened. They were all much too comfortable to be fussed. Zero Dream Echo couldn't help but stare at the pile of floox as she came inside. Ha, that reminded her of her cats. Her never-ending army of cats, all nested up along the bottom of her bed in odd piles, purring and snoring...
She waited until Rio would tell her where to sit before doing anything really - it was more polite to let him lead the whole, after all there where his rooms. Meepfur As for his cat, Dinah wanted nothing to do with the invading floox - she'd been quite happy as the only pet, thank you very much! Instead, she was napping on the sill of the open window. Unless it was particularly cold out, he didn't often close it, because it was Orin's preferred entrance.
"You can sit on the bed, if you want," he offered, "Or the floor." A chair would have been useful...one of these days, he'd have to get one. Zero Dream Indeed, a chair seemed like a good idea. She had quickly noticed there was none - there may be a need to pull some strings and see if her aoidei or Ishum could find something to remedy.
"Thank you." Echo decided on the bed, then - sitting on the floor just seemed silly. She did her best to keep from crushing or awakening the small army of fluffy things that had taken over the bed, and waited for the questions she knew would come, her ears giving a lone, nervous twitch. Meepfur One floox cracked open an eye, but soon grunted softly and went back to napping. Soliciting attention might have been tempting, but that would have required not being lazy. Rather than crowd the bed, Rio settled on the grassy floor and grinned up at Echo. "So!" he prompted, resting his forearms on his knees, "Tell me all about it! How did this happen, hmm?" Zero Dream "There's not much, really." Echo started. "I don't know what Ishum told you, but there's really... not much."
If it hadn't been Ishum, she would really sound stupid. But she would honestly be surprised if it was not Ishum. "There are a lot of things we still need to deal with. Kore is gone and will never come back... it is hard. For the both of us. She was much like a sister to me - I may not remember it all but I can definitively remember the feelings and... I still feel like I am betraying her in a way, even if she has forgiven me in what I believe might have been the last time we saw each other before I..." Died. Faded. Became no more. Which one had died first - herself, or Kore ?
"I don't want to rush things. I love him, but I want to honor her memory... and rushing is not the way to do it."
But then, after that time in the stables... Was it really still that anymore ? He'd... he'd acted so different then. They got closer to each other than they ever managed to, but that might have been partly a bit of guilt. If Ishum was a good milestone, she was a scary woman when upset, and Nergal... had clearly been startled a bit.
To be frank, she probably did not know about it herself, and she definitively was not ready to tell Rio about it. Even less about what the other thing Nergal had told her on that day.
It was eating her alive, it worried her, but it would be her secret.
"...That is pretty much everything, really. I am sorry, it's probably not half as interesting as you wished..." She gave an apologizing smile. Meepfur Of course, the problem with sitting on the floor lay in the fact that it made hugging difficult, unless he wanted to hug her legs. While he'd gotten quite used to having his legs hugged, now that he had children, it just wasn't the same adult-to-adult. So, after only moments on the floor, he pushed himself to his feet and settled for crowding the bed. There were grumbling complaints from the floox-pile, which soon disassambled and moved to the wall-corner of the bed with aggravated looks in the deities' directions. He'd apologize later.
"Love is always worth hearing about. Especially when it's a friend's, hmm?" Rio put an arm around Echo. "I wouldn't say you're rushing into anything - and really, since when does Nergal do that? Things just happen as they happen, and that's all there is to it."
"There's nothing to forgive in love, I think, and she loved you both. Nergal especially could use someone, don't you think? And I'm sure of everyone, she'd approve of you most of all." Zero Dream "I know that, really." From that close, Rio smelled like... raspberries ? How odd. "It's like what I know and what I feel get locked into a battle sometimes, and neither end up winning. I figure ill end up figuring it out eventually... we just need more time, both of us." She smilled a bit. "You're right. He does need someone. At the very least he needs someone to confide in. There's so little, in the past, and even now... I want to be here for him if he needs me." She bit her lip absent-mildly. "If I can at least be that, then I think I will be happy." Meepfur There were benefits to having wings made of candy - smelling good and being partially edible definitely added to one's appeal. Rio chuckled. "That's the problem with everyone else. You all think too much!"
"Speaking of such things...maybe you could help me with something?" He'd pushed enough for now, and it was time to leave the subject of Nergal be. "If you promise not to tell on me, of course." He grinned, poking his tongue out. Zero Dream Yes, definitively time for a change of subject - if only before she said a bit too much. The question definitively caught Echo's attention and made her perk, blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Maybe. If you promise not to tickle me again." She stuck out her tongue, mimicking him.. "What it is ?" Meepfur "No tickling, promise! Unless you give me a reason to, anyway." Of course, she'd only specified tickling. So there was nothing wrong with tweaking her nose! Which he tried, quite happily. But hey, it was better than grabbing her tongue, which had been the first thing that came to mind.
"I'm looking for someone for Kishara, but I'm having an awful time coming up with anyone! The only two people I can think of at all are Concerto and Ishum." Everyone else was either taken or unsuitable! It was very frustrating. Zero Dream "Hey !" She was startled by the nose-grappling, but his question probably startled her more. Someone for Kishara ?
Oh dear.
"Short of bringing her the Creation-aspect of Harmodius ? That's one amazing question you're got there." She admitted. But then, she couldn't help but giggle a bit. "But, you are very aware that Ishum would probably die on the spot if you asked him to do that, right ? Concerto..." Well... come to think of the goddess herself wasn't even sure how her own aoide would react. That SURE wasn't part of his job description ! "...Might scream like a little girl. Or hide under the bed. I have no idea." She laughed. "That is complicated, I admit. Hosts are out of the question..." No use creating more hurt for the mother. "...I can see where you would be stumped." Meepfur "I know!" Rio giggled too. As much as he loved Ishum, well...the very nature that made him lovable made it highly unlikely that he could be roped into such a duty - even if it would be cute! "No hosts, no mortals really, and all the gods I can come up with are taken! And monogamous."
"Kind of a pity, really, because Ea would be perfect." Not that he begrudged the Hunt his happy relationship. Zero Dream "Save the small detail that Beryl would probably... not be happy." She pondered. "Concerto.... might work, but he might chicken out. You would be asking an aoide to... well... you know." She shrugged. "Ill't be a bit uncomfortable for most of them, I guess."
Through it was hard to imagine, since well, she was not an aoide, and rarely thought of them as servants. She thought of the boys as friends, mostly, trough she did need to assume authority every now and then. Meepfur Rio nodded. He too thought of aoidei in the same way he thought about most everyone else, god or no. He had two children with one! "Especially considering it's the Mother of All we're talking about," he added, chuckling. "I think that'd intimidate most everyone."
Not that Gaia, in her current incarnation, was an intimidating person...it was more the name than anything. Zero Dream "Exactly. I guess even most gods might end up intimidated." She had to admit. "I am sorry, I am not really helping much, am I ? That is truly difficult..."
She reached, absentmindedly and by pure reflex, to scritch one of the flooxes in thought. It was hard to think of anyone else than Creation, and he was not an option.
Oh, how she wished he was an option, then that would meant hopefully balance. Meepfur "Well, you know what they say, I suppose. If you want it done right, do it yourself!" Not that he minded, of course. "Well, I suppose we ought to go rescue the boys. What do you think?" Zero Dream So, Rio was gonna take matters in his own hands. Well... that might actually work. Better than poor Ishum or Concerto, anyway.
"We probably should." She grinned. "Concerto is probably used to it by now, but poor Alto ?"
The mental image was hilarious. Meepfur "Well, she does bite sometimes when she gets angry," he revealed with a rueful grin. "And she's got some sharp teeth! Anymore though, she mostly just bites Kinsley." Standing, Rio offered Echo his hand. Zero Dream "My, my. Must be a werewolf thing, then ?" Echo took the offered hand ans started to head down. All that teasing aside, she'd had a great time... And actually talking about it to someone who was not involved directly did help clear her mind a bit.
She needed to stay strong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:38 pm
I must stay strong... Echo had left the pantheon with a much lighter heart than she had when she had entered it. Pest or not, she was glad she'd found Rio there, and she was glad that he had pretty much made her talk about all this. It was what she needed, really. To talk. To get most of it out of her system where it could no longer be able to eat at her from inside. Even if she didn't really speak of the things that truly worried her, it was one less thought to fixate about. It was at least one less worry off her, something she kind of knew and realized for awhile, honestly - but something she'd never managed to somehow believe. Only not, it seemed to have finally have taken hold. Maybe she could finally put her guilt behind her and move forward. For both her own and her love's sake. Rio had said she thought too much. That still made her smile - that was probably part of the problem ! When her heart and her head didn't agree, not much good came out of it. Echo was somewhat good at thinking, honestly, but she felt better with following her feelings and intuitions. Maybe it wasn't always the best, but it had gotten her through, so far. She had strength, the recent events had come to teach her. She at the strength to reach out for people's hearts and feelings, to create those using melodies. She had many which depended on her. Melody, for a new future after she had lost the last of her family to disease. Lien, for peace, love, and kindness before she became no more and her goddess would begin her own cycle. Cosine, when that time would come. Nergal, for whatever the future held, even if she hated to think about it. And all those mortals, who came, every time, when they heard her voice. For the smiles, the laughters, and the tears she incited inside them. For the hope she gave them freely. She would have to find that strength, come to grasp fully with herself, what she could do, and what she couldn't do. And she would have to, most importantly, use it to it's full capacity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:38 pm
She of the Mountains Zero Dream She found herself at the Evergreen Park once more. The goddess had just given another concert - a smaller scale than the one she'd given months ago, but people had still came. They always seemed to come, even if she gave little advance notice. Maybe her voice carried on further than she thought.
Maybe it was what she was so tired. She had no microphone, none of all that tech that the mortals used to amplify their voices. It was all her. And it tired her out all too easily.
It frustrated her, more often than not, but what could she do ? Would she grow in power eventually ? What was laid in path for the future ? She had seen Lucius, more clearly bound but she had seen him at his full power. He had been clearly more powerful than any others that had been present when...
Better not to think of that.
Now that she had nothing to occupy her mind, however, the worries returned, all too quickly. She could hear the aoidei carry things at the back of the scene, behind the slightly tattered red drape - she would have gone to help them, but the young goddess felt slightly wobbly on her feet, and thus had been all but ordered to sit a moment and rest. And so this was what she was doing - sitting on the edge and letting her legs hang down. It was disconcerting, really, to not even know what she was supposed to look like.
That, and the dark, ashen sky did not lift her mood any - how long has it been since she'd seen a sunset ? Never, in this life, with eyes that where her own. Trivii`  Evadne clung to the fringes of the amphitheater, a blue haze drifting slowly up from her right hand. Watching the young woman on the stage, something was different about her, yet so familiar, and such a haunting voice. Raising her hands she began to slowly applaud careful not to crush her clove cigarette between her hands as she moved forward from the shadows.
The other members of the audience had slowly trickled away several minutes earlier, leaving just the mountain goddess to absorb the music that still clung like a low vibration in the air. The sudden loss of life tangible in the silent wake of beauty. With a flick of her pyrite flecked wrist she discarded the cherry tipped cancer stick. Now standing quite close to the stage.
"Its been an Age or more since I've heard such a beautiful voice." Her voice was little more than a whisper of awe, containing nothing of the envy that it might have as it carried across the orchestra pit.Zero Dream Echo had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't honestly realized there was still someone there. Her pointed ears seemed to twitch a bit and she looked started for a moment, but quickly settled again.
An Age...
This wasn't just any one, no - this was one of her kind, she was sure of it. Echo managed to smile.
"Why, thank you. I do try." She let herself slide off the stage, landing on her feet. Her stance was still slightly wobbly, but this could do, as she started to take steps toward the other. She could have been taken for a mortal, really, if her wings weren't such an oddity, or is the strings that trailed her back did not shift to avoid most of the ash.
"And who might I have the pleasure to be speaking with ? I do not believe to have seen you in this life." Trivii` A fleeting smile passed across Evadne's features. "No, not in this life." Moving forward she offered a hand to the other goddess.
"And we may not have known each other in another. I am Evadne." Opal eyes watched the easy movements that dodged ash, as well as the precarious pose.'Evadne.' The warning voice of her host penetrated her thoughts, but just barely as Triveni wasn't as strong as she had once been. 'Many of the Gods have changed in their rebirth.'Brushing aside Trivii's words Eva permitted a smile, "Eva, if you like. It is a great pleasure meeting you." Tilting her head Eva made the extra effort to appear harmless as her silver hair shimmered across her shoulders. Zero Dream "So it might have been." It was possible she wouldn't even remember if they had. No recognition came along with the name offered. She took the offered hand, blue-patched peach mingling with mineral-like purples and yellows for a moment. Echo did not seem worried in the least about the other goddess, neither did she feel threatened. She hadn't had a reason to feel so yet.
"The pleasure is mine." She said with a smile. "I am Echo, but I fear there is no handy ways to shorten my own name, so this will have to do." She said with a small giggle. The sound was low, pure and pleasant, unbelievably so. It was hard to tell who the other's influence was, but the pattern of her skin, her silver hairs and her eyes where fascinating, and she couldn't help but feel a little plain in comparison. Trivii` After squeezing Echo's hand, Eva glanced about casually. "Echo is lovely and fitting, Is song your gift or is there some other skill I should be jealous of?" Releasing the other goddesses hand she backed up a pace after determining that any company that they might have was well out of sight.
"I fear my own abilities are more destructive than creative." Eva casually slid a hand through her hair and watched the happy motions and easy manner of Echo, definitely another God and not threatening in the least.'Appearances can be deceiving.'My mistake to make Trivii. Smiling she laughed in response to Echo's joyous sound.'Do you follow the spider into it's parlor then?'"Those like yourself, cause me a great deal of remorse for not frequenting Destruction's Storefront." She hesitated a fraction as she examined Echo, "Or am I mistaken?" Zero Dream "Oh, I don't think there is much to be jealous of." The woman pondered for a moment. "But I do play instruments." And had but vague memories of creating them...
Destruction's Storefront ? That was an odd way to put it, but it was also oddly true. It was so easy to forget that the building of the pantheon once looked more like a store... So this one remembered ? She must have been early in rebirth.
"Many live there, some among my closest friends." Tian Yue and Desiderio came to mind. "...But I wouldn't be able to live there, I think. His aura is suffocating to one like I." After all, she was much more attuned to Creation. "The balance has shifted and all but broken. The more time passes the more I wonder if it can be restored once more." She sighed. "What do you rule over, then ? I fear that your name had not stirred any of what is left of my memory from it's torpor." Trivii` Carefully Eva smiled, "Its nice to know that I need not be jealous." Habitually she started to reach for her cigarette case, the stopped herself, knowing that a Siren probably didn't enjoy the miasma. Folding her arms she rocked on her feet.
Feeling as though she were wandering through empty hallways, Eva looked for the right things to say, keeping the tone easy and light as she had with Lisana. How many times over the last few days had she struggled with her own introduction?
Never prior to joining with Trivii had she glimpsed even a shadow of her own doubt. Not that her memories were many, or even detailed.
"I haven't been back since the changes began... I understand, that Destruction has given everything a new face... Forgive me, I don't take change easily, I am of the Mountains." The odd turn of words was nice for a change, speaking with a peer. Zero Dream "I go there sometimes still, but I do not usually stay too long." She couldn't help but sigh a bit.
Mountains, then ? "Change is hard, I admit. I do have issues dealing myself still, but... I feel like I must do my best to remain strong. I might not be able to do much, but... These mortals, they depend on me. For some of them, when I sing is the only time where they can feel peace. I can feel it and it hurts... But surely you did not come here to hear me ramble ?" The goddess offered with a small smile. "We can go back to the scene to sit if you wish." Trivii` Examinging Echo, Eva had a brief nostalgic moment. High mist crown peaks of icy granite, kissing the sky and embraced by the wind. It wasn't the solitude or strength of the mountains that she remembered, but the excitement and romance. Persevering and so slow to change, blinking she slowly returned to the present.
"Change is harder still for those of us most affected by it...." Flicking her hair over her shoulder addressing the ashen sky, "Help the mortals, let them lean on you, you will only grow stronger for their attentions."
Evadne simply ignored the 'rambling' comment. "We can stay here... Personally, I'm not ready to go back, and I don't get many opportunities to talk to others, unless you have something you need to do? I would like to discuss these changes with you, how do you feel about what has been done?" Zero Dream "I have no matters to attend at all, it was simply a proposition. I thought you might have liked to sit down." She said with a small smile, which then seemed to vanish just as closely as her expression smoothed out.
How did she feel about it ?
"I worry." She finally said. "...About so many things. About so many individuals. Sometimes I wonder how it is that there is enough space for me to manage to think in between it all."
There where days where she saw the dark sky and just plain did not wish to go on with her day. A sign of the age, Tian Yue had said. This probably was one of them. Trivii` Sighing the Goddess nodded, a sign of the times, indeed.
"There was a time when we could have talked about our concerns with Lord Harmodius." Furrowing her brow Eva turned her eyes to the fowled sky, as they shifted in color from opal to a darker blue that would have mimicked the shade of the sky before Destruction began his reign.
Tossing her hair back off her shoulders the Mountain Goddess was forced to agree with Echo. "Echo, while I myself enjoy the devastation, I do think that it could have been performed more artfully, subtle instead of sudden so that it would be more palatable to the masses. But not all Gods agree that the concern of our followers should affect our decisions... I think that is in part responsible for why we have been displaced for so long." Regarding the other woman from out of the corner of her eye, she extended feelers in the form of a questioning comment. "And I think that you agree with me."
Facing the other goddess head on she smiled, a haunting flash revealing the slightly pointed teeth that had belonged to Trivii. "And if you like we can go back now." Zero Dream "Without them, we are nothing." She said, voice soft. "Nothing but broken fragments, nothing but dead beings. With no mortals there would be no need for gods."
She shook her head slightly, and began to walk back toward the scene, confident that the mountain goddess would follow. "Destruction... is needed, I can't pretend otherwise. Even if it seems alien or revolting to me, I have to recognize the need for it. But this... This seems like too much. Too much, too fast." Trivii` "Truer words have never been spoken."
Eva stretched and casually half danced, half walked after Music. What a gentle soul. "What we as Gods know, is that with destruction comes creation, a rebirth to the land... There are after all certain evergreens whose seeds only germinate after a forest fire. Just as I am certain that these hard times bring about the births of many great people, that may never have reached their potential if not for our interference. Nothing is done without cause, after all the universe works in Cause and Effect."
Seeming to consider her own words as she trailed after Echo, picking her steps carefully she thought aloud "Now the true conundrum is convincing Destruction that he may have moved to fast for his followers. A job I do not envy of anyone." Raising her eyes to examine the other Goddesses profile. "I have not met Lord Harmodius, and I am disinclined to war with him at present. But while you comfort, I will shelter, perhaps... we can work around him if not with him, and do what we can to educate the masses."
The Goddess of Mountains was at a loss to explain the easy trust she felt for Music. Kindness resonated as perfectly as the subtle tones and harmonies of Echo's voice. Zero Dream Ah, if only she could see it the same way.
If she listened sorely to her mind, of course it made sense, but Echo wasn't exactly the best as listening to her mind. Her heart was her guide, her steps in tunes with every beats. Music was emotion given words, a way to express oneself among many, to sing love and mourn the losses of mortal man.
Nothing done without Cause. She'd come to learn that.
"I have seen him, with eyes not yet my own." She spoke, finally, stopping to pull herself up to sit on the scene once again. Good thing, since she was starting to fear she would stumble if she kept at it too long, which would have been somewhat embarrassing in presence of one of her kin. Try as she want, her powers still had their very visible, tangible limit. "Just as someone needs to be the fire that burns all, there are some that need to be the nursing rain to allow the new seeds to grow. I have chosen to help them hold on until balance can once again be achieved. This is the role I have chosen for myself. It would have been easy, too easy to remain idle, depressed inside the four walls of my room, but..." She shook her head. "...I feel like I owe it to them. If they cannot be strong, then I will be for them." Trivii` Opal eyes flickered briefly, very subtly appearing to calculate some unseen mathematic algorithm before quickly being snuffed out.
Trilling quietly the Mountain Goddess nodded. "We all have choices." Unspoken her thoughts continued. Some will get us killed, some will save us.... If it is a choice between all and nothing, I will always choose all, and this poor soft-hearted girl would choose nothing. The glory of opposites. "I suppose I wouldn't love music as I do if not for its abilities to touch the heart of man, god, and beast alike."
Still as agile as a cat, Eva moved to sit just out of arms-reach of Echo. "I admire you, your gentle nature, I have few concerns and none that would leave me..." Searching for the right word she paused, "feeling that I am in anyone's dept. I take what I am given and thrive. I can see what this has cost you." Zero Dream That must have been an easy way to live - concerning yourself with so few things, and none of them that grappled directly at your heart. "I do not think I could be like that, even if I tried. I do not feel like I've given up much, or that my choice has cost me much, but... I figure it did, in a sense. But I am Music - I was always a flighty little muse, I figure. Listening more to my heart than I did my mind. I take what I was given and redistribute it because this is how I am." Perhaps she was a bit of a fool in that aspect. She didn't care.
She idly kicked her legs against the side of the scene, causing soft, barely audible thuds. "Through I figure being able to see things your way would have spared me much heartache, I do admit. But we both excel at what we do best, I figure." She said with a small smile. She also admired the other's steadfast determination. "I have the potential to be strong, like everyone else, I figure... I however still need to find it. Just like I figure I also have the power to be angry, which... had not happened much."
In fact, it had only happened once, really, in this new life - when Nergal had gone, her worry had became anger for a moment. This was a facet of herself she was not used to see.
A facet of herself that somewhat frightened her. Trivii` Drawing one leg up to her chest, Evadne rested her chin on her knee and looked out on the empty amphitheater. Replying to Echo was more than an exchange of words it required a little more deliberation, and as the silence stretched the song of a lone cicada sounded in the distance.
"I can respect and applaud that, you and I are quite different aren't we Echo? Me with my hard edges and you with your soft voice." While contemplative her tone reflected more than the obvious references as though triggered by another part of her life all together, or perhaps a memory that wasn't her own. "Perhaps I have been hiding too high in my mountains to give my heart and have it broken. I don't know much about myself, my strengths, weaknesses, fears or hopes."
"Knowing yourself is what gives your creative voice the wings to find song."
Eva looked over at Echo and knew that she wouldn't be the same after this encounter, Echo had changed her. The impregnable granite had cracked. Zero Dream "It's a good thing, really - if the world was full of flighty little muses like me... Not much would get done, wouldn't it ?" The goddess answered with a light giggle trailing the end of her sentence, as she turned to glance at the empty space herself. The sun was beginning to set and, despite everything, it still managed to be a beautiful sight. Beauty could be found, even among ruins. It gave her a bit of hope.
"I should probably get going." The small woman sighed, and let herself fall down. She seemed to have finally recovered enough to no longer be wobbly on her own feet. "Would you like to accompany me, then ? I can show you my home and get you something warm to drink." From her words, it was evident that she did not live within the pantheon. Trivii` Surprised by the invitation, Evadne found herself nodding and smiled easily; "Maybe more would get done with people like you than with people with rocks for brains like me. We could each spend eternity arguing when in the end its all rhetoric."
Pushing herself to her feet with an ease of movement and slow grace that betrayed her own exhaustion, Eva offered her hand to the other Goddess, "I would love a cup of tea."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:39 pm
Meeting You (Her side) Echo had been doing her best to relax, laying on one of the couches of the living room, a purple pen in hand, jolting words in the open notebook that was on the table. Worrying herself sick would not do anything to help the current situation, honestly - that, and she did need to write a few more things. The knock on her door startled her. Hm ? Who could it be ? Nergal ? The goddess worked herself on her feet, trying not to tangle herself into her silk dress as she went to answer the door. It was not Nergal. And, honestly, the red-haired man she saw at the door seemed as surprised as she was. Who was he... ? "Errrr, sorry, lady, wrong door. Ill be on my way..."Wrong door... ? Ahhh, then he must have been looking for... "Ah, you must have been looking for Nergal, then ?" She allowed herself to perk a bit, eyes half-closing as she focused on her strongest sense. Hm, footsteps, but too loud to be him "I am afraid he must not be home. Happens often lately it seems. Ahhh, so you must be..." Ankou's host. Oh dear, what was his name ? Had Nergal even mentioned his name at all ? "Adrian." The man paused a bit, then continued. "Ankou's host. I guess he's talked about us then ? And... you can actually tell when he's here or not, just like that ?" He looked so impressed. Mortals where so easy to impress sometimes. She couldn't help but let out an amused smile. "A tad. Here, come inside - it will do you no good to wait on the doorstep, will it ? Let me get you something warm to drink, at least." Her smile turned a bit impish, amusement a bit more betrayed as she turned to lead him inside. "Ahhh, you see, there's little magic about it. It is easy to tell others apart by the sound they make.""Really ?" Ah, indeed, so easy to marvel, sometimes. She guided him to a table, and, figuring the young boy would not appreciate tea, slide him a warm cup of coffee instead. When his yellow eyes lit up, she had to resist giggling. ".....Swweeettt." He was quick to take a sip. "so, who are you ?"My, ever the direct one, was he ? It honestly did not bother her, but that might get him in trouble one day... "I am Echo, the Voice of the Countless, goddess of Music. It is a pleasure to meet you both.""When do you think Nergal is gonna be back ? We're just dropping by to say we're around, if all." The boy tilted his head inquisitively, and the goddess wondered exactly what to answer him. "I have no idea. Sometimes he leaves for days on end on short, or no notice at all. If you are looking for some place to stay, I am sure I could find you something..."The goddess bit her lip in what seemed to be thought. Where would she put him ? She really was amassing one hell of a menagerie wasn't she ? "No, no, it is allright. Really." He said with a smile. "But, since we are not sure when he will be there, maybe you could help us with something ? Directions, really." He finished his coffee with one last glup, which surprised the goddess. Wasn't the liquid too hot to be drank like that ? "...I was wondering if you could show me the way to the pantheon ?"The pantheon ? He wanted to go to the pantheon. A smart and foolish boy both. She took as deep breath. "Are you sure you wish to go there ?""Yes, I... must. For personal reasons." "I can give you directions... Or lead you there, if you wish ?""That would be great, honestly. This part of the city I am not too knowledgeable... If that is not too much trouble, really.""It is not, really. Let me get Alto, and we can get going. We can talk more on the way." The idea of making her way back alone at night was not attractive at all. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- They talked, about everything and anything. She did her best to shy away from the whole... host subject. She would talk about it if he wished, but the young boy seemed much more comfortable questioning her about what she did, and about various other things. He was adorably inquisitive, for a grown man. Alto followed closely. It was easy to see why he had be chosen instead of his brother - Tempo would have been suspicious of the boy from the get go. The goddess heard the soft sound of pawprints from behind, and smiled a bit. The cat had sound her master at last... ...And all but tackle-hugged him, making the poor boy freeze on the spot. Echo barely contained her own laugh. "MASTER !!! MYAAA !!!! YOU CAAAMMEEEE~~~ !" "What the ?! Get off ! GETTTT OFFFFFF !"At this point, she couldn't help herself anymore. She was laughing now, but at least tried not to be too loud about it, even if she mostly failed. "Jinx, darling, I am afraid your enthusiasm is making Adrian uncomfortable." The voice that came out of the boy's mouth was foreign, a bit deeper. It must have been Ankou. Immediately she noticed how similar his voice sounded to Nergal's. Brothers, indeed... Jinx slid away from him then, but instead rubbed her head to the side of his arm, letting out a low purr. A very happy cat, indeed. "And you... err... would be ?""Myaaaa~ I am Jinx, aoide to the spirit guide ! Oh, mya mya myaaaa, I am so glad you came at last~ ! You forgive me, don't you ?" Forgive her ? Echo sent a puzzled glance to the catgirl, who seemed to now be ignoring her completly, red eyes focused on Adrian, who looked equally as clueless for a moment, but then finally seemed to understand. "...Errr... yeah ?""Oh~ Mya, thank you thank you~ !!!! Where are you going, mya ?" The catgirl tilted her head side to side, looking at Echo and Adrian both. "I see you've met the lady ! This is a good thing, yes, yes, myaa !" "We are going to the pantheon, Jinx." Echo replied, still a bit confused by the odd unfolding of events. "Ohhhh, myaaa~ ? Then I shall accompany you both !" And so, they continued on their way, catgirl in tow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:40 pm
A Little Music Sosiqui Eliam was not given to puttering about, but in his Lord's absence he found himself at loose ends far too frequently. The two Aoidei in Light's service had tried to keep themselves as busy as possible while he was gone, far away to that place or not-place, but the Pharos Beacon was too large a job for them to do all alone. They had done what they could, moving all of Illumin's things, and had settled at last on trading shifts. Eibhilin was at the Beacon right now; Eliam at the Pantheon, waiting for news of his Lord's return. They would switch each week. So far there had been three such cycles, back and forth, and still nothing. Surely they would know if he... The Aoide shook his head, firmly. No point in thinking about that. He stepped outside of Light's chambers and padded down the hall, the lantern at his side clinking softly as he descended the stairs. Even Aoidei needed to at, after all, though he took only just barely what he needed, and no more. Servant to the end, leaving the finest to the gods. Zero Dream It was her plan to head home after dropping Adrian at the pantheon, but as both cat and host faded from view, she hesitated. Since she had come here, she might as well stick around a bit, see if there was any familiar faces out to be seen. She had been away for what seemed too long.
She entered and went straight for the kitchen, looking to see if there was any drink she could fix herself while she waited. She had started steeping some tea and sat before she noticed the aoide coming down the stairs. A lantern.... Light's, perhaps.
"Hello." She said with a warm smile. Company would be nice indeed. Sosiqui Eliam stopped and bowed immediately, his wings sweeping out gracefully behind him. "Your pardon, Lady; I did not mean to intrude. May I be of service to you?" It would be nice to offer someone some aid; even if it was a goddess not his own, it would feed the Aoidei need inside of him. Zero Dream "It is all fine and good - a bit of company would be nice, if you have the time to spare - I was making some tea." She gestured to the kettle, a warm smile on her face. Sosiqui He bowed again. "It would be my honor, Lady. I am Eliam, in the service of the Piercing Radiance, Illumin, He who is Light." She would answer with her own name, or not, as she chose; it was not his right to ask the names of gods untoward. Zero Dream She had indeed guessed right - not that it was a hard guess by any mean. She had moved to stand once more - standing on the tip of her toes to try to reach the top of the cupboard, to get two mugs out. This was easier said than done. Who put those things on the top shelf, anyway ?!
"I have not seen your lord in quite a long while.... He probably would not even know who I am." She finally looped one finger to the grip of one cup. Progress ! "I am Echo, the voice of the countless." Sosiqui "Ah... Lady Music. Your host was close to Medicine's, as I remember," Eliam said, politely. He smoothly stepped in next to her and beat his wings gently, lifting himself to easily get the cups down for her. "My Lord has been absent these long weeks, gone away to the Ashlands in search of errant Aristogeiton." His brow furrowed with worry, just for a moment. Zero Dream "They where, indeed." And how handy would flight have been right now. The goddess couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. However, what the aoide said next deviated her mind from that train of thought.
"Aristogeiton ?" Illumin was looking for him, too ?! Sosiqui "Indeed." Eliam moved over to the box of tea and opened it. "Your preference, Lady? Medicine had journeyed to seek out Aristogeiton, but her slow return sent my Lord on the same quest, though in a different direction. And now he, too... I fear all who seek that ancient lord are doomed to long journeys." Zero Dream She had known about Panacea... But not Illumin. This was definitively interesting.... "So they are, indeed. Someone close to me recently returned from such a journey, and is now looking for Pana to return so they can decide the best way to go forward from there out. There seems to be... many pieces."
She belatedly remembered his first question. "Green will do, if you like it ?" He seemed pleased to serve, so she let him, even if she usually tended to do things herself. And drove her own aoidei nuts in the process. Sosiqui Eliam nodded, then measured out the appropriate amount of tea. "It seems all we can do is wait. If you will forgive the intrusion, Lady - who else seeks Aristogeiton?" He, too, wondered exactly how many pieces there were. How could a being be split so? If three gods were moving, then there must be at least three... Zero Dream She pondered for a moment, doing her best to try to think and remember. Had Nergal mentionned anyone else.... ? No, at least not as far as should recall. She would have to ask him upon her return.
"I believe that would be it, actually. At least that I am aware of..." Sosiqui Eliam bowed. "I beg your pardon, Lady. Does the other who seeks Aristogeiton - who would that be, if I am not too bold to ask?" This was information that would be most useful to his Lord when Light returned. Zero Dream "THat would be Nergal... The Underworld." She nodded. "We live... closeby, therefore it should not be hard to reach either me or him, when Illumin returns ? Those two definitively should be aware of each others, and discuss what would be next to come." Sosiqui Eliam nodded. "I am sure my Lord would agree." He reached up again and took down a small teapot, then dished out the appropriate amount of tea leaves into it before pouring in hot water from the kettle. "I do not know when he will return, but I will be sure to tell him that Underworld shares in this quest as well. Surely with so many worthy gods on the trail, Aristogeiton will return in the blink of an eye." He smiled and put the teapot, a cup, and a tea strainer in front of Echo. Zero Dream "Yes, hopefully things will come to a resolution soon. I do not know how many pieces there are... Lord Nergal has found one, so far. There seems to be others... But, I am not sure how many."
She returned his smile, gentle and sweet. "But we'll make it work. I know we will..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:41 pm
What Do You Mean, A Date ? Zero Dream It was dark once she had made her way back from the pantheon, and her mind was mulling things over. Illumin was finally back - Nergal would be delighted to learn of this, really, he needed to know as soon as possible, as long as Light got the time to rest as he needed. Hm, perhaps she could see if he had come back home ?
Alto went inside her half as she went to his', knocking lightly at the door. "Ishum ?" Thabara The door opened a tad too quickly, as if the aoide might have been lurking about and waiting. "Why, you didn't take quite as long as I thought you would," the beastmaster greeted her cheerfully, only to blink in puzzlement a moment later. He craned his neck, peering out of the doorway to the left and right. Nope. No Nergal. "Erh," he said, not quite sure what to make of the situation, especially as Echo looked neither angry nor upset. "If you don't mind me asking.. What happened to your date? Did things.. not go well?" Oh, if Nergal had managed to mess this up somehow... Zero Dream ....Uh ?
She almost comically mimiced his motion, as if trying to figure out what that was all about.
Wait. What ? A date ? What was he talking about ?
More importantly, a date with who ?
"...What do you mean ?" Her blank stare would quite easily give away that she had no idea what he was talking about. Thabara "The invitation you left..?" Ishum seemed just as confused as she was, his golden wings quivering nervously. "Oh, please don't tell me he wasn't supposed to find the envelope before tomorrow or something. If he spent hours upon hours waiting because I made a mistake.." Zero Dream Invitation ? What invitation ? What was the golden-winged beastmaster was talking about ? She hadn't left a thing...
...
And she quickly decided she didn't like it. "Ishum. Can you show it to me ? The invitation ?" Thabara "But why would you want to..?" Ishum's voice trailed off. Something wasn't right. The goddess behaved as if she didn't know about the invitation at all. "Of course my Lady," he said, bowing briefly and then darting off to vanish into the house, practically flying up the stairs, taking it by three, four steps at once. Only seconds later he returned, to hand over the pearlescent envelope to her with a concerned glance. If that invitation hadn't been from her.. Zero Dream She took the envelope as it was handed to her, quickly taking out the letter to read it. The more she read, the deeper the frown on her face grew.
"That is not my handwriting. And I don't have any sealing wax. Nor a seal. My seal was lost as I was." When her eyes left the paper to look at him, they had a rather dangerous glimmer, which shocked more by its presence itself than it's intensity. She wasn't angry at the aoide, of course, how was he supposed to know ?
But that look alone was enough to drive across that if they found whoever had done this, they would at the very least come out deaf.
"...We are going." Trusting she wouldn't need to repeat herself, the goddess broke into a run. Thabara "I'm sorry.." Ishum shrank back, hanging his head to avoid her glare. "I'm so sorry, Echo.. I really didn't know.." Oh damn, Priya would so have his hide for having let Nergal wander off on his own. If anything happened to him..Echo's thoughts seemed to have followed the same direction, with the way she turned on her heels and practically took flight. ..I'll never forgive myself.Maybe it was just a mistake, some stupid joke cooked up by the newly reborn goddess of Trickery. By the Crown, he truly hoped it was so. Zero Dream The young goddess could not remember ever running as fast as she was now. She nearly tripped in her own dress a few times, but she didn't care. She'd ripped a hole in one of near-tumbling, but she still didn't care.
It was probably madness to go alone, with only Ishum as protection. But she still couldn't care less.
She reached the park rather quickly... but it seemed like she was still too late. There where candles everywhere, some still flickering.
"My lord ?"
She took a few steps toward the scene, hand gripping at something inside her sleeve. Just in case.
"...Nergal ?" Thabara Ishum reached the clearing soon after her, but not quick enough as he inwardly berated himself. Priya wouldn't be the only one to have his hide.. Echo's 'boys' would probably skin him alive and tear out his entrails if they knew he'd let their mistress out of his sight for even a second in a potentially dangerous situation like this. But she seemed alright, if upset, and the golden winged aoide breathed a faint sigh of relief. He followed Echo closely now, taking in the scene concerned and confused. All those candles.. burnt down now, most of them.. Some had been scented, he noticed absently with a small grimace. This place really looked like it had been set up for a romantic date, but by whom, if not Echo? And then there was.. "He's been here, definitely," Ishum said, his voice hoarse, one finger pointing towards the stage. A tiny black box was set on its wooden ground, just big enough to fit one piece of jewelry. A ring. But where was Nergal now? Ishum could sense nothing of his Lord's presence, and the wisps which never strayed far from the gloomy deity after nightfall were nowhere to be seen. He's not here.Zero Dream Echo continued her way, as if she had not heard the aoide - but it became clear that she had, and only hadn't answered once she knelt down to pick up the box. A small black box, just big enough for a ring...
Her hand latched hard on the object, and she did her best to contain her seething rage as to not send the poor beastmaster running off. Who the hell would dare...
Oh, it did not matter. She was a goddess, and she had been framed, wronged, the man she loved unwillingly removed from the equation. Him leaving on his own accord was one thing, but this was another.
Should she find the ones who had dared, there would be no kindness. No, there would only be wrath. And Vengeance. She probably would not get to execute it herself, but seeing Tempo's blades at work would be soothing enough.
The wild bonfire of emotions, hate, loathing, guilt, and pure rage that simmered under the surface was alien, both on her face and to her own self - add to that pain and loss, and she could not contain herself.
She screamed. Her voice resonated, carried much further and higher that a mortal's could ever dream of doing. It was so akin to a banshee scream (except much less painful, thankfully to Ishum's eardrums) that Eibhilin would probably have been impressed if she had heard it.
And then she waited, her grip on the box still unnatural, and probably painful. But she wasn't paying attention. No, she was listening, for anything other that the rustling of the wings.
If he was still somewhat closeby, if he had heard her scream, she would have to hear his call. Thabara Ishum had been smart enough to plug his knuckles into his ears as soon as he realized the goddess was about to scream out her anguish. It still made his ears ring. And now they both waited, tense, with bated breath. But there was no answer, none. Only the rustling of dry leaves in a breeze, and the sound of birds and small rodents picking up again once they recovered from the initial shock. "Echo.." The aoide said softly, as he knelt down beside her, not daring to touch. Never, not ever, had he seen her so angry. And it was his fault. "There are tracks on the ground, but I wont be able to make sense of them in darkness like this. Lets go home, and come back here first thing tomorrow morning, together with the boys." Zero Dream No.. there was nothing. Nothing that sounded remotely like a voice. The mortals around (there was bound to be a few) probably all thought she had been the victim of some horrible crime and ignored it, for their own safety.
In a sense, she had been.
She felt him kneel, and there was more guilt. Her movement where not as graceful as usual, but her touch still somehow managed to remain gentle as she slid an arm around his shoulder.
It was all her fault. If she hadn't gotten close in the first place... Yes, she might eventually realize her guilt was much too far-fetched, but for now, common sense had flown out the window.
"You should do that." Her voice was soft, pained, a whisper compared to the previous screech. But one thing was evident :
She would not stop. If he chose to go home, she would not follow. Thabara "Echo.. please. It's not safe here." Her arm around his shoulder, trying to console him even though she herself was suffering so much - he did not deserve it. Yet he hesitated to shift away, strongly suspecting that the touch was offering comfort to her as much as it was to him. "I can't leave you behind. I can't get the others without leaving you behind. And.. maybe it's just some kind of stupid joke. Something Trickery thought up. She is like that, and Nergal.. has always been one of her favorite targets for some reason." "Now you.." He hesitated for a moment, but when he spoke on he put as much authority into his voice and he could muster. "I would like you to go home. Take a bath. Drink a nice, delicious tea. Things wont look quite as grim once you've done that. Tomorrow, we can come back, find out more." Zero Dream She knew he was right, of course. On some points at least. But her heart wouldn't listen, and her mind wasn't exactly focused and ready to make up for the lack of judgment.
"No." She said, softly. "If it had been Trickery... If newly reborn, she could not really manage to retain him." Could she ? She was not sure, but she listened to her instincts. She had met Tien once, while she was still a gem set on her host. They had spoken, briefly. If this had been her work, they would have a rather annoyed Underworld to deal with, not no Underworld at all.
This did not feel like her. She did not know how to explain it to the beastmaster, in a way that would remotely make sense. And he was quite lucky that the darkness probably lessened the piercing glare she sent him, but he would probably feel her hand on his shoulder tighten slightly. Right now, his attempts at authority did not go over well, no matter how right he was. The goddess quite honestly was sick of being ordered around and having to stay safe in her own little shell while almost everyone else she knew was out and about putting themselves on the line to make things happen.
And she had told Illumin.... damnit ! Everything was wrong, was going wrong, and all her attempts to try to fix it seemed to backfire back on her.
Everything was... breaking. Slipping away, spiraling out of control.
But of course she needed him. He could see the wisps and ghosts that would trail after his master, and she could not. As much as she wanted to lash at the poor aoide, punish him for his tone, he did not deserve it.
She was, as always, useless where it mattered the most.
The goddess broke contact and turned, walking away. Her wings where silent, but shifted erratically. She had been pushed over once more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:42 pm
Falling apart
There’s nothing real
That will convince me to change but I’ll go through
Want to get closer into you
No hell to discover
There is just nothing to betray
Salvation you have preached is gone
No way, you can’t turn it around
-- "Closer" - Lacuna Coil Falling Apart "Take a bath. Drink a nice, delicious tea. Things wont look quite as grim once you've done that."As if she could in good mind do that. She had came home, not even sparing another word for the pale aoide, slamming the door (the sound hadn't even been loud enough to content her) but now she forced herself to be silent for the shake of her boys even if all she wanted to do was scream. Scream and never stop, but the still mortal, weaker lungs would probably not be able to take it. They would give in long before that. Such a shame. Music knew the answer to this was not as easy as Ishum thought. No, she hadn't felt like Trickery was at cause in all this, even if it seemed like a logical idea. A trick pulled on both of them, two birds with one stone. But it did not feel like that. It was hard to understand, even harder to explain. He hadn't felt her there. She had felt Nergal's lingering influence, the familiarity of it, but nothing else. Nothing else that was deictic. But even that had felt... odd. Quickly fading. Either he had been long gone... or something had happened. That did not aid her mood any. She felt... Lost. _____Angry. ___________Hurt. ________________Devastated. ___________________________Used. The never-ending spiral of emotions threatened to swallow her whole. Echo hated feeling this way, so much. Feeling so warped from within that she couldn't help but wonder if the horrible thoughts that crossed her mind about what to do to those who had dared use her own self to do this where really her own, or if some kind of alien being had invaded her mind. Echo was not angry often. She felt much more easily to sadness than to pure, unbridled anger when she was hurt, but now it was different. Much, much more different. Maybe years of living in a world so different than she was had finally worn her down, and she had finally snapped. Maybe she was going crazy, maybe it was simply the pain, unbound and wild, talking. Or maybe this was a part of her, so distant and usually hidden from both herself and the world, that she did not realize it was a part of her. A part she loathed, but a part of her indeed. Even as a goddess, she was, after all far from perfection incarnate. She had bad traits and limits like everyone else, weaknesses. And right now they had been crossed. There would be vengeance for what had been done, even if it had been one of her own kin. The goddess, for the first time in this new life, did not fall asleep at all that night. She nested against the window, one pointed ear on the smooth glass, jumping everytime she heard footsteps down below, then settling with a sigh once she realized they where not silent enough to be him. She broke quite a few objects that night, as a way to let out her wild, uncontrollable anger. She did not care. Trinkets could be replaced. They where neither priceless artifacts, or precious instruments, only trinkets to allow some sort of decoration in her room. It did not matter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:43 pm
Missing midnight_medea Lien wandered through the now quiet livingroom picking things up as she listened to the goddess sing a lullaby. Her voice was so soft and soothing. It took a lot for Lien not to curl up on the sofa and drift off to sleep.
If the truth be told she was a little worried about the goddess. As they spent the day playing with Grace and Caleb Echo's usual glow seemed somewhat diminished. Smiling as she picked up a scribbled picture of Echo she carried it through to the bedroom where the children were curled up on the bed seemingly out for the count.
"You're good with them." Lien whispered, walking into the room and holding out the picture. "You will be a good mother one day." Zero Dream At least, with the children, she could pretend to be strong. She could smile, and they would be too busy being excited and playing to notice that they where fake, and forced. Lien, however...
She hadn't even wanted to do this. No, wait, that was a lie. She had wanted to do this, to take care of the children as promised, but her heart wasn't quite in it, her mind elsewhere. She really had wanted nothing more than to lock herself in her room and ignore the outside world. Or at the very least looking for him, even if she had spend almost every awake moment doing so, with so little sleep in between. As if it would change anything. He'd all but vanished in thin air, it seemed.
And it was her fault. Or at the very least it felt like it.
Lien's entrance startled her, her words feeling like daggers even if they should not. She pretended to smile once more. "I figure it is always easier when they are not your own." She gave a gentle pat on Caleb's head before standing to slide out of the room. The picture was very lovely, but with the mood she was in, it was hard to appreciate it. "We should let them sleep..." midnight_medea Lien smiled and nodded, following Echo from the room and closing the door gently behind them. Once they were out in the main room of the house she breathed deeply and turned to look at her friend. "Echo, is everything okay?" She asked softly, raching out to place her hand ever so lightly on the goddess's arm. "You seem ... troubled."Zero Dream Troubled. Distressed. There where many words one could use to describe the look on the goddess' face, and the aura that seemed to follow her.
Lien ought to know, really. Even if she did not want to talk about it.
She let herself tumble on the couch rather unelegantly. "He... He's gone." She managed, looking like she would cry just by thinking of it. She realized, a bit belatedly, that she wasn't being very clear. "Nergal... is gone." midnight_medea Lien frowned in concern as Echo tumbled to the couch. Her dress floating around her. Even in her distress she looked so elegant.
She waited patiently for Echo to speak and when she did she felt both her own self and the goddess within her start to panic. She placed her hand over her mouth and sank slowly to the seat next to Echo.
"Gone?" She asked after a moment and reaching out to place her hand on Echo's shoulder. "What happened?" Zero Dream "Someone... or something..." She basically spat out the words, but forced herself to take a moment and calm down. Lien did not need to see what she was like when angry. "....pretended to be me and sent a letter for him to go to the park. Neither he or Ishum had seen what my handwriting looked like, so they had no reason to worry..." She sighed and let herself sink the couch further. "...By the time we realized what was going on and went, everything was desert. All we found there candles and... this."
She rummaged through her sleeve and let the black ringbox tumble into her hand, the pain in her eyes evident. "It is like he vanished in thin air." midnight_medea "What?" Lien asked as Echo spoke, though it was rhetorical. How could someone take Nergal. He was a god, surely he had special god powers that could help him. Unless, unless it was another god. But he was not full Lien. He had no true power and he was bound to mortal form.The goddess spoke in her head and Lien chewed her lip as she did when she was nervous or thinking. She bent to pick up the ring box and looked at it for a moment. Poor Nergal. "Do you know anyone that would want him?" She asked softly. "Whenever ... whenever Nakamura took hostages, it was because he wanted something from someone. Them or someone close to them."She smiled a little and reached out for Echo's hand. "Either way, that gives him time. If they want something his life will be safe." Zero Dream "That only makes me worry more.... What would they want ? Power ? He is nearly powerless in the living world, but... That seems like the only thing I could think of... Not many of us are at their full power yet, but I figure for a mortal, even the abilities of a freshly reborn god would be impressive... I only knows of Destruction himself, and of Universe... who is bound. We can still be overwhelmed by sheer numbers."
Echo hugged her knees, clearly in distress. "I've been attacked actually. Right before you came here, actually. If I hadn't reacted quickly that mortal would have probably killed me." She tilted her head up to look at her, trying to hold the tears in. "We went back, Ishum and I, as soon as the sun rose. There wasn't even any sign of struggle... That is what scares me the most. Destruction knows what the hell happened there." The curse flew off all too easily, and the placed her head on her knees again. "...And it's all my fault... After all, someone used me to get close to him...." midnight_medea Lien listened carefully and frowned a little. She had been naive enough to think that the realm of the gods was safe. Though, how could it be? Didn't they all fade once. They seemed just as venerable. As Echo grew more distressed Lien mover closer and hesitated just a moment before slipping an arm around the goddess. "No Echo, it's not your fault. They used you, it's cold and cruel but no fault of yours." She sighed and closed her eyes. Nergal saved her that day on the road. He had been a friend, no, a mentor. The father figure she never really had. She owed both him and Echo everything. " We have to look for him. I'll help you, Cosine too. There has to be something that can be done, a god that can help." She chewed on her lip again. Zero Dream Echo leaned against Lien, seeking mostly comfort at the moment. She still hadn't slept... it simply refused to come at the moment with the way her moods kept shifting.
"There where footsteps, but...but they seemed to suddenly stop. It is all so odd." She shook her head a bit, sending her strands flying. "...Ill comb every existing worlds if I have to, but I will find him. I... I am lost. I admit. Both your help and Cosine's will be helpful, I believe. Is she well ?" midnight_medea Lien hugged Echo and looked off across the room as she spoke. That wasn't good. With nothing to track. "I am well." Cosine said softly, continuing to hold the goddess as Lien had. It was an alien feeling, this friendship but she liked it. It was warm. "Troubled by your news. I fear for Underworld and will help you in any way you need."Lien rested within herself for a moment whilst she thought. "Cerberus." She interjected. "Would he be able to track him?"Zero Dream "Thank you, lady. It is deeply appreciated. Your presence will help. Both of you." A small smile somehow managed to draw on her face, but it clashed with the rest of her face.
"Yes, we have brought him along. The scent simply ends before exiting the scene itself... Either the tracks where covered very well, or..."
Apparently Echo saying she would comb all the worlds to find him wasn't simply a figure of speech. midnight_medea Lien smiled softly though she was not happy. She was worried for Nergal and wished they at least had some clue as to where he had gone.
"What will we do?" She asked softly. Easing back a little to look at her friend. "Do you have any other ideas how to find him?" Zero Dream "I...." She hesitated, then sighed. "No. I have no idea where to start. He could be anywhere... There was no real clue... Only candles, probably to fool him all the more." Her eyes narrowed. Dangerously. It was alien on her face. midnight_medea Lien closed her eyes and wished that she could help more. But what was she a human with a goddess inside. Not very helpful.
"It will be okay." She said as much to herself as to Echo. She could only imagine what the poor goddess was going through. It made her think of Jessica, the sadness she always carried around. She didn't want Echo to have to carry that uncertainty with her.
"We will think of something." Zero Dream The goddess did not answer at first, simply enjoyed the warmth and contact. The comfort. It was one of the things she needed the most now.
"Hopefully. I will have to go back to searching soon, but.. I had promised this to you." She smiled, yet it still seemed sad. midnight_medea "And I thank you." Lien said with a warm smile, rubbing her hand lightly over Echo's back. "So do the children I am sure. And ... when they have gone back home I will help you. I want to do anything I can.""As will I." The other voice chimed in. "As much as I can whilst I am confined. Hopefully he will be found before I emerge. If not I will do all in my power to aid you." Zero Dream "Yes, hopefully he will be found soon..." The goddess was getting pretty strong, she could tell. There was an odd mix of joy at seeing one of her kind regain their strength, yet a deep rooted pain that come with knowing that soon Lien would be gone. She said nothing, however, as to not upset neither of them, and her pained look could be easily attributed to Nergal being missing. Not just gone this time. Missing.
"...Whatever happened there, they..." There was no hesitation. It took more than one to contain a god, even as in-between as they where at the moment, not quite their own self. She'd seen him crawl out of a fight with a near army of what he had told her to be necromancers. He'd gotten pretty beaten up, but he'd gotten out nonetheless. "...knew exactly what they where doing, exactly what they where up against. Careful to not even leave the slightest clue beside faint footsteps. Even if I found where they where, I cannot barge in there alone and expect to succeed." True, at least she had power in the living world... but they where untrained, not often used for their real purpose. She would need to work on that, as she fully expected the worst. "But... I will not risk you." She told Lien, softly. Cosine... It would be her choice. She could not stop her.
"But... we can search." midnight_medea "Yes, we can search." Lien said with a smile, breathing deeply once more and running her fingers through her hair. She really did wish that she could be of more use.
"And ... maybe it will be good to have me stay here. Just in case someone brings word or he manages to escape." Zero Dream The goddess nodded, movement soft and tired. "That is probably best..." Both to watch for information and probably pick up the pieces once she returned with him in tow. midnight_medea Lien nodded and watched the goddess for a moment.
"Try and get some rest. I will make you some food to take with you." She gave Echo a tight hug and pulled away. "You will need your strength." Zero Dream She honestly doubted she could rest by now, really, but she needed to at least try.
"Yes, you're right. Thank you, Lien." The goddess forced herself to smile. "But, if the young ones are causing any trouble... come get me, allright ?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
