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 Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:35 pm
Rhea was aware of something hurting, of her body feeling like a stone cast out in the middle of the ocean, to sink to whatever dark depths awaited. She felt cold, numb, as though the rain that pounding against her skin was actually going through her, leaving its chill behind. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at the remains of what had once been home, had once been safety and happiness.
Sadness was at the back of her mind, but as always, it was confusion that dominated her thoughts of this place. Why people had feared them, she didn't know. Granted, her brother could be violent, but they hadn't done anything at first, had only sought to live in peace as a family. But the other 'folk had been afraid, had tried to send them running, and when they chose to stay, they had moved on to more drastic, more violent action. It had ended horribly, their home being torched as they had watched from the outskirts of the path, watching as what had been their haven went up like a beacon to the heavens, burning with so much violent rage that she was sure that someone had enchanted it to be worse than it was. She could still feel the heat on her face, and a hand shot out to the crumbling, decrepit fencepost for fear of loosing herself. It was unnecessary, but she needed something to hold on to, something to anchor her in what was real.
What on earth had brought her to this place? This wasn't what she'd intended, but it was where she'd wound up. She'd never told Rye, but on more that one occasion, when she left to go to one of the villages, she'd often stop and watch this spot from afar, alone with her thoughts. Never had she been this close, always staying far enough away that the memories wouldn't hurt, that nobody would find her and associate her with the place and what had happened.
Rye's words echoed in her mind, breaking part of the hold the memories had on her, and she turned to look up at him with a mixture of sorrow and apology.
"I'm sorry, Rye. I didn't mean..." she faltered, her voice small as her gaze momentarily going back to the skeleton of a nightmare. The feel of his hands on her shoulders anchored her, and she vaguely sensed her hand falling from the charred wood. She took a deep breath and shook her head, the pained expression falling behind a mask of forced cheerfulness, looking her brother in the eye again, as though to let him know she was okay.
"You're right. Guess I sort of lost track when we took off." Another glance, as though looking for something in the broken remains, and that was all.
"Can we..." She faltered, realizing her question was pointless, since she'd been the one to bring them here in the first place.
"Let's just go home." It had no meaning to her, places like this. From this, she'd learned that home was where her brother is; that was where the safety and happiness truly lay, and they would have neither so long as they stayed where they were.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:26 pm
Did she think she could mask her sorrow from Rye? Her twin? He was as much part of her as she was of him, and she was a miserable liar. He saw her attempt at covering up her sorrow with a cheerful expression, and it made his mouth twist into a frown. He smoothed one hand down her cheek and shook his head. "Not... not yet, mo chroi. I could not stop you, and I do not believe things like this happen for no reason. If you returned here, it was because it had to be done." Rye shook his head. "Seeing your face... the pain this place invokes in you, I know that what happened hasn't been forgiven or forgotten in the least." Rye took her hand in his and squeezed it. His heart was iced over, chilled by the rain and his sister's pain. He couldn't take that from her, couldn't ease her burden.
His fighting skills and habits were coming to the surface, to deal with an emotionally tumultuous situation which he was otherwise ill equipped to handle. With anyone but his twin, he would ignore it and revel in their pain. His twin was different. Instead of feeding on her pain, it hurt him as though it was his own.
"The memories we share of this place are like poison in you, I can feel that now. I never... addressed it..." Rye trailed off. He couldn't bring himself to verbalize why he hadn't thought she might have needed something else from him, to move on. "To heal, we need to syphon out that poison," Rye finished. He squeezed her hand again, looking towards the ruins of their place. "Why don't... we give it a sendoff? These memories, the home we once shared. Perhaps if we take something of it, send it off on the lake... almost like a funeral ship. Maybe if we do that, if you get to say goodbye on your own terms... I need you to heal, to heal well," Rye said. He was speaking what he felt, which was distressing at the least. He was glad it was only his twin there, to witness his vulnerability. He shifted his weight, uncomfortable, not letting go of her hand.
He wouldn't let go of her hand, so long as she needed him there. He intended to anchor her as she anchored him.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:58 pm
It had been worth a shot, anyway, though Rhea really hadn't seriously thought she could hide from her brother. He was the one who delved in the deep and dark, even as much as he was her twin, who knew her at times better than she knew herself. It had been an instinctive reaction, nothing more, but now Rhea was left to really wonder why she'd wound up here.
Rhea could probably count the times she'd seen Rye frown at her on one hand, not counting the occasional time her exploring antics had gotten her injured, and a flicker of worry crossed her mind as she saw it, though his tone was still quiet as his cold hand stroked her cheek. A small frown crossed her own face as he mentioned old wounds. Had she secretly been harboring pain, pretending everything was okay when it hadn't been to the point she'd even fooled herself? Only, deep down, she knew she hadn't been fooling herself, that it was why she couldn't leave the place alone and move on. In that regard, she wasn't strong like her brother.
Rhea shook her head, looking back at the crumbling remains along with her brother, suddenly afraid and yet wanting to let go at the same time. Moving on would bring peace, and yet...what? How could she fix what she couldn't even name?
"Can we?" she asked hesitantly, looking at Rye again to measure his expression as she squeezed his hand in return, partly in hope and partly in thanks. "I don't...." She stopped, unsure of what she was trying to say. Her brother wasn't usually this open with his feelings, even with her. It went against his nature, so much as lying did for Rhea's own.
"Please?" she tried again. "I don't...I don't want to be held back by this place anymore." She didn't let go, her hold tightening slightly as she let the words out. She'd never realized just how badly she'd been affected by the memories until just then, when she wasn't able to deceive herself the reason why. The very idea of letting go now, of letting go of her brother, her one stability (ironically at best), would be like letting go to drown alone in storm of memories.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 11:23 pm
Rye nodded, his eyes flat, jaw set. The rain had long since drained all the colour from his lips and face. He looked like one of his own drowning victims, the green in his hair darker from the rain, almost like kelp pressed against his soft face. Although his eyes seemed flat, if one looked in them too long, it was as if some great creature was stirring beneath the surface: a shadow, caught only in passing, maybe. A hint of something that lurked in the darkness. That hidden horror embodied all that Rye was.
Yet here he stood, his sister's hand in his, his fingers folded over hers. "I won't let go of your hand," he reassured, and began to lead her over towards their old home.
Parts of the walls were splintered on the ground. Their walkway, once made from stone slabs which had been split and embedded in the earth, was covered in a green slime-like moss. Each separate stone had some kind of slur, which he originally thought had been drawn on in charcoal. That was so long ago, it seemed... was it? Was it really that long ago?
It must have been, but as soon as Rye stepped through the crumbling gate, it felt like they were back in that time. Back when they were younger, and cornered by the nearby 'folk. "Something that once meant anything, some trinket, even... it doesn't have to be important," Rye said. With his free hand outstretched, he bent down and picked up a particularly flat piece of wood, probably from one of the old support beams. It would have made a perfect ship, if it wasn't already soaked by the rain. They would have to delve deeper into the house's remains for him to be able to get a piece of wood dry enough to build a funeral ship. Just a little ship: it only had to house whatever trinkets Rhea needed burnt, or whatever debris she wanted razed off the face of their world. With his free hand, he rooted through whatever debris they were closest to, idly moving things aside. He tugged at one splintered piece of wood, however, and a handful of rubble cascaded down to the ground. He tilted his head, looked at Rhea, and added, "Be careful what you touch, alright? It's not very safe, here," Rye warned her. Not safe in more ways than one, then: their hearts could hardly remain untouched or untainted by reliving these memories, and the structure could collapse if they pulled the wrong part away. It wasn't as if the memories hadn't always festered there, though, a sickess beyond what they knew of themselves. Something they had forgotten, somehow. It had never left them.
Rye mulled over that kind of attachment and dedication. Their memories plagued them without letting go, even when they did not want them any more. What was so different from love, then? The vocabulary choice? Either way, it was to refuse to let go of something. To refuse to give up or leave. Even if the other person told you they didn't want you? Just like he wished Rhea's memories would leave her alone. That thought distressed him. He looked down at his hand, closed around Rhea's, and he squeezed tighter, then looked up at her. Maybe some kinds of letting go were good, and some were undesirable. Was he fit to make that distinction?...
Looking up at Rhea, that hardly mattered. He simply was not about to let go, nor break a promise. He turned away, holding on tightly regardless, and continued to scan the debris for a suitable pyre, while he waited for his sister to find something suitable for the fire and for letting go.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 4:57 pm
The look on her bother's face reminded Rhea of the statues she'd seen buried beneath the sea floor; gray and impassive, his hair a tangle to help hide what thoughts lurked behind his flat, almost emotionless eyes. The air around him seemed to change for a moment, as though charged with a subtle darkness, but when he spoke, he was still holding her hand, still her brother.
“Thanks, Rye.” She felt bad, almost like Rye had to babysit her and her problems, but Rhea was also extremely grateful her twin wasn't letting go, and squeezed back lightly in response. The desire to apologize was sudden and insistent; she knew her brother wasn't exactly thrilled to return to this place, either.
The house was as she remembered it, charred wood hollow and sodden from the rain that refused to let up despite the sun's valiant efforts to peak through the wall of gray. It crumbled so easily at Rye's touch, and her eyes widened slightly as she nodded.
“Okay,” she agreed, letting her gaze skim the rest of the room. It didn't have to be important, but it did have to have at least some sort of significance to Rhea. After all, what was the point of saying goodbye to a piece of devastated wood?
She felt her brother squeeze her hand again in return and looked up at him, wondering what was going through his mind...and wondering if she really wanted to know. What sort of memories did this place hold for him, the ones she didn't know of? She knew of the rumored stories from the nearby villagers and had seen the bloodstained wood, but he had been protecting her and their home. It had been a bit extreme in her mind, but not without reason. But the others...the other rumors, did they have any truth in them? Did this place bring those moments to mind, or was he concentrating on the task at hand and not letting his mind wander the way hers was?
“Over here, I think,” she said as the memory came back to her, stepping towards the large entryway without letting go of her twin's hand. “At least, it was last time...” Then again, that was a long time ago. Frowning slightly, Rhea let her hand skim over the dust-covered trinkets on a small side-table, glimmers of color popping through the trail left by her fingers. A soft, luminescent glow of pink and blue glinted beneath a glossy black surface, and a small smile came to the Twilif's face as she picked up a dark shell, cradling it gently. It was a shell she'd found on her first run with Rye on one of his pearl dives, close to the rare black pearls he'd sought.''
“I'm ready,” she said quietly, coming back into arm's length.
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Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:13 pm
Rye reached up and brushed his fingertips lightly against his black pearls, staring at the shell his twin held: the memory flitted across his face. He nodded. Something from a happy memory would be perfect, because he felt like it represented how their joy had been locked up in the burnt shell of their old house. Somehow, perhaps, giving the shell a funeral might let the twins give up the pain, the sorrow, the weight of what was left.
Rye reached down and dug through the rubble easily, uncovering dry wood. He cradled it against his chest, trying to keep it as try as possible, and said, "Let's go, then; to the cave river that leads out to the lake." It was closer to their new home than he'd like, but it was the only place he knew where they could set the funeral pyre ablaze without the rain putting it out. That river, if one were to swim along its length, they would eventually come to a wall. It would look like a dead end, except to the aquatic twins: they had but to swim deeper and the wall would give way to an extension of the river, a portion completely underwater. Anyone who could survive to that point had to swim down the underwater corridor until it got more and more shallow, eventually opening into a cavern, once the water was almost too shallow to swim in. That was, essentially, the foyer of their home. It was the only safe place they had found, after the fire.
He squeezed his sister's hand again and said, "For once, let's run together? Even if it will be hard for you to slow down enough to keep pace," Rye said, his eyes glinting. With her permission, he would run to the lake, and he would set it adrift with some lighter dry debris he also carried, Rhea's chosen shell borne onto the waters. What would he light it with? Tucked into the bandages against his stomach, he had another impermeable box, but it contained flint, accelerate, everything to start a fire. Even in the rain.
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Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:53 pm
Rhea looked down at the shell for a moment after seeing the flicker of change in her brother's expression. To her, it was a reminder that they'd had both good and bad times together here, but that they would always be tainted because they were locked away, overshadowed by something that had changed their world. It was time memories like this could become memories on their own. She wanted to be able to smile when she thought about it again, not be reminded of the cost that happiness had caused.
"Okay." She gave a small nod, not letting go as they made their way out of the house, cradling what they had taken in order to help keep the items dry from the steady rain. She felt colder inside the house than she had outside, and the feel of the raindrops falling freely against her skin was refreshing, even soothing. She was more than ready to leave.
"Alright." Again a small nod and a soft voice, but when her head came up, there was a playful gleam in Rhea's eyes once again. "I may keep even, but are you sure you'll be able to keep up anyway?" The little shell on the boat would be a beacon for her lost memories, lighting the way until it was snuffed out and lost to the horizon. Saying goodbye after all this time would be difficult, but she was ready. More than that, she wanted to. She wanted the shadows to stay out of her dreams, to move forward. Looking back shouldn't have to hurt like it did anymore.
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 2:29 pm
"If you are keeping even, then you can't pass me, or you're not even any more," Rye replied, arching a brow. What a time for his chilly logic to kick in. He was distracted, and he pulled Rhea into their run without waiting any longer. It was time enough they got things done, finished what was started and left open to fester.
The run wasn't that long, though it felt as though the ground was moving against him, as if no matter how long or hard he ran he would never quite reach it. He did, though: there was the body of water, spreading in front of him. Rye let go of Rhea's hand and walked to the water, using his torso to shield the wood from the rain. He took the kit of fire supplies from under his bandages and took out an old cloth, rubbing it in some kind of oil and blubber, smearing it over the wood. It would catch fire nicely. He turned back to Rhea and nodded to the wood, asking for her item.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:43 pm
Of course it would be Rye to be so logical about something so simple, but his tone threw her off. Then again, Rhea had to wonder if she was stalling, for whatever reason, or just wanted a sense of the familiar that was actually comforting while still in this place. Before she could say anything in turn, her twin was tugging her along and away from the house, the small piece of wood found and held protectively as they both returned to the chill presence of the rain.
The scenery change was more noticeable this time as Rhea focused on their surroundings, her footsteps countering her brother's as they ran. Time seemed endless as they headed towards the lake, stretching before them in a hazy dream, like when sea and sky met on the horizon.
It wasn't long until the lake came into view, their steps slowing until the hold on one another broke apart and Rye began preparing the wood with his tinder kit. From this perspective, the box bound to his back was quite visible, but her mind was on other things, and she nodded as her twin indicated that she should bring the shell. That in and of itself was easy enough to do, but standing in the quiet rain by her brother, looking at the shell after she handed it over, Rhea felt a moment of panic flutter through her thoughts. Was she supposed to say something now? What could she? Words, for once, would not come easily to her, and the more she thought on it, the worse the block became.
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 8:35 pm
Rye didn't need Rhea to talk. The events of their past were a weight on his lungs, and he just wanted it to end. Once he intended to take action, that action had to be decisive. Swift. Efficient. So Rye nodded to her in silence when she handed the shell over, and he bound it to the wood. He made sure everything to burn was fixed to the craft, and leaned over it to strike the flint, sparking. A spark caught the lit boat swift, and Rye burnt the tips of his fingers as he pushed it into the water. The fire was a sad one, sputtering in places, but it carried on. Rye had added a lot of accelerant, and things that greedy fire would not turn from, would not hesitate to incinerate. Even in the rain. Rye considered it. He was destined to live in darkness, cold and damp, but that didn't mean his sister had to share his rough edges. She had the chance to live a new life now, to let go of the things which had tied her down before.
"It is done. The burning of this vessel signifies the banishment of our worldly sorrows, and the welcoming of a future we have yet to live." Rye was standing, watching the vessel until the rain of the lake nearly obscurred it entirely. It was a dim glow on the water, snuffing out more and more. Rye held out his hand. "Come, Rhea. If you have a goodbye to say... you may say it now. If not, know that your gestures today have freed us of any obligation or connection to the old life we led. In fear, and in anger." In the formalities of the ceremony, Rye had grown wordy. It left him utterly unconcerned. He held out his hand for Rhea, gesturing for her to join him. "Rhea... after our goodbyes, I'll race you home." Rye's eyes glittered in the rain: as close to a smile as he would ever get, probably. And finally, the time for him to offer Rhea his gift was approaching.
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:30 pm
Rhea watched as the sparks took to the little craft, the flame flickering and guttering as it drifted farther away, assaulted by the persistent rain. It was a sad, almost pathetic sight, but it carried a significance in her mind as it continued to survive – just like they would. No matter how dark the past or the future, she still had a place to call home and, most importantly, she had Rye. She listened to his words without speaking, shaking her head when he mentioned goodebyes.
“No, I...it's done.” She didn't have to say it out loud to be true; watching the flame continue until it disappeared into the bleak gray horizon left her feeling a little drained and yet, much lighter as well. Like a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. The smile she offered was still a little sad perhaps, but more peaceful from coming to terms with what had been eating at her soul.
It was almost unnerving to hear Rye speak so much. The formality held his familiar flow, though, and when he held out his hand and offered to race her home, Rhea's smile took on its playful warmth again, eyes brightening.
“Think you'll be able to keep up this time?” she teased.
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 9:07 am
Now that the ceremony was over, Rye had returned to his usual self. The pool of darkness, where no light reached, which no wind stirred. He looked at Rhea with his unfathomable eyes and squeezed Rhea's hand. He let go, and answered, "Perhaps not, but I will always be right behind you," Rye said. He nudged her forward with his hands on the back of her shoulders, and then took off running.
He followed the water's course, though Rhea would surely overtake him. He expected no less of his sister. However, a few steps in, Rye dove into the water and swam against the current. His endurance did not fail him. Stroke after stroke, he cut through the water as though it was air, with no resistance. The beauty of his raw strength in water, the power of every motion. He followed the water's natural course, until the river broke off in two. He took the left path, and swam until he reached what seemed to be a wall. Rhea would have had to join him or go ahead of him by that point, though her speed on land should have kept her at least slightly ahead of her twin. In the water, the stormy current would slow her down, but on land she should still be fast. Rye was able to swim the length of the river because of his strength.
At the wall, he took a deep breath and swam downwards. At the base, the wall gave way, and Rye swam under the gap. He kept going, down the underwater corridor, and admired the gems he had set into the floor and walls. He had transferred even sections of ancient mosaic in order to decorate their entryway. The things he used were worth hardly anything to him; treasure hunters of such skill as the twins had far more wonderful treasure. Even then, the treasures dearest to Rye... He thought only of his twin. Rhea was dear to him in ways that coin and gems would never match.
He broke the surface of the water, finally, and was standing in their chamber. He lit the torches using the flint from his box, and stretched. He was cold, damp, soaked to the bone. It was exactly how he did best. He looked around for Rhea as soon as he was done stretching.
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:14 pm
Rhea couldn't help but smile at her brother's response, already picking up speed as he gave her a gentle push towards their destination. She knew he would always be there, and the fact that he'd said so gave her a soft warmth in her heart.
It was easy to catch with and even overtake Rye while on land, but after a few paces, she heard him dive into the water, not a splash, but more of a slice. The water's surface was already dancing with the rain, so his powerful strokes created a different melody than usual. This way, she knew, he would prove a greater challenge. In the water, it was Rye who ruled. Listening to the sound for a few moments, she angled her direction more towards the lake's edge, picking up the pace as she went. So long as she paced herself and didn't go so fast that she burned out in the beginning, they'd be an even match. The land was mostly without obstacles, giving her a clean runway.
Soon she came upon the area where the wall was, diving into the water without hesitation. Her heart picked up its rhythm in anticipation of returning home, but Rye was nowhere to be seen. Worried he might actually beat her, she tore through the water with her usual speed, reaching the bottom and slipping through the gap in the base. She knew almost every scene of the colorful mosaics by heart, illuminated dimly by the enchanted sconces she'd found here and there in the port city. Mentally, Rhea made a note that she still needed to get some more.
It was dark and silent when she broke the water's surface, but Rhea knew this place by heart and, practically skipping out of the water, went to where the spare flint and supplies were, only to find that some were low; she'd have to remember to see about some more. Maybe Rye would have enough from earlier.
She waited, hands clasped behind her back and smiling to herself as she heard the sound of something breaking the water's surface. Or rather, someone.
“Did you lose something along the way?” she teased, referring to how much longer he'd taken to arrive than she had. It had been maybe a couple seconds, but at least Rhea was back to her lighter self, smiling all the while as she went over to him.
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 12:49 pm
Rye didn't flinch, or even blink, when Rhea addressed him. "I have lost nothing but my sanity, sister mine, and you know well that perished long before our race," he replied, lighting the other flames as he went. A flickering light filled the entrance and then the main room of their home. The interior was strangely well furnished, considering anything in their dwelling would have been brought through the underwater passage. Rye had his ways.
He was pleased to note that his sister was no longer as gloomy as she had been. He would let no other but his sister beat him at games, or tease him. For her, though, he was lenient. If anyone else had challenged his power, he would have been more than happy to prove them wrong. He didn't approach her or attempt to embrace her, though. With Rhea's return to his usual self, Rye was also more characteristic of himself. He reached back and pressed his hand against the box sealed into his bandages, feeling its edges and corners with his thumb. Soon, he thought to himself, a smile curling the corners of his lips.
"Rhea, would you like something to eat?" He asked, without looking at her quite yet. He took his flint into the other room and began lighting the torches there, as well. He wanted to live in the light, for a little while. Even if he didn't belong there.
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