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 Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:00 am
Paper was finally able to rest. The past few weeks had taken a lot out of the little ghost, what with all the activity at the temple and trying to keep the impressionable Gen and unruly Waltz out of trouble. Regretably, the ghost had not even had the time to spend with her dear Genesis. She promised herself now that she would make the time. The girl stretched her pale arms out and sighed a ghostly sigh.
Nestled into the pocket of her sweater, Genesis stirred and stuck her head out to look up at her summoner curiously. "Are you ok?" the elysian purred as she rubbed the sleep from her red eyes.
Paper smiled and nodded in reassurance as she ascended the last few steps into the Crystal Chamber. As usual, the Crystal Guardian was at her station at the altar, looking after the glowing form of the Prime Crystal. Genesis shifted within the pouch to wave a clawed hand at the mass of woman-shaped shadows. For some reason unknown to Paper, the elysian was quite fond of the solitary and often scornful wraith.
The ghost child silently moved passed the nameless guardian, bowing slightly as she did almost every day, and made for the door to the balcony.
"Wait.." came the eerie, echoing voice of the guardian. "Come here, Ghost, I wish to speak with you."
Paper turned to the shade and stared wide-eyed. The guardian rarely spoke at all. "O-of course," the child stuttered as Gen, not about to be left out of this conversation, squirmed out of the pouch and floated clumsily up to sit on her summoner's shoulder. The elysian hadn't quite gotten the hang of levitation just yet.
As Paper approached, the guardian's face solidified to regard the pair with an uncharacteristic smile. The effect would have been somewhat disturbing if not for the fact that Paper was used to ghosts and Gen absolutely adored everything the guardian did.
"Hello, Genesis," the wraith finally said after a long moment. The tenderness in her voice took Paper completely by surprise, and Genesis was blushing from wing to talon.
"Hello, Guardian," the little Elysian replied happily after recovering from her initial embarassment. "I'm.. I'm honored to speak with you!"
Paper had also recovered, and with a smile she realized it hadn't been her the guardian had wanted to see. The little girl took the elysian off her shoulder and gingerly held Genesis out to the wraith.
"Ahh.. you are quite a beautiful one, Genesis," the guardian mused as wisp of black mist reached out to lift the little one closer to her face.
Paper made her way over to one side of the room and sat against the wall, setting her doll in her lap. She was just happy to have a moment of peace. No one would bother her in here, everyone knew better than to linger in the guardian's presence. But while Paper's eyes were shut for a little nap, the onyx eyes of her kitty plushie seemed fixed on the wraith.
[..to be continued..]
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Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 6:55 pm
[..continued from above..]
Genesis beamed under the close scrutiny of the wraith. Every feather on her slight frame seemed to tingle with excitement, and she was very nearly giggling with joy. Of course giggling was out of the question... the guardian never giggled. Giggling was so uncool.
The wraith tilted her pale face to one side and smiled. It was a tiny smile, barely more than a twitch at the corners of her pastey lips. "Tell me, Genesis," the shade began again in her airy voice. "Tell me, do you remember the Nexus?"
The elysian scrunched her little face. "The.. what?"
"The Celestial Nexus, little one." The wraith sighed, her shadow-arm falling away. Without her perch, Genesis was left to hover clumsily over empty air for a few moments before slumping to the altar in frustration. "That is the birthplace of your spirit and the homeland of your kind. You do not know this?"
"My.. spirit?" The elysian stared in confusion. "I don't.. understand?"
"I see," the wraith said quietly, as much to herself as to the baffled little elysian. "I wonder.." Her voice trailed off as she regarded the elysian quietly.
Waltz appeared then, his pointed hat cresting the outside window. He had been outside, looking for suitable starfruits for he and Gen when he felt his companion's confusion. "Bother," he mumbled as he did his best to squeeze his round mass through the thin window. Perhaps ordaining pixie sticks as a new, and vital, food group wasn't such a grand idea after all. With a huff and a puff, the pudgey moogle managed to push himself through the opening.
The guardian turned her pale visage back to the pulsing light of the crystal. A sour expression crossed her face as her eyes fell on a portion of the crystal that seemed to be dulling. "The Crystal is weak.."
Genesis seemed greatly distressed by the notion, and even Waltz seemed more gloomy, if such a thing were possible, as he settled next to his best friend. "Is.. it... going to be ok?" the elysian asked in a small voice, her red eyes darkening in concern.
"For the present," the guardian responded after a moment's pause. "But, I now wonder if simply releasing the spirits within will be enough... Do not worry over the matter," the wraith added before Genesis could respond. "Let me think on this... I fear it may be that we will have to take more direct actions against the shadows growing within the Crystal. I wonder if it's even possible."
Genesis still had no idea what this had to do with her, but the guardian's tone made her feel she should be very concerned. So she put on her best concerned face and glowered next to the wraith. Waltz was glowering too, but then he always glowered. He was quite good at it actually. He decided he must reward his exceptional glowering with a pixie stick.
Paper stirred from her short nap, suddenly getting the feeling that the guardian needed some time alone. The ghost quietly collected her elysian and the familiar, who were engrossed in a glowering contest, and discreetly made her way back downstairs. She remembered she still had things to do in the temple. A leisurely stroll on the balcony would have to wait.
A stray pixie stick caught Paper's cheek as a battle of epic proportions played out in her arms. Genesis had stolen Waltz's hat.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 8:21 pm
Genesis tapped her claw on her chin as she stared up at the Prime Crystal, lost in contemplation. Next to her, Waltz idly licked a small grape lolly and seemed quite content with himself.
"Wally?" Genesis said after another long minute of silence.
Waltz twitched and glared at his companion. "Waltz," he corrected for the umpteenth time. "What is it Gen?" The moogle popped the lolly into his mouth and added, "What're you fretting about now?" He pointedly began grooming his wings, rearranging his feathers that always got ruffled when Gen was frustrated with something.
"It's just that.." Genesis leaned her head against the altar, looking up, up and up at the massive crystal. "I feel like I should be doing something." The little avian grabbed a peanut out of the pack leaning on her hip and nibbled at it. "Don't you think so?"
The moogle made a few slurpy noises as he thought about the question, moving the candy around in his mouth as he considered it. "Perhaps," he finally answered. "But there is still much that needs to be done before then, I think." Waltz patted his companion on the shoulder with a stubby paw. "All will become clear, don't worry." The fluffy familiar took a moment to chew up the remains of his tasty treat.
As her companion crunched happily beside her, the elysian thought back to the day she was summoned. She remembered it clearly... but.. before that? Genesis sighed and shook her head. Nothing. Not a single memory... except complete and total darkness. She dreaded the thought of her brothers and sisters being trapped within that darkness, that utter blackness. A shiver ran up her spine.
"As I was saying," Waltz chimed in, holding the lolliless white stick in front of him and waving it around. "Don't worry, my dearest. You are safe-"
"But what about the others!" Genesis interrupted, louder than she intended. "What about the others," she repeated more gently, releasing a long sigh. "We have to do something.."
"Give it a little more time, Gen." The moogle said with a bit of concern. "Don't rush into danger.. enjoy this rest while lasts."
The elysian felt something from her companion then, and rolled her head to one side to glance down at the white fluff. "You know something?" She raise a slim eyebrow in surprise. "You're keeping something from me?" Genesis seemed more intrigued than hurt, and reached down to poke her little friend in the stomach with a black claw. "What are you hiding?"
Waltz sighed and puffed up to ward off the poking. "Nothing I'd particularly like to talk about, thank you." The moogle wrinkled his little nose to accentuate the point. Genesis fixed him with an angry look, and try as he might, the moogle couldn't ignore it. "Fine!" he huffed. "Well.. I overheard the Guardian the other day.. talking to herself." Waltz bit off a stray piece of candy that was still stuck to the stick. "She mentioned something about the time of action coming soon," he continued after scouring the thing for more missed bits. "And that hopefully 'the little ones will be ready.' I don't know what it means, but I'm sure it has something to do with the Nexus.."
"I see," the elysian mused, turning to regard the crystal again. "I will wait then.." The avian nodded her head, contented for the moment with the knowledge that the Guardian was planning something, and finished off her peanut in silence.
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Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:53 am
((The following events take place within Turtle's Paradise during a lull in the winter festival.))
A stray ocean breeze blew in from the partially opened window as Genesis and Waltz sat together on the sill. The wind seemed to be comforting the subdued looking elysian as it carressed her upturned face and ruffled the mane of feathers cascading down her back. Waltz seemed pleased just to enjoy the sensation through the bond they shared. He quietly finished the remains of his pixie stick, letting his companion have her silence.
"I was relieved," Genesis said after a few more peaceful moments. "I was relieved that Aversham was summoned finally." The elysian pulled her gaze from the transfixing sight of the night sky and regarded her closest friend with a small smile.
"Yes, it was fortunate that it all turned out alright in the end," the moogle agreed. He patted Gen on the leg. "So then why do you appear so sad still?"
"It's nothing, really," the elysian sighed. "It's just that..." She stared down at her clawed hand and flexed her 'fingers' experimentally. "That day..."-flashback- The Crystal Chamber: earlier that month. The Guardian stared down at Genesis through the misted veil that covered her face. She seemed to be considering something of importance.
"I'm sure," Genesis said from her spot at the wraith's side. She gazed longingly at the Prime Crystal. Waltz sat on the altar behind them with a worried look on his face and several feathers sticking out at odd angles behind him.
"Then I shall try," the wraith said as she held out a hand to the avian. "It is not my place to bring harm upon the children of the Crystal, but if you wish this, then I will attempt it. I.. do not know what may come of it," she added, her voice echoing eerily in the chamber.
"I know.." Genesis breathed, her voice a strained whisper. "But I am the First. If it is to be attempted, it should be my burden." She took a deep, slow breath when she realized she wasn't getting enough air. She scolded herself for being so afraid. This was her duty and she would see to it.
Waltz knew it was time for him to do his part, so he settled himself as best he could on the altar and closed his eyes to concentrate.
Genesis floated up to the Guardian's waiting hand and hovered over the shadows of her fingers. "I'm ready," the elysian said with renewed resolve.
The wraith nodded slowly. As she concentrated on the small form above her hand, the shadows of her fingers seemed to extend upwards toward it. They became snaking tendrils of mist that slowly but deliberately entwined the elysian until there was little more than an oblong shaped blackness where Genesis once floated.
"Be strong," the wraith whispered under her breath as she ignited the thin, but still very powerful, link between herself and the Prime Crystal. In a flash of brilliant color and light, the wraith offered the elysian to the Nexus...
"When I woke up on the altar," Genesis said as the images faded once again and the pounding in her head receded. "I was so exhausted, I felt like I had come back from the dead almost. I wish I could remember what happened... the Guardian, she said that I had regained a portion of my lost power." The elysian dropped her hand in her lap and gazed out at the sky again. "I can feel it, deep within me.. but it's as if it's just too deeply buried. I can't seem to touch it at all."
Waltz nodded in solemn contemplation. "I cannot remember the events either, kupo," he said, feeling very much like he had failed her somehow. "Perhaps we come to understand it in time." The moogle offered a hopeful smile. "Kupo... I am more happy that you returned to me, though.. I was afraid I would lose you in there."
Genesis turned and smiled sincerely at her familiar. "I am glad also," she admitted as she lifted the moogle into her arms for a rare hug. Waltz endured it quite bravely. "The Guardian said that I had done a noble thing that day," she whispered after releasing her companion. "She said that it might soon be possible for us to travel saftely into the Nexus because of my aide.." She left it unsaid that by 'us' she meant the elysians and not the familiars. Waltz did not press the subject. "I hope that by then I can remember some of what happened... I fear that I may be forgetting something of utmost importance..."
The two went silent after that, simply comforting eachother in a way only the bonded may do. It was unsaid, but they both felt it. She was forgetting something important.
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:41 pm
:Genesis
It was fairly quiet in the tavern now that the festival had ended. Genesis rather liked it this way. It was difficult for her to be around large crowds for long periods of time. The elysian wasn't much for being social for some reason, and she assumed she had been the same in her other life.
Genesis closed her eyes for a moment and sensed for her summoner. She was around somewhere, probably in the basement where it was dark and cool. Though the little avian loved the company of her summoner, she also understood the ghost's natural tendancy to solitude. At least Paper never wandered too far away, always staying close enough for Genesis to sense her.
The elysian held her eyes shut for a moment longer, calling in a very gentle breeze through one of the open windows and letting it carry her onto the counter. With a smile, she opened her eyes and looked around from her vantage point. Waltz had busied himself with searching through the cracks in the floorboards for any left over kupo nuts from the festival. She laughed an airy laugh before settling herself on top of a blueberry muffin. Absently she picked off pieces of her cushiony seat as she quietly contemplated some inner thoughts.
:Aversham
"There's one of there, Sir Fluffy." Onion announced as he sat upon one of the table tops and stared down upon the moogle who seemed intent upon exploring the interior of the tavern in the hope of uncovering these apparently 'tasty' kupo-nuts...personally the familiar couldn't see the fascination in them, he was much more partial to punch nowadays.
Nevertheless, he continued to watch the other familiar with some form of interest as his own companion (in the form of Aversham) continued to preen himself in the corner of the room, his bright plummage standing out surprisingly well against the dark shadows in which he sat - it seemed that it was unusually quiet within the tavern this day but then again, all had to recover from the rather long festival, regardless of how pleasant it had been.
Still, the Elysian couldn't help but glance up as something caught the back of his mind, a sense of recognition in relation to another being. Granted he scarcely knew her but he had met her once when he was in his more dormant state.
"Greetings." He murmured, despite failing to turn his head in her direction.
:Genesis
Waltz swung his head up to peer at the voice and huffed in surprise as his hat almost toppled backward off his little head. The moogle shook a paw at Onion accusingly as he scanned the direction that the other familiar had indicated out of the corner of his little black eyes. Ah!
"Ku-kupo," Waltz called back up to Onion as he waddled over to the trapped morsel. "I knew that one was there. I was getting to it, you know."
Genesis smiled again as she observed her friend, but the expression became thoughtful once again as she faintly heard someone addressing her. Well, she thought it was her. There really wasn't anyone else around. Leaning forward to get a better look at who ever it was, she spotted Aversham.
"Ah," she sighed, the smile returning to her face. "Well met, firebird." Genesis inclined her head despite figuring that he wouldn't notice. "I am glad to see your summoning was successful," she added as she watched him attend his beautiful feathers.
:Aversham
"It very nearly was not." Furling his wings against his side once more the Phoenix slipped out of the shadows to become somewhat more sociable and offered as pleasant a smile as he could manage with his beak towards the delicate female Elysian, "However it seems I was lucky that my familiar -"
"Haha, you lie! You had no idea it as there!" Onion interrupted in a loud voice as he waved his tiny gloved hand after Waltz and stuck his tongue out, Aversham could only grimace at this.
"Was strong enough, even if he lacks in intelligence." He mused, shaking his head from side to side as he observed the wind Elysian and gave an appreciative nod, she was rather pleasant to look at to say the least, "And how fair you this day?" He enquired.
:Genesis
Genesis couldn't helped but laugh lightly at Onion's outburst. She waited for Waltz's retort, but was surprised when he was not forthcoming with one.
"I hope it wasn't too difficult," she said as she turned her attention back to Ave, her expression shifting to slightly concerned. "The summoning process is such a delicate thing.." The elysian seemed to lose her train of thought for a moment and almost didn't seem like she would answer Aversham's polite inquiry.
"Oh," she chirped at last, her cheeks darkening in embarassment. "I'm well enough, I suppose. Though I have been better." She tilted her head at the only other elysian she'd ever spoken with for any amount of time since her summoning. "Tell me, have you any memories of.. well, the Nexus?" The look in her eyes was unreadable, something of a mix of apprehension, longing, and confusion.
In the background Waltz grunted loudly as he finally managed to tug the stuck kuponut out of its prison. "Hah!" he shouted in triumph. He then remembered Onion's remark and scowled up at him. "Says you, kupo. I have the eyes of a hawk!"
:Aversham
"No you don't, I had to point to where it was!" Onion retorted, flashing an even larger grin as he waved a tiny gloved hand again and with a 'yahoo' plummeted to the ground where he somehow landed on his feet with a slight grunt of pain - well he was wearing armour and considering his size, it was damned heavy.
Nevertheless, on the other side of the room Aversham appeared to have become remotely uncomfortable. He was not going to lie but the only thing he remembered from the Nexus was that he was huge and now he wasn't, other than his traditional size he was almost completely unaware of everything that had transgressed within the Nexus despite maintaining all of his power.
"I must confess that I know not of what happened in the Nexus, I emerged Prime but my memory is not as it once was." He replied at last and released a grudging sigh, "All I know is that I was significantly larger and now I am incredibly petite - I scarcely remember what happened to the Nexus and why it resulted in what appeared to be an almost endless slumber to me." He paused briefly and seemed to assess the Elysian before him for a time, her own discomfort indicated that apparently she knew a little more than he did.
"I apologise, truly I do."
:Genesis
Genesis nodded, offering a small smile to Ave. "You don't need to apologize.. Aversham isn't it?" She stuffed a piece of a blueberry into her mouth as she regarded him quietly for a moment. "I.. don't remember anything from before I was summoned either," she conceded after finished the bite. "Well, besides the feeling of being quite a bit larger, as you said."
Waltz grumbled at Onion as he hopped down in front of him. "Yes, well, you were only pointing out the obvious, kupo. I had left it there to return to later." The moogle fluffed himself up and took a few nibbles from his aquired treat.
"I've... been into the Nexus recently," Genesis whispered to her hands as she sat them in her lap. She wondered what he would think of that. "But, I remember nothing solid of that experience either." She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed a claw to her forehead. "As hard as I try, I only remember fragments... Such darkness."
Waltz murmured a faint "kupo" as he suddenly felt the distress rolling through his bond with Genesis. The moogle watched her closely as he continued to nibble at the nut.
:Aversham
A brief flicker of concern overcame is usually 'stoic' avian face. His eyes narrowed to mere slits and he seemed to disregard her assumption of his name for a time - what was of most interest to him was that she had reentered the Nexus, he had considered such a feat somewhat suicidal and although he was remotely inclined to take risks, venturing into a plane that was so brutally...well, he wasn't sure what had happened but it was simply illogical.
"You went back?" He enquired in astonishment, a flash of panic rippling through his emerald eyes as he examined the apparently distressed Elysian, whatever she had experienced orseen appeared to have been locked away by some obscure power, perhaps the same power that had prevented him from recalling anything of relative use.
"How could you have been so foolsih?" He hissed before shaking his head and mentally chastising himself for insulting the Elysian who seemed to know a great deal more than him, she had evidently had help and thus he was not warranted to question her.
"You can recall nothing?" He persisted in a small voice, releasing a delicate sigh as he at last gave a nod, "And yes, I am Aversham as you so rightly assumed." He confirmed in the same manner as before. He was pleased to note that Onion appeared to have sank into silence, as if overwhelmed by the same otherwise inexplicable emotion that now flowed through him - she had been able to see their home, just once and even in it's fallen home!
...He felt terribly homesick right now.
:Genesis
Genesis winced at the firebird's harshness and opened her crimson eyes to glance plaintively at him. "Foolish," she mimicked in an empty voice, her eyes seeing through him for a moment before focusing again. "Foolish?" she said again as if the thought had not occured to her. "Maybe so," Genesis whispered, lowering her eyes and sounding a little defeated. "I don't know if I accomplished anything by it. I just know that I had to do something. You are newly summoned, whereas I have been on this plane for months, wondering over the fate of our home. Wondering if there was nothing I could do to help our mother Crystal." She sighed, slipping off her seat to pant herself on the counter and on top of a napkin. Absently she took up a small note-taking pen that sat nearby and studied it.
"The Guardian knew of a possible way to send us back in. She sent me in with the knowledge that I may not return." The slender elysian leaned the tip of the pen on the napkin and scratched at it idly as she thought back. "But I did it with the hopes that it would reveal a way for us," she indicated herself and Aversham, "to be able to help the situation there."
Waltz appeared by her side and fluffed himself up into a comfortable ball as he eyed Aversham critically.
"The Guardian said she sent me to Aesolon'Reaux." Squinting, Genesis scrawled a few lines across the napkin. "I wish I could remember it... our home." A pained look flashed accross her face. "I think I must have died there, in that place."
:Aversham
"Did...?" Aversham seemed to freeze in his place, a eerie discomfort and chill creeping through his eternally warmed limbs. She had died and yet he, with all his power and skill could not have resurrected her? His brow furrowed at this thought and for a time he racked his mind in the hope that something would come to him - how could he fail.
Granted, with all his power he frequently fell to the powers that be, sacrificed his own life with guarantee from the higher entities that he would return. He was by fate a martyr, honour bound to die in order to restore the lives of all those who had fallen...The chill grew worse and despite his otherwise 'optimistic' nature he was filled with dispair. Did that mean that Reika had died to? Did that mean every Elysian he caught within his gaze had perished and he hadn't been there?
"I assume that the fact that your memory fails you, means that in fact you found no way." He muttered huskily, clearing his throat in a pained manner as he attempted to ignore the troubled gaze of his familiar who also appeared to be sharing the irrepressable guilt and by the gods, it hurt.
"I am sorry." He murmured in a pitiful tone at last, his tiny form slumping as he lifted his emerald gaze ever so slightly, "I was not there..."
:Genesis
"Well," Genesis said, blinking away the day dream she had wandering into. "I just get the feeling... something defeated me in there. I feel like I left a part of myself with it." She winced glancing down at her scribbles. "At least, I do not see any other reason for me to have been expelled from the Nexus in the manner it happened to me. I was unconcious and weak for days.."
Waltz made a few sympathectic noises and patted his companion on the back. Without meaning to, he peered down at the napkin and scrunched his nose. Something about the half picture was starting to seem familiar.
"Again you apologize where there is no fault," Genesis said softly. "Truthfully," she glanced down at her beloved familiar. "I did not expect to return at all. Perhaps the Crystal was watching over me."
:Aversham
"Or perhaps there was something within this capable of pulling you out in such states of desperation." He furrowed his avian brow and sought to fully understand his own statement, Onion had never confessed to him that he could sense the emotions of the Elysian and thus he was incapable of even connecting this small point to his comment - no matter how relevant.
"The Crystal; when I was there I assumed that it provided a gateway and it was my will and the will of both the Guardian and Onion -" His words seemed broken and he shook his head again to shake the muddled thoughts back into some remotely reasonable order, "What I mean - is that whenever I was breaking through the gateway to reach this world I considered it more the determination of both myself and the two on the other side that allowed me through...not the crystal - to me the crystal was just a gateway."
"But perhaps that was simply because I was prime, reawakened from my slumber and had not even been brave enough to attempt to reenter the Nexus." He murmured bitterly, cursing his own cowardice as he flicked his gaze towards Onion who was bravely ascending the chair to reach him - thearmoured familiar really was rather agile.
"You have no idea what the entity you speak of was?" He enquired at last, deeming it appropriate to at least try and pick information out of the crevaces of the Elysian's mind, he would deal with his own anxieties later.
:Myth
After a week of the rumours that Myth had won the Crystal Shard due to default in the Winter Festival, Myth thought it was time to ask around as to what he should do, or where he should go... He'd been here at the Tavern for not much longer than a few weeks and knew nothing of where they really came from. He saw a few familiar faces as he sat silently at the bar, those faces being that of a Small Firy Bird. Feeling as if Aversham, although he had never spoken directly to him, would gladly answer the query he had, he turned and got up off of his stool.
The Phoenix appeared to be not as perkier as he had otherwise been on previous encounters however Myth fought back his intimidation by the small phoenix, silly he knew, and asked his question,
"Erm... Excuse me, Aversham is it? During the recent events, you may remember that I received a Crystal Shard, I am unaware of where it is you Elysians come from and was hoping you could point me in the right direction so that I may form the beginning of the relationship with mine, should I not fail as a summoner that is..." Myth shifted his feet slightly awaiting an answer from Aversham, "I am sorry if I have interupted you, I see you are, well, I don't think I've picked a good time to ask you this question."
:Aversham
The phoenix eyed Myth with an almost hateful glance, it wasn't that he had anything against the being bar his atrocious timing but the little welp was going to have some manners, you did not simply interrupt somebody when they looked like they had just been told the person they loved had been brutally murdered before being fed to cannibals - it just was not done...Nevertheless the phoenix restrained himself from making any derrogatory comments and instead flexed his left wing outwards to point the tips of his flight feathers towards the doorway.
"Barton." He muttered gruffily, shaking his plummed head with a hint of distaste, "If you cannot find your way from there and if you cannot hear the call from as close a proximity as Barton is to the Temple, then you are not fit." He added in a blunt and rather cruel manner before furling his wing once more and turning his gaze back towards the wind bourne Elysian.
...It was rather evident (on hindsight) that Aversham was not really the wisest one to ask, Onion might have been a better choice for such an interruption.
:Genesis
Genesis slowly pulled her eyes up from the napkin where her clawed hands continued to push the large pen across its surface. "The Crystal is most certainly not.. just a gateway." She tilted her head in thought. "Unless you mean the shard that you were summoned from, in which case you would be correct." Genesis sighed, her eyes losing focus again. "I speak of the Prime Crystal, the mother of our kind. Surely you remember enough of our nature to know this? She is the only reason the Nexus did not kill you." She regarded the phoenix blankly for a second before adding, "Permanently."
Waltz nudged his friend, bringing her out of dark mood. "Perhaps he does not remember that," he said quietly.
"Well.." Gen's eyes floated down to the napkin again and watched as the pen continued on its journey across the white surface. "I.." She shut her eyes and tried her hardest to remember. She was greeted by the same flash of images. "There is darkness in the Nexus, and it is alive with malice.. I believe that is what attacked me." She frowned. "But that would mean that the shadow has reached.." With a start, the elysian's eyes flew open and fixed on the napkin. She practically jumped straight up and hung in the air, dropping the pen in the process. Gensis stared at the image she had drawn and whispered.. "Aesolon'Reaux.."
 :Myth
Myth noticing that he had indeed interupted at perhaps the worst possible time started to edge back slowly facing Aversham the whole time, but with his head bowed down hoping that the gesture would show Aversham that he really had meant no harm, catching a final glimpse of the Firy Bird as he backed out of the door way, with all his will tried to send him a non-verbal message that he was sorry and had not meant to anger him further.
Finally backing the whole way out the door, he muttered to himself... "Barton, eh...", spreading his wings out to their pitiful full length he let the Wind carry him across the Icy Water and over to the mainland... When he returned he would understand his place in the whole scheme of things....
:Aversham
Was it just her bad mood or did she make a habit of belittling in everything he said and did. He had quite clearly specified that he remembered nothing despite emerging primed and ready for any battle he was presented with. What part of that could the pathetic little welp not understand - he was no seer, he was a martyr and having died do frequently death was not really something he tended to remember.
The cheeks about the jawline of his beak tensed as he fought back the urge to snap at the Elysian, honour and courtesy demanding that he be the more approachable of the two (regardless of how odd that might have sounded). Nevertheless, his eyes did glitter with a hint of fury and pain as she seemed to question his intelligence - it wasn't his fault he remembered nothing, was it?
He failed to notice the image in which the creature had drawn upon the napkin and instead turned his gaze down towards his taloned feet in what appeared to be some form of defeat.
"I am sorry I lack the ability to remember anything, apparently I am incompetent in that area of 'study'." He hissed severely, finally releasing at least a part of his fury at the nerve of the elysian before him - she might have been first here but she was far from being in a position of authority over him.
"But at least I am competent enough to not be as stupid as you, you who enters the Nexus and dies at the hands of an unseen foe because she wanted to be the hero!" He snapped again, lifting his head up and narrowing his eyes to mere slits, "Too impatient to wait - no, too selfish." He corrected and shook his head.
How dare she insult him when she was as much a fool as he, if not more.
:Reika
It was to be expected, he supposed. Ever since Reika made a new friend, she would want to go to the tavern as much as humanly possible. And today was no expection, obviously. Giving a soft cluck of his tongue, Koni got his new chocobo to slow down before the bar and he carefully slipped down. Patting the bird, whom he called Arkli, he fed him a green and sent him on his way until he called for him to collect them. This was tiring. He had so much studying to do... he didn't have time to take constant trips to Turtle's Paradise! Grumbling to himself, he shoved back his hood as he strode in, found a able and sat down. Seems some of the Elysians were out and about today.. maybe it would make her happy.
Reaching behind him, he very carefully withdrew the very specifically made backpack from his shoulders and set it on the table, letting the fabric fall as it would. Inside the bag was what looked like a replica of the bedroom in the house he had created for her at home. and resting in the bed was Reika. "Awaken, Reika. We're arrived at yer favorite place to be"
Stirring carefully, she stretched out her arms as she yawned. She really liked her travelling bedroom that had been made for her. This way, she didn't have to worry about gusts of intense winds knocking her off Koni's head and she could properly nap. her guardian was so kind to her! And Koni had way too much time on his hands apparently >>.
Looking around, she saw that Aversham and another were here. But.. the tensions in the room were so high... something was wrong...
:Genesis
Genesis blinked back her fixation with the image and regarded Ave with a completely surprised expression. "I.." She floated back down to the counter and took a few tentative steps toward the firebird. "I did not mean to.. I was.." Genesis shook her head. "I apologize.. I was so caught up.. with my own suffering." She sat herself down again and offered an apologetic smile. "You must not have had much time to explore the temple... there is information there, about our kind."
She spread her black hands helplessly. "I did not remember these things on my own, I have had time to study some writings in the temple. And the Guardian has spoken with me on a few things when I can convinve her to sit with me. The bits of information have sparked deeply imbedded memories... a devotion to the great Crystal, our mother." Genesis sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It was insensitive of me to assume you've learned these things. It's just that they seem so natural to me now." She seemed to shrink further as Aversham insulted her actions in re-entering the shadows.
"Well, it's fine for you to say those things," Genesis whispered. "But it is.. my duty," she winced, thinking herself sounding rather unconvincing. "As the first summoned.. The Guardian told me her method was untested and she did not know if it would even work." She finally let her eyes rise to his. "Would you risk more of our kind, as few as have been summoned, to the whims of fate? Had her methods been fatal," her gaze fell again. "It would have only been me lost to the winds."
A moment of silence hung as Genesis seemed to be having some inner stuggle. "This," she said at last, backing up to point at the picture she drew. "Talking with you.. I have unburied a memory of the Nexus.. this is the home city if the elysians as I recall seeing it when I re-entered." Her voice was hollow. "I think.. you would like to know what it looked like."
:Aversham
"You truly are a selfish wretch." Aversham muttered in disgust, she seemed incapable of realising her own statement as he could only narrow his eyes further, if her methods had failed then she would have been the only one lost - what scholar her told her that theory, what scholar took the time to consider that in her death she would not only affect all those still trapped, but also her summoner and familiar.
"Did you not even stop to consider your actions? Duty, honour - they are all but words when you do not consider every action you take as well as the consequences." If he had teeth he would have grit them at this point, however he simply turned his head away from her and her drawing as though he could no longer bear the sight of her, he didn't even seem to see Reika despite the familiar aura.
"If you had died, if you had been lost completely then you would not only have plunged the Nexus into complete and utter darkness, you would have caused all those on the outside to lose hope because there would have been no way back, we wouldn't have seen it!" His feathers seemed to bristle as he raised himself to his full height and flexed his wings in some form of angered gesture, had he hands, he would have smacked them on the table.
"More to the point, if you had perished then what if you damaged the mother crystal?" He snarled furiously, "And furthermore, how would your summoner and familiar have felt - knowing that you had gone into the Nexus, knowing they had let you make such a stupid choice only to find out that you had died..."
"Do you honestly think they could live with the guilt, with the foolish actions you made because you were duty-bound?" He flared, reeling round once more to place a critical and disgusted eye upon the Elysian for he could stare down upon anyone just as easily as her accursed familiar. "Even I am duty bound, but I consider my actions and know my place." He paused and shook his head as he seemed to slip into the shadows again to mask his own fury and emotion.
"It's time you knew yours."
:Genesis
Genesis lifted a feathered brow at Aversham's outburst. Her eyes lost the haunted look that she'd worn from the beginning as they fixed on the firebird with new clarity. That she had to look up at him from her sitting position didn't seem to bother her much. "You make a lot of accusations, firebird," she stated flatly. "I told you how long I have been on this plane. Do you think that I just awoke one day and decided to leap head first into what would likely be my death? Certainly not."
The elysian stood up, tired of the loftly look she was recieving from this hot-headed featherbrain. What gave him the right to make these accusations? All she had wanted was someone to speak with... someone who understand her pain. Bah, this creature understood nothing. She had to float a bit, but she met him at eye level. "You cannot possibly make the assumption that the Nexus would suffer from my loss. It is improbable." She leaned forward, suddenly looking very disgusted with what stood before her. "Many of our kind must have died before the Crystal was able to shield them in Aesolon'Reaux. Do you fear your memories as you seem to fear entering the Nexus? Perhaps you survived the shadow's onslaught because you abandoned your brethen." She scowled.
"I will not be judged by you. If I had died in the journey to the Nexus, the Guardian would have gained the necessary knowledge she needed to make the trip safe." Genesis bristled visibly. "But I doubt it would matter to you anyway. I bet you're quite content to stay here and let the others rot in their forced slumber!"
:Reika
SInce the two were close to the others like herself, she overheard the ending parts of their conversation. Now, she truly wasn't the type to pry... but there was so much anger and disgust in Aversham's voice.. something she had never heard from him before because he was alays so kind to her. They had to be close, he and the other Elysian... she was rather worried about them.. even the one she didn't even know.
Looking over at Koni, who seemed to be interested in their issue as well, she went over to the edge of her table and began to pace, obviously in a panic. In all truths, she was left with few choices.. what could she do to try to help? Was it bad to want to help? Her mind whirlled over all the tiny things and gave herself a headache. "M-Mew..."
:Aversham
Perhaps you survived the shadow's onslaught because you abandoned your brethen... The words caused his entire form to stiffen and for a long while he was silent, how was he to know the choices he had taken when he could scarcely even remember what the Nexus was like. He found no words to express the absolute hatred welling within him and after a few moments he simply shook his head and allowed his now hardened gaze to focus upon the wind bourne Elysian.
"Perhaps that is why I am still here then." He replied bitterly, obviously referring to his apparent cowardice in battle and failure to sacrifice himself as if he had never made such a choice before. He was always prepared to die in the hope of restoring life to those around him and now she claimed that he was a partial reason for their death.
"What you accuse me of is desertion and murder." His reply was simple and appeared to be that of defeat, "And yet you know nothing of the torment I feel in my own failure, I do not know why I was not there!" He roared and leant forward so that his beak rested so very close to her throat.
"Allow me to grant you permission to chastise everyone of our kin and lead them to their deaths then, apparently you also deem it necessary to return me to the depths of hell in which I came." With that said he flicked his eyes towards the delicate 'mew' produced by Reika and closed them, what a thing to see.
"I suggest you explain your little charade to one of your other kin, I will be curious to see if they all appreciate your self-righteous motives." He muttered finally and with that, flexed his wings and shot upwards in a shower of feathers, only to swoop down and grasp Onion in his talon - their destination was not far away, but at a suitable distance for Aversham to ignore the apparent 'leader' of their new home.
"Ave -"
"I do not want to know." The firebird muttered darkly as he pulled his wings around himself and seemed to bury his head within his plummage. Onion could only look on.
:Reika
Though she truly didn't get it, those last words by Genesis made her flinch. That.. was really harsh to say, for whatever reason it was said. It was like she was blaming Aversham for something important.. which was never a really nice thing to do. Her heart went out to Aversham at his reply back to the winged Elysian and the way he held himself in general. He was deeply hurt.. and angry.. very very angry. These vibes were easy for her to pick up and she sank down to her knees slowly, feeling so depressed herself.. though she was very much in the dark.
She wanted to talk to Aversham.. to try to help him calm down but he took off so rapidly, she could only watch with wide eyes. "A... Aversham...." Placing her slim hands in her lap, she wondered what to do... there was nothing she could do. But she wanted to make things better... for both of the two in the fight...
:Genesis
Genesis listened quietly to his words, each utterance filled with misplaced hate seeping into her. As he said his peace and fled her presence she glanced over in Reika's direction and sat silently in thought.
Waltz, as far as he was concerned, had had enough of Aversham's injured pride and he went about grooming the ends of Gen's feathered hair in an attempt to calm her frayed nerves.
Genesis, however, was not satisfied with the way he had left her company, but did not wish to stand in his presence any longer. "I know your nature, pheonix," she whispered, her voice carried to Aversham on a breeze, crossing the distance he wanted to place between them. "You think if you sacrificed yourself, it would be more honorable than what I had chosen to do? How selfish of you to belittle my decision." Genesis leaned her head back and took a deep breath. "I am not here to force you to back into the darkness you've been rescued from." She turned her head in his direction. "Though your reluctance to render aide to your brothers and sisters unsettles me, it is not my place to force action upon you..."
Waltz puller her hair somehwat roughly, and muttered. "Don't waste your breath on him, Gen. Kupo.. he doesn't seem to see that you were only trying to help." The moogle 'hmphed', unaware that his voice was carrying too. "Blasted bird can't seem to see past his own beak. Selfish indeed."
With a shrug, Genesis severed the breeze that linked them, feeling the gentle backdraft flow over her. She turned back to Reika and offered a weak wave. With a groan, Genesis settled herself on the counter, suddenly feeling awfully weak, and wept quietly.
:Aversham
"All knowing, all powerful." Aversham muttered as he pulled his head out from under his wings and examined his feathers briefly, admiring the bright plummage for quite sometime before turning his gaze towards the doorway in an unusually cold manner.
"You are neither and nor am I, you assume you know me -" He turned his gaze at last towards the Elysian with an unseated hatred and shook his head, "If you know me so well, then why do you not tell me who I am, what I am and what memories I have lost - you who holds sway and orders all to their deaths when they have at last found some form of solace." He shook his head a little more and turned his gaze back to the doorway.
"Aversham, don't do this." Onion pleaded uncomfortably as he tugged at the wing of the firebird, who chose to ignore him and he released what appeared to be a musical shriek, "Please don't do this." The tiny knight continued as the avian turned his sharp, and almost predatorial eyes upon the knight beside him.
"I have no place here." The bird murmured darkly, offering a wing to the knight who continued to figid uncomfortably, "As the Queen deems it. I am a coward, worthless and selfish...It is only logical that I embrace those truths and find others who are -"
"Aversham." Onion pleaded again and tugged at the same feathers which threatened to come loose, "Please...?"
"Just like me." The bird finished and waited another few moments until he was apparently certain that the familiar was not intent on coming with him, for the briefest instance a look of pain flashed through his fury filled eyes. "I see." Was all he could offer as he spread is wings and took his leave from the tavern with another flurry of feathers.
Onion stood on the table for quite some time following his departure before glancing towards Roan for some kind of advice, the Druid provided none and instead the tiny knight turned to Genesis and shook his head.
"I would wish no harm on anyone, but that was beyond any form of forgiveness." He murmured at last, leaping from the table and waddling towards the doorway with a shake of his head, he only paused once to look at Reika and offered a wry smile.
"He doesn't remember a thing and yet he is sorry that he was apparently absent when he was most needed." He murmured in the hope that his explanation would at least be heeded in some form. That done, he could only follow after the invisible trail left by the firebird for him to follow...
:Reika
Shocked to have the other.. the Queen? Their Leader? She didn't understand.. but she did wave back to her, after a bit of a shocked silence. Things were only getting worse between them, weren't they. Even though they weren't even int he same room, were they still able to speak to each other? And why did they look at her like she was meant to be knowing something? She really had no idea about anything.. as far as she knew.
Curling up a bit, she looked over to where aversham had disappeared, hoping that he would return again so that they might talk. But when only Onion returned... her eyes flickeredd with a heavy sadness before she looked down. So many painful things were being said.. it made her want to weep.. She happened to look up in time to see Onion's smile and she managed a shaky one to him at best. And then give a nod to the words he spoke. Though they only gave her more questions and even fewer answers. But before she could ask where aversham had gone, he too had made his way out. "Why... why are they so sad...?"
A deep feeling of helplessness welled inside her heart and she sighed heavily, leaning into the pat that Koni gave her. This uneasiness.. she didn't like it...
:Genesis
With a profound sigh, Genesis turned over and glared at the ceiling, tears staining her face. "I meant," she growled in frustration. "Your nature as a phoenix, you lummox... It's in the books," she muttered half-heartedly.
Waltz did his best to mutter calming words to his companion but she was ignoring him.
"Why did he twist my words around in such a manner," she asked to the wind. The elysian was growing increasingly frustrated, several of her facial feathers poping out at weird angles in the process. "He didn't understand -anything- I said. Not one thing!!" Genesis gritted her teeth in anger. "I don't understand what his problem is at all. He thinks he's so special? That somehow his loss of memory is somehow more significant then the others'?"
Waltz shook his head. "I don't think that's it, kupo." The moogle winced, reluctant to play the devil's advocate. "It seems you struck a rather nasty cord in him. It's just a guess, kupo. Even if that were so, he was insufferably thick headed about it."
"What?" she practically shrieked as she sat up and flexed her claws. "I don't care.. I can't stand him! I don't care if he ever comes back! Good riddance!" Her wings twitched in anger and she leveled a withering glare at the last place she'd seen the firebird and the familiar. "What a disgraceful creature. He's not a phoenix, he's a vulture! Go ahead," she screamed at the door. "Go ahead and run away while those better than you die so that you may have your 'solace'!" She spat and launched herself into the air. Waltz stuggled to keep up as a rather fierce wind ripped through the tavern and carried her out a window, in the opposite direction of that hateful bird.
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