Cradled by the softness of the bed in the semi-familiarity of the guest room at the Pantheon, Rairne mentally and emotionally clung to Arctang. Faintly, through the link he shared with his... twin sister?.... she could sense the similar echoes of pain and fear coming from the other host. The moment had come, and the little girl was having to face the fact that she wasn't ready.
Where one might have expected blind and incoherant panic from her, she actually was quite sane in her feelings. In an odd way she was detatched, regarding and acknowledging her reactions. The first and most prominent one was of plain terror of the unknown. it was all well and good to say one understood what was supposed to happen, but to come face to face with it caused her to realize she knew nothing about this.
Arctang poised, like a single droplet of water trembling at the tip of a leaf, ready to take the plunge into the wide world. He reveled in the fierce pressure that was building, driving him to begin the change, to become himself, to be reborn! it was a force he could not, and refused to, deny. But amidst his increasing joy and anticipation, he also was aware of the guailing little soul, which he required for his rebirth. He could feel the capability to simply take what he needed from her, but he rejected that method out of hand.
Instead, he reached his mind to touch hers. It was unlike any other way he'd ever tried communicating with her. It carried a sort of humble request combined with an admission of vulnerable need. He opened himself entirely for her to see and explore, as he never thought to do before. In the past he had probed her mind, her memories, her feelings. Now he welcomed her in to do the same.
"Come in, little sister," he beckoned her softly. "I need you. I need you to understand. I need you to become."
Frankly astonished by this approach by Arctang, Rairne stepped across the threshold of his mind hesitantly. Her first impression was of endless strings and streams of figures that resembled those on the cube, as he had shown them to her. The flow of numerals swirled, pulsed, and advanced on her, eventually nearing to evelope her entirely in their baffling perpetuality and infinity.
But eventually the indistinct fog of numbers cleared, and she felt as if she were in a cavernous chamber, walls rising in an elegant curve to arc above her. Pocking the walls in frequent and regular intervals were niches, shelves all indicated with impossibly long and intricate strings of numbers. Amazed, she stared at the representation of Arctang's mind, having never seen such an image before. Oh, she had been in chambers like this before, but how does one take in the sight of something when one has never seen before? Completely awed, she began to run her hand along the curving wall, trailing her fingers over the tiny unending numbers. She soon grew curious about what was contained within each cubby. She chose one at random and reached into it.
Instantly, she was transported into what must have been a memory of his, though shecould neither move nor speak. An observer only, she reeled as the images played out before her in blinding color and clarity.
She left the memory with a startled gasp, staggering on the serene and uncluttered floor of Arc's cavernous mind. The senes of seeing was making her dizzy with its unfamiliarity, but she was left with a glow from the note of love that the scene had ended on. She blinked eyes that could see in this alternate reality. Was that what it was like to have a twin? She had never wondered, knowing no twins herself. But she had heard of them. Intrigued but uncertain she wanted to experience more, she moved to the next niche and cautiously reached into it. Once more she was sucked in, this time with only Arctang and his thoughts and travels to deal with, which she found much easier and more familiar.
Urged on by the excitement that tinged the last memory, she plunged both hands into the next one, barely giving herself time to take a breath in this surreal place.
When she woke this time, she was laying flat on her back, staring up at the ceiling. Again, she thrummed with the connection and closeness between the twins, something that went beyond a mere sibling bond. Dreamily, Rairne fluttered her lids. The roof of Arctang's mind blurred, revealing a stormy sky. A sweet, lilting song began, and as words began to echo softly, she sat up to reach towards the sky. For pinning downwards towards her was a small black shape. It was a blackbird, singing his song in counterpoint to the words and tune floating about the chamber. Tears streamed down Rairne's cheeks as she stretched both hands towards the soaring bird, welcoming him, calling for him, ready at last to do what must be done.
Blackbird - The Beatles
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.
Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Together, their joined forces working entirely in concert, with one will, they began their task. As one, they began the physical shifts that would bring their body closer to what Arctang should be like. They would have to dole out the necessary energy carefully, spending only so much on each change. That in mind, the first to be enacted was the most painful. The wings.
Bone structure extended from the shoulder-blades, emerging with a visceral rip and pop from the confining skin. Even as they extended, though, muscle formed upon the bone structure, precious blood lost in beadings and drippings before the skin could form, building in layer upon layer to protect the newly formed wings. They kept their efforts minimal... the wings were small, much too small to be of use. But they were there. They were nearing the end of the allotted expense for provision of wings, so in unison, they formed feathers, glistening black and glossy. Power dripped from them as the blood had but moments ago, falling in twisting and twining patterns that would confuse and entrance the eye. Their work complete here, they moved on together.
Next they needed to manage their gender. Clearly female was not going to be acceptable for the male god of Numbers. But also clearly they were not going to have time to remake what needed remaking. Of one mind, they chose to simply wipe the slate clean. After much tiring work, the body they owned no longer had any discernable or indiscernable gender. No reproductive system existed at all, though there were allowances for the unmentionable necessities.
Swiftly, with flagging strength, they moved on to the last important detail... their eyes. Working quickly, physical circuitry was reworked, or made anew where it had lacked. Internal nuances that required finesseing were altered, and the pupil was cleared, though not darkened. Light flooded into their joint sight, causing both to flinch in startlement and pain, as unexpected as the pain of the other changes had been expected.
The last remnants of power of their joined minds was spent, painting their body lightly. Bits of hair gained new color, and touches of skin earned a new hue. As if lit from some unseen neon light, the surfaces glowed with bright color, subtle in their intensity. Arctang reached to do more, but Rairne gently drew him back, her last thoughts those of satisfaction and soft sorrow. Sensing her fading, the Pie Bird spent the last moments of merged power, bringing the last of her into himself, finishing his inward self with the essences of who she was. She would forever be a part of him, though never again herself.
With a rattling, gut-wrenching gasp, he awoke.
Chaotic Exceptions
A bunch of friends
