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 Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 6:03 pm
Sunday. Sundays were a good day for Valeriu. There was no work to be paid for, and little left to do at home. Pick up some groceries, set the kids up with playdates elsewhere (Sydni) or lessons and target practice at the shooting range (Tepin). Clean a little bit.
By noon, he was free. Free to do all that he wanted! Free to do whatever he couldn't squeeze in during the weekday when he was busy, busy, busy. Free to tend to himself, to develop his intellectual knowledge, to exercise his creative or destructive abilities however he chose.
To lie back on the hot cement of a roof top and soak in the sun.
He could hear the buzz of Middling from up here, this locally-known famous place. The Rooftop Garden, with artificially created trees of metal and cloth and glass and chimes, where people could picnic and gaze up at the sun shining through colorful, man-made leaves. A gift from the two older folks who'd lived here, once. A gift that everybody still tended to.
There were a few others up here, but Valeriu was nothing new to their sights. Especially not on his perching rock; the wide and long cement bench set right out in the sunshine, often too hot for anybody else to sit on.
But perfect for Valeriu, who often remained in a strangely chilled state. The only annoyance today was those little shadows, lesser in number now, that insisted on moving without his approval. Luckily, they were exiled to staying below the bench due to the bright light.
He rolled over onto his stomach with all the lazy grace of a big cat, hanging off the stone slab, and gloried in the joy that was the sun's heat while watching the streets below.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:33 pm
Sundays were also good for Keeya, but for another reason. Ever since her growth to prophet and that off schedule day off with Fish, helping her get used to and over the shock of having grown Several years older and almost a foot taller over night, she had been on a strict schedule.
During the weekdays she worked in New Broadway, dressed in full costume and passing out fliers and putting on show's -- now with a larger percentage actually going to her rather then directly into her bank account, for 'just incase' she needed to grab her money and run.
Her Weeknight evenings were spent learning: She was now years behind other people her age, and she had a lot to make up for it. She was having to learn both what one would earn in school, and study the language of the people on the streets.
And the tall girls weekends, early mornings, and occasional lunch break, where now devoted to practicing her powers and learning her abilities. She had grown so much stronger since the Fundraiser in Micro Zimbabwe for the trees, as well as since her Aunt had set up a shrine to Edinkira, The two women worshiping her goddess daily, offerings of fruit, meat, soil, oil, incense,and light set upon it daily.
Keeya understood that this was an unusual situation, having family actually not only know what she was, but to see her aunt, her adoptive mother figure, become such a fervid worshiper of her and goddess was unnerving enough to make herself scarce whenever she could. She was worried for the womens sanity.
The blockades, however, were proving to be a problem, which eventually led to Keeya looking at the metallic garden from one building over, hesitating as she held the long wooden staff she had formed herself and been using to pole vault across the narrow gaps between roofs, unsummoning it to create spikes and roots to allow her to climb walls, leaving a small budding tree in the cracks of each building she went to as a trail of bread crumbs, as to keep herself from getting too lost in the maze of gaps and fire exits.
She could feel a godling in that imitation jungle. A Strong one, at that, perhaps stronger then she was, despite how great she felt. The Rooftop Garden happened to be one of her favorite places to go, despite of how artificial it was, and she could actually unwrap the cloth from her treelike hair and just relax, but she was leery. This could be an ambush.
Taking a slow breath, she closed her eyes and ran for the edge of the building, catching the poll on the corner and leaping into the air, Sap forming on her hands as she neared the wall on the other side of the garden from Vale, catching the edge of the wall. After a quick glance to make sure no one saw her, she pulled herself over the lip and wiped off her hands as she entered carefully, searching quietly for the other Godling.
Soon she was standing at a relatively safe distance from the shadowy figure, standing under a tree as she unwrapped the cloth around her head, her voice soft, "... Valeriu?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:57 pm
Hm. There was something on the air, a wild-like scent that floated on the warmed breeze and had Valeriu's nose twitching. It was familiar, sort of; in the way that dirt and growth and life and shade and strength and leaves and wood was familiar to the boy who'd spent so much of his time in a jungle.
It smelt a lot like what home had become to him.
He couldn't decide whether to continue lazing about, or to get up and investigate. He settled for a long stretch and a slow shuffle to sit up, yawning and squinting in the sunlight. His ears pricked at the soft, scuffled sounds of someone moving closer, finally glancing over his shoulder in the wake of his name being muttered.
He had to blink, not once, but twice, at the figure presented to him - for a minute, he thought he was looking at a tree. But that was drowsiness tricking his eyes, because the fuzzy tree shifted into a tall, tall teenager, all greens and browns with strange ears and strange hair--
"Keeya?" His memory provided him the name, matching the face he'd met a long while ago. She was younger then, but so was he. He grinned, struck with a brief gladness for the polite young girl that had managed to survive despite his expectations. "It is you! A much taller you," he amended, switching his seat so that he was facing her, but still loathe to give up the warm stone just yet in order to stand.
Plus, he was keeping just the wariest of distances. He'd learned a while ago that most godlings wouldn't attack like little sneaks, but some of them would. He doubted Keeya was one of the trickier ones, though. The shadows beneath the bench peeked out curiously as well, and he had to kick them back under with a heel.
"How've you been?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:42 am
Laughing softly, keeya leaned lightly against one of the false trees, ignoring Edinkira's quiet complaints that the place was far to dead despite its beauty, "Much much taller me. You've grown as well." She grinned playfully, still keeping a distance. She may not be a newbie anymore, but she could tell he was more powerful then she was, and far more experienced.
"Congratulations, we just had a growth spurt." Eyebrows rose, the long, lanky girl slowly squatted, obviously still a little uncomfortable folding her long limbs up, "I've been alright. Training, work, more training, homeschooling, training, meditation. Learning to use my powers to help me get around the city. I actually have weapons and such to fight with now -- Back when you first met me I was barely able to grow a tree without help. I'm no where near your level, but I've been training so I could be of use, And be able to defend myself if needed.."
Eyes soft, the younger Player smiled sweetly at Vale, "How about you?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:14 am
He sat back more comfortably, content to heat his palms against the cement and drape his tail over the edge. The tip swished once in a while, brushing against the rooftop and encouraging him to be far, far too lazy.
"I grew a little v'hile back," he acknowledged, pleased for the first time about it; because it made him just slightly taller than her. If he hadn't grown, she'd be towering over him. "It sounds like you've been keeping yourself busy." She could fight, too. That perked his interest.
He hesitated, just briefly, at the return question. Nightmares and killing, blood and cannibalism, troubled relationships, his parents, working himself to death, pain and more pain and more pain after that -- "I've been okay," he answered half a beat later, hoping that the lie was at least passable. "Keeping busy, too."
The troubling reminder of the mess that had become his life didn't stop him from giving in and falling back down against the bench. He stretched again, luxuriating in the heat soaking into his weathered back, and settled for holding a conversation horizontally. Combined with the pleasant and wild scent, he had to remind himself again and again not to fall back asleep. "V'e should fight sometime," he piped up with a yawn, though the way he was melted against the bench suggested that it would have to be sometime later. "It v'ould be fun. I promise not to be too rough." He grinned, "But only because you're nice and polite, and you complimented my spaghetti."
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:58 pm
Flopping down completely onto her butt, Keeya winced before stretching out against the cool faux tree, "Mmn. I guess a spar, as long as we keep ourselves under control, would be useful -- To face a real partner rather then just boxing at shadows or rough housing with my Agu.. A spirit Leopardess. Apparently Leopards are Edinkira's.. Guards, I suppose. Companions? Familiars perhaps. I'm only strong enough to summon one of them. Edin says I may be able to transform summon more and transform them as I get stronger, but for now..."
She laughed shaking her head as she looked up into the simulated foliage, "Well, I suppose she's my teacher... Though a Leopard does not really help one learn to fight humanoids."
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:08 pm
He listened to her curiously, rolling onto his stomach to peer at her in puzzlement.
"Of course they do," he dissented, quite emphatically. "They do better, I think. Jaguars, that I fight, they are faster, stronger, and more intelligent than the average human, fighting-v'ise," he informed matter-of-factly, shading his eyes against the sun.
"Compared to them, humans are slow and clumsy." His words slowed on that, unwilling to really show exactly how much experience he'd had in that department. But he flashed a lazy grin, huffed in the heated air, and ignored that for now. "Fighting me is not like fighting a human at all, though. You v'ould do better to keep practicing against your leopards."
Valeriu fought like a jaguar anyway. Tackling, swiping, tearing and ripping - there was nothing human about how he attacked. No stylish boxing moves or finessed twirls; just hard, fast strikes and dodges and animalistic brawling.
That's how he liked it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:07 pm
Shrugging, Keeya chuckled, relaxed and at peace, enjoying a momentary break from her practice, "Perhaps. Though that means I may just be better trained for fighting you." The young women rolled her shoulders, head looking over to the side as she played with her toes. Her eyes then slid over to watch Vale with an almost lazy expression, "Though, I guess being able to fight like or against you wouldn't necessarily be too bad of a thing to know how to do, since you have gotten so far along in the game, and quickly... Especially since I think we may have showed up at about the same time."
She smiled slightly, eyes closing as she listened to what sounded like distant sounds of the city, so far away from it all yet right in its heart as she rested in this synthesized forest, "...What did you do that night we all gathered together to find that Abbot guy? All we did was have Ciro beat some homeless guy up to lure a blacksuit in. By the time the suit's suit was off, we were called back." The younger player made a face, "And then After that, it all seemed to vanish for me for a while -- I couldn't seem to get ahold of anyone, I'd hear snippets and such, but.... Edinkira was sleeping."
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:21 pm
He shrugged, a movement that seemed to ripple through his body right down to the tail that brushed against the cement.
"V'e v'ent to go find the Florist. Percy. After that," he trailed off, "after that, there v'asn't much else to do. I left for back home."
He frowned, and scratched an ear.
"V'hen he heard v'hat had happened to Ciro's father, and to that other Player, my god decided that he did not v'ant to risk the same happening to me. So he took me to his realm, and trained me, and I came back ready." His voice took on a more peaceful air, relishing the thought of his training grounds. "It v'as a jungle. Made to be like how the v'orld v'as before. I'd never known," he admitted, regretfully, sitting up and feeling the cement scrape against his palms just like the scars scraped his back. "Had never known v'hat rivers v'ere like. The animals; the birds and the insects and the constant noise. And the trees. They v'ere so very tall, and so very many, and kept me safe the first few v'eeks from the predators below."
He grinned at the girl.
"Maybe that is v'hy I like you. You are like a tree, and make me feel safe." He peered at her, though, smile turning into a curious frown. "You do not have poisonous frogs up there, though, do you?"
He'd had a bad run-in with those frogs.
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:40 pm
"No, no frogs in my hair." Kaliska laughed softly, eyes closed as she rested in the shade. She should be training, but it felt good to take some time off and just chill, "Especially no poisonous ones. Later on I'm supposedly going to be able to summon spirit animals that live in the trees, but that's at will. No... Accident problems of Green Mamba's popping out of the itty bitty little tree growing on my head randomly unless I make it happen."
She opened her eyes, smiling peacefully. It was nice to know they both prefered the green, "Edinkira... Basically all she wants out of this is for a non-destructive god or goddess to win, even if she has to win it herself, then set me growing tree's in the desert.. Filtering out the poisons and returning the worlds outside the cities to Jungle and grassland, to the wilds where her pets can return to the wild, like when humans lived in balance with her..."
There was a long pause as she thought about is, her voice soft, "Her arms used to hold us, as well. She was the nursemaid of man kind. And eventually we left and slowly began abusing her Gifts. She still loves humans in general, but... There is a lot of rot, and I don't think its with the other newbies. Not for the most part anyway."
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:57 pm
Valeriu thought on that, and looked at the City, and rubbed his feet against the cement so that the rough surface dragged against his toes.
"V'hen I v'in," and there was no doubt in his mind, when, not if, "It v'ill all start over. Tezcatlipoca v'ants to v'ash av'ay the bad in humanity, and leave the good, and the brave, and the righteous. My little sister v'ill be able to go v'here she pleases v'ithout v'orry about kidnappers, or rapists, or the like." His nose was itching; this was not pleasing. He scrunched and wiggled it a bit before giving in and rubbing the itch out. "And I - I v'ill get rid of these Cities. Back to jungle, and buildings that are as much a part of nature as the trees themselves. Technology that helps, not harms. Start over right, so that humans can live v'ith the land for a long, long time."
It was a grand, relaxing, and peaceful dream that he had. The people of this world, this generation, had started off on the wrong foot, and had just kept going from there.
"And then I can relax all I v'ant." Rather than just on these precious few Sundays; as much as he loved working, and keeping busy, he couldn't deny the longing for a more peaceful and eventless life.
"And you - you can be a tree," he added with a grin. "A v'alking tree. V'e need more of those. I read about them, once. Creatures like that. My v'orld v'ill have more of that."
He could ride the trees, then. Sleep in their branches as they walked and wake up in a new place each day.
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:05 pm
"Well Valeriu... I don't think I myself would ever actually be a tree... But perhaps some day, when all this is over, I can make a treehouse and we can roam the world.. Growing jungles.. Would be a lot easier to travel on a tree that moved." Keeya laughed softly as she rubbed under her nose, "Still working on getting them to move."
She rolled her shoulders, "..Have you set up a shrine fo Tez-cat-lip-poca?I'm curious about that... My aunt.. Ever since I changed, she's begun worshiping Edinkira. Made a shrine for her even, gives little offerings. I find it funny since Edinkira usually instructs me to take the items onto myself when its food."
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:21 pm
He gave her a strange, strange look, even as his god perked up at the word shrine.
"A shrine?" The concept was foreign to him. "V'hat is - v'hat is that? V'orshipping..." He thought, and his ear twitched. "I don't v'orship him. Should I?"
You should. I have been so kind to you.
"Our relationship isn't really based on offerings. More like trades."
I want a temple. The god was already demanding. A temple, built for me, in my honor. Back in the old days, a boy much like yourself would take up my name, and live for a year as a god to the people. He would have four wives, and all the riches and glory he desired - and then he would willfully die in my name. He reminisced. I want that again.
"I do not think any sort of temple to my god is a good thing," Valeriu summed up, dryly. "Enough ego as it is."
I'm lonely. Only you know about me. Let the peons bask in my glory.
"Definitely enough."
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Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 12:07 am
"Its like a little place set up on a curio-cabinate with an idol representing the god, Goddess, spirit, or deceased loved one. Often a place of meditation and reverence... Little gifts and such are often set up in offering." she shrugged, sighing softly, "My aunt had a little faux ebony sculpture made to look vaguely like how I had described Edinkira in the 'traditional style'. Its really freaky having someone worship her.. And me.. When they used to be something of a parental figure."
Wrapping her arms around her long legs, shrugging, "I guess its a personal taste, but Gods and goddesses get stronger with worship, as do we it seems. However, in this day and culture I doubt the sort of worship You're fellow is used to is subtle enough for not getting the blacksuits after your pretty tail more then usual. But.. Perhaps a modification would work. You see, you could just take a bowl with.. Well, I suppose instead of a human heart you could buy another animals heart at the butchers shop... However, I doubt you'd need much power."
Winking, Keeya ran a hand self-consciously up the trunk of her head-tree, "Edinkira tells me the Mesoamerican gods have been doing quite well so far in the game and have been growing in number.. Where as she's still the only one from the African Pantheon involved."
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Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 12:02 pm
He was puzzled.
If a shrine required a sacrifice such as that - a heart - wasn't he already fulfilling that role?
Didn't that make Valeriu the shrine?
Your body is my temple, his god chimed, all too seriously.
Valeriu shuddered in horror.
"I think I already have that all covered, in a v'ay," he assured, scratching at the back of his neck. Well, no, it wasn't subtle - but the Blacksuits didn't care about dead murderers and rapists found in Downers alleys with their hearts removed. For all they knew, it was a vigilante with a vengeance. "But thank you for the tip. I'd never heard of that before. Strange, Old-V'orld practices."
He thought on her words - it was true. The gods of Quinn and Tepin were from the same pantheon. He didn't know much about anybody else.
"That's a shame," he admitted. "It must be lonely. But it is also nice not to have to fight against family, da?"
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