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 Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 2:28 pm
Ava had honestly no idea where she was. Somewhere in Eastern Commerce, following what was, at best, an inkling of an intuition.
The best start to a morning.
Or afternoon. Honestly, Ava had no idea what time it was, except that her folks were working, making sneaking out of the house that much easier. At least she didn't have to try and explain away the freaking beak attached to her face. Or the torn sheets needed to hide it.
Seasons. Someplace she visited before - or was it in a dream? Either way, she was pretty sure she needed to get there. For some reason.
It was the path she wasn't so sure of. It seemed like she was taking a really, really windy route, through alleyways and shady-looking streets. On the plus side, there weren't that many people on the way, and those that were didn't pay attention to her or her bedsheet scarf. Heads down and not asking questions; the good old Central way. Though that didn't mean her heart was pumping any less fervently.
After what seemed like ages (though probably an hour at best), there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Down the street - was that Seasons? It felt like the right building, even if it didn't look like it. Readjusting her scarf, she tried her best to casually walk down the street.
This day couldn't end soon enough.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 3:28 pm
Persy defiantly didn't trust Seth to do everything, even if being scorekeeper was his job now. It was sort of a position in name alone at the moment, really, most of what he'd done so far was keep an eye on some of the players, and have a word with some of the more troublesome ones.
And now there where going to be more of them. He already thought he'd had enough on his plate as it was, and now new godlings where coming out of the wood work.
So, despite new-found divine-ness Seth was sent out as a errant boy to deliver the new godlings talisman. a shimmer gem about the seize of an egg. Looking at it on the same hand he worn his silver ring, it made his own talisman look positively crummy by comparison.
At least wit hit he could get some sense of the one it should belong to. Feathers, where his first thought, a lot of godlings had feathers, himself included, if there was going to be a king of birds around it seemed to obvious choice.
Time passed, no luck, not even any odd looking genemodders pasted by.
Though, one girl who was coming along, the gem seemed attracted to her. Not what he was expecting.
"Excuse me" Most people would have tapped a shoulder, though with him that usually resulted in people getting knocked out.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 2:53 pm
Ava nearly jumped out of her skin. Okay, maybe she was ignoring other people as much as they were ignoring her, because that guy came out of freaking nowhere. She quickly got over herself, though - had to look normal, look nice.
"Cuh-can I h-help you, sir?"
Well, maybe not completely over it.
And it certainly didn't help that the man who addressed her look like death warmed over. Yeah, okay, she wasn't exactly the shining example of healthy skin herself, but this guy looked like he was about to pass out. Just looking at him made her kinda... tired. She tried to suppress a yawn for fear of being rude, but it was no use. He jaw opened wide...
..and her scarf slid out of place.
Crap crap crap crap crap crap s**t.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:06 am
Even if Seth had been genuinely surprised Ava probably wouldn't have been able to tell. He got the look she was giving him a lot, though most civilians who where this close to him quickly forgetting whatever it was they where supposed to be doing and let him be.
The gem in his hand seemed to resonate lightly towards the girl, as if it had some life of it's own and it it's own way was asking to be handed over. But he had to be sure, he had no idea what'd happen is a mortal ended up wit ha godlings talisman. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
He had to be absolutely sure.
"Are you headed for seasons by any chance?"
Nothing terribly out of the ordinary yet, save for her jumpiness.
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 8:03 pm
Ava quickly tied her scarf back around her "beak". He didn't notice. That gave her pause. Was he drugged up? Or worse... was he used to this kinda thing?
Nah, probably just stoned. No way he could be used to young girls looking like they had a bad genemodding job on their face.
But stoners usually weren't so astute. "Y-yeah." She wrinkled her brow at him (since frowning didn't really work without lips). "How'd you know that?"
Normally, she would've asked why he was asking her anything, but.... Something was telling her to talk to him. A kind of nagging sensation. And that stone wasn't really helping things. She wasn't sure why she didn't notice it before. It was really pretty. Really pretty. She couldn't look away from it. And if Ava didn't know any better, she could've sworn it was calling to her....
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Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:14 am
Seth didn't bother taking into account the girls odd looking mouth, maybe it was him just being used to more experienced godlings with much more prominent features that he was expecting to see something like full on wings at this point. But, it did kind of make her look like a bird, all the more reason to stick with her.
"New players always go there, down in southern they did too..." He kept it vague on purpose to see if Ava knew what he was referring to, best to know where she stood. If indeed she knew anything at all about the game.
He noted she was staring at his hand, entranced even, she must feel the connection as well. He held it up to her, still holding onto it but enough for her to touch it as well.
"You like it?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 6:20 pm
"Yes." Whatever Seth said in reference to anything other than the stone was, for the moment, buried under an attraction for The Shiny that Ava didn't even knew she had until now. Far be it that Ava was a material girl, but she had the feeling that that gem was hers and gimme gimme gimme.
But it wouldn't do to take something from a stranger. Even if it was nice and she was just itching to take it.
That lapse of impulse gave Ava the time to process what else he said. "Oh, so it's like a chain?" That would explain why she heard of Seasons before - even if she couldn't pinpoint where. As for the Southern part, that went over her head. She couldn't think of anything she knew outside the walls of Southern, but it stood to reason that someone had to. And someone who was knowledgeable probably wasn't a druggie, so this stranger's creep value went down a little in her book.
Just a little.
"Wait, players? Like, a sport? Or... a game?" It was starting to come back to her. Whenever she went to Seasons before - if she did, since she still couldn't pinpoint when - there was something about a game in conjunction to it. Talk about a game, playing a game, something like that. The only reason she could remember was that, for whatever reason, she was really excited about it. Even just recalling that little bit brought the excitement back, too.
But what was the game about? What made her so excited? Why did this guy bring back that memory (if it was a memory)? And what was he doing with a pretty, pretty gem that was just so nice to look at and maybe if she just touched it it would make her understand.... Though she stopped a bit short on that thought, pointing allllmost to the point of touching. "And what's with this?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 11:08 am
The corners of Seth's mouth curled ever so slightly as he watched the girl practically hypnotized by the gem. She seemed far too fixated on it to take in anything else. He could have so much fun with this if he wanted to, a mischievous train of thought started in his head, probably planted there from his meeting with Writ. But, really he could achieve the same results with his own powers already, and if Persy never found out he was teasing a Newbie, the less said the better.
"It's something very special" He waved the gem side to side, just to see if Ava would follow it around.
Though from the sounds of things Ava didn't understand what the game was, at least he knew where they stood. He sighed, there'd be a lot of explaining to do.
"Since you like it so much you can have it, what's you name?" He placed the stone in his hand as he asked, though making eye contact, he remembered Persy telling him talismans would let gods talk to their prophets, Ava might get some sudden reaction out of it.
"A game yes, and your in it now" He pointed at the gem. "That thing should let the god whose chosen you to talk to you now."
"You probably have a lot of questions by now"
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Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:15 am
Ava couldn't help herself. She did follow it around - albeit with her eyes. Some part of her mind was facepalming even giving this guy that much of a reaction, but the rest of her didn't care. Shiny thing shiny thing shiny thing.
Ava blinked. "Really?" She was hoping for that (c'mon, that gem had her name written all over it) but it was still a bit of a surprise to hear it. "Oh, uh. Ava. Ava Romano." She put her hand out to shake, out of politeness, and instead got a palm full of cloud pearl. She recoiled slightly - not out of shock of getting the gem, but that the gem seemed to shock her. "Oh!" The tingly feeling passed, though.
..and was replaced by Mr. Vainateya's laughter. I didn't think being part bird would affect you so much! You're worse with shiny objects than my grandchildren.
"What."
Ava knew Mr. Vainateya wasn't nearby, but she could help giving a glance around anyway. "No, c'mon, just... no."
Yes, Garuda replied, I'm in your head. Sorry for not warning you earlier; I thought Mrs. Thanos would be briefing you.
Ava palmed the pearl under her arm and rubbed her eyes in frustration. This was just too much weirdness in one day.
I'm sure you could talk to this boy about it. Garuda seemed unamused, especially since he had my talisman.
"Okay. Yeah, okay, I have some questions." Too much weirdness. "One, why is Mr. Vainateya in my head, and two, why am I part bird."
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Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:13 am
Seth stifled a small chuckle at the way Ava watched the waving gem, it'd had certainly the desired effect. He'd have to keep Ava's attraction to shiny things in mind.
She jumped, sort of, but it was expected. And the ensuing confusion across her face could only mean she really didn't have much idea what was going on, and that she was hearing a voice in her head right about now.
"Welcome to the game then, Ava" Seth looked on as she reacted to things he couldn't hear, all the while civilians walked past, stared briefly, then forgot what they where supposed to be doing and wandered off with no recollection of a pale dark haired man with wings on the side of his head talking to a small girl.
"Vainateya? If thats what Garuda wants to call himself I'm not one to judge, but in answer to your second question, because your his prophet I'd imagine" Seth knew full well that'd only lead to a whole slew of other questions, but, having Ava ask them herself was better than just infodumping it onto her.
"Your kind of lucky in that department" Seth point at his head wings which ruffled slightly of their own accord, like they knew they where being talked about.
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:03 pm
"...game?"
We talked about this last night, Ava.
And then it came back to her. All of Mr. Vainateya's ambiguities about the Game. Except that involved Seasons, which she never did get to.
And fisticuffs. Fisticuffs were definitely involved.
"So, wait, does this mean we have to fight now?" Darn, and here she was without pockets! (She could have put the gem down, but something told her that that idea was nothing but bad news. Especially for all the trouble she went to get the thing.) Well, she could sort of juggle it from hand to hand in a fighting stance....
"...and, Garuda?" That caught her as too weird-sounding to follow the fighting train of thought. Though, honestly, it was hard to follow any train of thought long. Too many thoughts to follow.
Yes, that is my title, child. Given to me for my great strength. Ava could've sworn she heard the chest puffing in his voice.
"Oh, cool!"
You know, you can talk to me just by thinking. It might afford you a few less stares.
Ava shrugged sheepishly, but did as Garuda suggested, though squinted an eye in concentration. ...like this?
Yes, but you needn't focus so much!
"Oh, uh, a prophet? Is that... well, okay, I remember Mr. Vainateya saying something about representation, and..." She pinched her forehead with her free head. Too many thoughts. Too much weirdness.
It gets better with time, Garuda assured her.
"...I dunno, something like that. Am I on the right track at all?" Seriously, being in the dark about all of these things was getting to her. Either that or it had gotten so ridiculous that she was starting to freak out again. Whichever. "'Cause, I mean, I have no idea how that explains my face or me having wings at... all..."
Whoops, ridiculous limit surpassed again.
He had wings. On the side of his face.
Seriously how did she not notice that before.
"Man, what. Why do you have wings on the side of your face?" Ava jabbed her free hand towards her back. "At least mine are where they're supposed to be."
Oh great, now she was getting proud of the fact she had wings! Or at least fuzzy stumps resembling them. That were starting to ache at being bound so tight. And maybe twitching slightly.
This day was just spiraling out of control. Seriously.
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Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:49 am
“Fight? What with me?” Seth wished he could say that was a first, but Ava was his first newbie, but really, it doubted many other newbie’s would have the same reaction. “No...not now, not with me anyway”
“Not that you have to fight at any rate, but there’ll be plenty of other players for that, I’m sure” He sighed, he knew that part far too well. It occurred to him that Ava was in for a potentially fatal experience with the game. Hopefully she’d have more success than he did as a newbie.
Seth stood in silence watching what looked like another mental conversation going on that he wasn’t privy to. Seemed liked Ava was still getting to grips with have a voice in her head.
“You’re getting there” Seth said in his most reassuring voice. “Your Garuda’s prophet, his representative in the game.”
“That explains your face. Though I had no idea you have wings, not big ones I assume” Seth leaned over Avas should as he spoke, observing the bumps on her back. Definitely not wings yet.
“And I should have probably introduced myself earlier Ava, but I’m Seth, the games scorekeeper”
“Supposed to be?” He frowned. His wings weren’t in a particularly practical place but really...she didn’t have to say it like that. The head wings ruffled up like they didn’t like the way they were being spoken about and it made it look like Seth had an angry bird where his head was.
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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 11:33 am
"Oh, okay, that's fine." Ava was a bit disappointed; after all, there was fighting in the Game, wasn't there?
Yes, but there is more to it that that, Garuda reminded her.
Garuda's words, coupled with Seth's lack of, well, enthusiasm, was really starting to bring her down. If there was anything good about all this weird stuff it was that she might get to punch out some folks, and now that looked less and less likely. It was enough to cool her frustration and let the despair start to creep in.
"Mr. Vainateya's... prophet. Got it." Well, not really, but she was trying. Seth wasn't exactly the most reassuring of folks. And, really, being a prophet or representative or whatever didn't explain the weird stuff. Even if Seth said it did.
Though she shied away from him a little as he went to look at her back. That was private! And, crap. Could he see anything? Were they noticeable? Oh man she'd need a jacket to cover them up now, but how was she going to do that? "Nice to meet you," she mumbled automatically at his introduction.
Then it hit her how crazy she was sounding. Even Seth's comical visage couldn't cheer her up. "Look, I'm sorry Mr... Seth, it's just, it's been a really weird day and I still don't quite know what going on, and, and...." A lump caught in her throat. "...And I don't even know if I can go home." She tried desperately to not look like she was going to cry. You don't cry in front of strangers! Though, to her surprise, she yawned instead. She kept her makeshift scarf up with one hand this time, but she still felt embarrassed. "Sorry."
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 10:31 am
“No all Godlings fight each other you know, almost never did anyway...”
Ava didn’t look particularly happy, he had to admit he wasn’t making the game sounds like it was a fabulous opportunity of adventure. Considering his own experiences in it, it was anything but. Right, he thought, best not to bring that up, not ever really. The last thing newbies needed was hearing their Gods might try and make them forget their parents faces.
“So...” He spoke slower and even more dully than usual. “Whats Garuda, Mr. Vainateya rather saying?” Judging by the nickname she already had for him it sounded like they had a relationship far removed from Seth and Hypnos’ own warped one. It’d be nice to gauge what sort of God Garuda was at any rate.
“That’s all right” He patted her on the head, lightly so as not to send her to sleep.
“Home? If you parents already know about your...divine attributes then it’ll be fine” He nodded. “I already know a few players who are still with their family.” As he spoke he knelt down, he saw that in a few movies, kneeling down while to talk made kids feel better apparently, not that he understood why.
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 3:54 pm
Ava rubbed her eyes with her free hand. She hadn't shed a tear, but, well, she was damn tired. Of the run-around and general sleepiness variety. And, as much as Garuda was urging her to keep something in reserve, she might as well get a load off her mind.
"No, see, that's the problem." She jabbed the pearl at her chest. "I'm good at fighting, and Mr. Vainateya said this would be a game I'm good at." She paused. "Well, okay, yeah, he said there was more to the Game than that, but. I mean. I like fighting!"
I would not advise you to go out and fight your first day, or even month, Garuda intoned. Remember, diplomacy and strategy are just as vital, if not more so, to the Game. Fight only if you know you have the upper hand.
Ava closed her eyes. That doesn't sound fair.
No, but it is wise. Fair is not necessarily how other players will play.
She sighed and opened her eyes again. "Fine. Okay. I can get over not fighting for a while, but.... You said you're the Scorekeeper, right? If you wanna know what Mr. Vainateya - Garuda - was saying, it's that, some people don't fight fair? And I guess, I mean, he didn't say too much about the Game, but, what is fair? 'Cause I'm used to fistfights 'n' stuff, but if other guys got knives or something an' all I got are these," she put up her dukes, "then I guess I should know? I mean, if I'm allowed know." She sighed again. "Mr. V's not being very helpful, see."
Garuda was slightly indignant. I am being completely helpful!
Ava tried to smirk a little, but her face wasn't having any of it. Stupid beak.
And what is wrong with beaks?
Well, a little warning would have been nice!
I did warn you.
Vague references about "representation"? Yeah, I totally got that one. 'Cause, you know, I can totally remember what happens in my dreams. Thanks for the heads-up there. Completely helpful. 'Preciate it.
Garuda was silent on his end; brooding, she presumed. Ava felt a good deal better - it was rare when she could get the better of Mr. Vainateya, and that she could do that on top of all the stuff that happened today? A major win.
The pat on the head took some of the wind out her sails, though (and caused her to yawn again - rather loudly). The only people allowed to do that was her dad and her brother, thank you.
Annnnnnnnnnd then they were back to home again.
s**t.
"I... don't think it'll be that easy." Ava sagged a little, even if Seth was being nice and getting his face in range of her fist. "It's... well." She had to pause to collect her thoughts - and not think about her folks. "Y'gotta be normal around here." It sounded dumb to say it, since everyone and their mom in Central knew it, but it seemed to bear repeating. "I mean, yeah, you can be a little weird, I guess, but... I was at that point yesterday. And that's only 'cause I could hide it."
"I don't..." She sniffed a little. "I don't wanna get my folks in trouble."
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