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 Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 8:54 pm
Back at the Code again, Amarynthos was feeling oddly vulnerable. He was curious and hopeful and wanted answers–even if they weren’t good. Even if they revealed that he’d messed something up. He didn’t want to disappoint the Code; he’d only been a Knight for a few weeks. The Code had been supportive so far, and he hadn’t gotten zapped back to the room where they’d first met so he couldn’t be in that much trouble.
But, still. He’d worry until he had an answer, even if he was doing a pretty good job of shoving all of those emotions into the pit of his stomach as he approached. He held Ephesus’ hand tightly in his own as he approached the glowing orb with his head held high.
More flowers were in bloom this week, and it seemed like their efforts were having an impact at their Wonders. There was still a lot of work to be done, but they could see how far they’d come and what impact they’d had.
“Hey,” he greeted, with as much certainty as he could muster. “Hi, Code. Again. Sorry to bother you so soon after the last time, but I’m still having a little bit of a problem. Not the ring–the rings are great. We already got them upgraded so we’re making good use of it. But it’s–I told you about the ghosts? Well, they got a little worse. I mean, not anything bad. But I don’t know if I’m doing anything weird, and I don’t want anyone to accidentally get hurt, or for me to mess something up. Effie and I found something–oh, we brought you a candle, Devyn made it. I don’t know if you get bored up here, but the flame burns silver and sparkles, we thought you might like it. It’s like moonlight kind of. We’re going to have a picnic here in a little bit, we brought you a cupcake too but we know you don’t really eat. Anyway.” He was focused! He wasn’t just talking to talk! It helped calm himself down, at least.
“Effie and I found something.” He pulled the golden orb out of his pocket and turned it in his hand; it caught the light and sparkled brightly under the glimmering Code piece. “The ghost–I don’t know, it came running at us when we found this? It didn’t hurt us. I was just wondering if this was something important? I know we’re supposed to clean up the Wonders and all but I don’t know if there’s anything you’re looking for. Effie and I haven’t found anything like this before, I don’t think?” he glanced at Ephesus inquisitively, just to make sure.
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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 9:03 pm
Ephesus was doing his best to be supportive and not let the anxiousness from Amarynthos rub off on him. He could feel it, of course. It was almost physical to him, the way Amarynthos rambled, the way he tried to reassure and explain things.
As he spoke, Ephesus gently brushed the tips of his fingers over the back of Amarynthos’ hand, looking at him rather than up at the Code. So when he turned to him, Effie was able to smile right away.
“We haven’t,” he agreed, still holding tightly to Amarynthos’ hand, but finally glancing up at the Code to make sure it wasn’t doing anything that could be concerning. “But it’s very pretty. The candles are pretty, too.”
Oh, but they weren’t there to talk about the candles or how pretty everything was. Even if Effie thought that Mary had the prettiest blue eyes. And prettiest smile.
“We’ve been very careful about everything. We’re going to make sure everything is cleaned up, but we don’t want the bear to be upset with us,” he clarified, hoping that would be enough for the Code to at least give them a clue that would help them make things right, if there was something wrong.
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Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2023 9:21 pm
Amarynthos pursed his lips together and seemed to consider this for a few seconds. He looked from Ephesus to the glowing Code piece. It had no face, no voice, and yet he was there with as much presence as anyone with a full form. Maybe even more; he could feel the way its magic stretched towards him, even if it didn’t move.
Sometimes, talking with the Code was a lot like assuming he knew what it was saying. He could have a feeling but he couldn’t ever tell if it was right or if he was just doing the first thing that came to mind.
“It doesn’t seem bad,” Amarynthos said, looking down at the gem he held. “I just don’t know what it wants. I’d ask it if I could, but I’m not sure. I’m sorry. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
But, the Code didn’t seem disappointed. Instead, Amarynthos still felt the same little tugging sensation. Uncertainly, he raised his hand, wondering if the Code wanted to see what he’d found.
“Here,” he said, and offered it. He wasn’t sure if he’d moved too quickly of the Code had some influence, but the golden orb rolled from his hand into the swirling mass of mist. “Oh–sorry,” he said quickly, but the Code just flashed brightly.
Before Amarynthos could even retract his hand, the mist swirled faster and glowed with a brightness he could only associate with what it had done when it gave him his ring.
He sucked in a breath and held it because that seemed like a good thing–and a few seconds later, the gemstone was rolling out again.
He caught it in his hand with a surprised, “Oh.”
It was warm, but familiar. It made him think of when his parents used to pick him up after school when he was small–when he was excited, and safe.
It was a good sensation to have, considering the bear was standing just behind them.
It exhaled with enough force that it brushed the hair from the backs of their neck.
The first thing Amarynthos realized was that it was warm. The second thing was that when he turned to see the bear, it was opaque.
Solid.
Staring right at them.
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 2:36 pm
Ephesus stared with wide, curious eyes as Amarynthos dropped the orb into the mist, watching as the Code flashed and-- seemed to give the orb back.
But it wasn’t until the bear appeared behind them that Ephesus gasped in alarm, although he tried being quiet!
He held tightly to Amarynthos as he glanced over his shoulder. The bear looked so much more regal and majestic than he had as a ghost. And he didn’t look like he wanted to hurt them.
So even though Ephesus stared with still wide eyes, he cautiously lifted a hand to give the bear a small wave.
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Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 9:58 pm
The bear’s attention shifted from what seemed to be both of them to just Ephesus. It had dark black eyes, but there was something whimsical in them. It leaned forward and sniffed the both of them once more.
Amarynthos told himself that he wasn’t afraid but his heart was pounding and he he squeezed Ephesus’ hand.
The bear opened its mouth to reveal milky, opalescent fangs and–
Licked Ephesus. It was sloppy, and its tongue was a little coarse, but it seemed to carry no ill will or intent for harm. It immediately began sniffing the both of them, and repeated the gesture by giving Amarynthos a dry lick, too.
He seemed a bit surprised–visibly confused, but obviously grateful that both of them still had faces.
For as interested as the bear was in them, it was just as interested in the flowers that bloomed around the garden–flowers that Amarynthos could almost swear had grown while their backs were turned.
The light from the stars above them shimmered on the bear’s fur; it sometimes appeared pearlescent, and sometimes it seemed to pick up very pale pastel colors. It didn’t look like anything they’d have seen on Earth.
Amarynthos watched it for a few seconds and then shook his head, looking between the orb and the bear.
“But it was a ghost before, right? And it’s–that was very solid, right?”
Solid enough that as the bear nudged a flower with its nose, it shifted and left pollen on its nose.
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:55 pm
Oh. Oh no. The bear was looking at him. It was opening its mouth and--
Ephesus let out a squeal of laughter when the bear licked him. He held tightly to Amarynthos, but was obviously greatly relieved that the pretty, pastel bear was just a big sweetheart.
“Oh, I love him,” Effie gasped, but when he tugged his hand away from Amarynthos, it was so he could wrap his arms around him, resting his head against Mary’s shoulder. “He’s so cute. Do you think he’s like Princess? He’s just as gentle as Princess,” he hummed thoughtfully.
He wasn’t sure, but he hadn’t seen any animals like them before. Effie giggled when the sweet bear got pollen on his nose, and then tipped his head back a bit so he could look up at Mary for a moment, before leaning up to kiss him.
“I love you,” he smiled up at him. “I’m so proud of you. This feels really… really special. I don’t know how else to describe it. Maybe he’ll want to have lunch with us?”
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2023 9:46 pm
It felt like that could have gone so wrong, but the bear felt so much less demanding now that it was–well, not a ghost. He wasn’t entirely sure what had happened, all he knew was that the bear seemed content to do his own thing now that he could.
It felt safe here–and he knew the Code wouldn’t do anything to put them in danger.
The bear hadn’t been solid before, and if it was now, Amarynthos knew that the Code had something to do with it.
A kiss from Ephesus brought him out of his contemplation and he turned to face Ephesus. “It is special, that’s a good way of putting it. I love you, too. Like, for everything. I don’t know if we have enough food for him, he’s big. We can give him some if he’s interested. Princess has been around forever, hasn’t she? I don’t know if–Oh.”
He paused again, briefly, and then his face lit up as he nodded. “Well, you might be onto something. I don’t completely know. But I guess the real proof is if he comes out of this thing like Princess does with?” He looked at the gem again but the bear didn’t seem so interested now that he could investigate the garden. “Maybe he was trapped in here and the Code just had to let him out.”
They could ask Michael when they got back.
The bear had moved off of the path and was standing in the mess of flowers, but it was being surprisingly careful not to crush any of the plants beneath it. It didn’t seem as though it was looking for anything anymore, and the pressure to find something was gone.
In some ways, it felt like being with an old friend. Amarynthos couldn’t really explain it, but–
Magic was real. Sometimes you could just accept something without understanding it.
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2023 11:46 am
“Oh, I hope he wasn’t trapped in here for so long,” Effie gasped in horror, and looked sadly over to the sweet bear who looked so cute and fluffy and perfect in every way. Kind of like Mary.
“If he was trapped, I’m glad you found him and the Code was able to help him. Michael probably knows best about what he might be though. Well, other than the Code, probably,” he hummed, but was still hugging Mary with no intention of letting go.
“He’s so cute though. Do you think he’ll let us pet him?” he wondered, looking up at Mary with wide, hopeful eyes.
They would have to make sure he had enough food, too. Maybe they would just plan as if Devyn was coming with them for lunch, next time.
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2023 11:55 am
Amarynthos shared Ephesus’ concern–he hoped that the bear hadn’t been trapped for too long, but judging with the state of things on the moon already…
Well, maybe animals survived for longer than the people had?
He didn’t know and he didn’t want to guess. The bear seemed like he was enjoying the flowers for right now and for as much as Amarynthos wanted to touch him, he thought maybe they could give the bear a few minutes to enjoy the flowers, too.
“Maybe,” he said after a thoughtful moment. “...We should give him a few minutes to get comfortable and relax. But you and I should have lunch. Maybe he’ll come over and visit when he sees what we’ve got.”
…And it was a good thing they always packed extra, too.
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