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Post by Kara on Dec 22, 2022 21:34:31 GMT -5
As the three of them made their way back to the table, Kara’s mind was racing. She had never intended to scare the young boy, but it seemed that gaining any semblance of trust or forgiveness would not be easy. On the one hand, Kara was tempted to leave these mortals to whatever foolish ideas they had about her. On the other hand…
Talial and Vervescent racing through the field of souls, their Light glowing so bright…
Kara sat down, noting how Zarius and Kvasir kept the young one away from her. She smiled from across the table at him, and allowed her eyes to glow with a gentle light. “What is your name, child?” If either of the other two adults had a problem with her addressing the boy, she ignored them. “I am Kara.”
She reached out to touch the spear that still lay across one end of the table, and slowly spun it so that the shaft was facing the boy. Then, ever so slightly, she pushed it towards him. “If you are scared of me, you may hold my spear. That way, should you feel it necessary, you can defend yourself.” Her voice was calm, gentle and controlled. Anyone listening to her would have sworn she had plenty of experience with children, and even if this boy was older, he was still a child.
Talial spinning, trailing her own Light. Vervescent playing and laughing with the passing souls…
Kara didn’t say anything else, merely kept her gaze on the boy. She had done what she could; it was up to the boy now. And if he did not forgive her… So be it. Kara would go on her way, and oh, how quickly they would forget each other.
After a while, her eyes moved to Kvasir. He had seemed... uncomfortable when Kara approached them before. Why?
The answer was obvious, wasn’t it? He had seemed quite shaken when she had mentioned the celestial in his soul. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "I had nothing to do with it." She said. "It’s not like I placed that celestial in your soul, mortal. That was there before I showed up.”
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 22, 2022 23:41:21 GMT -5
Seeing that the group was returning to the table, albeit tentatively, Zarius sits back down. He offers Nyr a reassuring look but does not jump into the conversation should he be over stimulated with meeting so many new and strange folk all at once. If the young man had any interest, he could start the conversation as he felt comfortable.
As Kvasir addresses him directly, he smiles.
"It is not so much a coincidence actually. I heard you recently acquired a place in town and I wished to see how you were adjusting to the dry heat. Though I suppose this is a far more comfortable locale than the side of an active volcano."
The tiefling goes about removing the book from his satchel. He reaches across the table and places it in front of Kvasir.
"This was in my family's library. I figured you might find it useful given how we first met."
It is a fairly well maintained book with a soft brushed leather exterior embellished with metallic inks and floral filigree. While not the thickest of medical texts, it is a sufficient field guide for more casual readers with a fair amount of detailed illustrations painted with muted colors.
"I also brought you a few rare specimens from the Ash Lands you may want to try and cultivate here. I cannot say if they will survive in this climate, that would be more your specialty than mine."
Zarius was well aware of where his strengths lied and botany was not it. Still, he knew how to do his homework. He ensured the specimens were properly packaged and transported for the best possibly chance that they would survive the journey from Darkveil to the Oasis. He also ensured that the specimens were as rare as the merchant claimed and not just some common weed.
He didn't want to make a fool of himself in front of the fox man while they were still figuring out where they stood as allies. He hoped at least the gesture of good faith would aid in further building up the trust between them, even in light of the dead god accusations.
Due to the fragility of the samples, he chooses not to put them out on the table that Kara was actively pushing her weapon across towards Nyr. He gives her and unimpressed expression. Was this gesture supposed to comfort the boy? Her insistence was clearly having the opposite effect of what she was wishing for.
"If I may, Miss Kara. I think an apology is a more appropriate response than offering your weapon. There is no need for him to feel like he needs to defend himself while in our company." He gives her a very direct look. "Right?"
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Post by Nyr on Dec 23, 2022 14:42:28 GMT -5
It’s Kvasir’s presence that keeps Nyr’s feet rooted in place, though the itch under his skin to run as far and as fast as he can remains. Gratefulness brims in his heart when Kvasir handles most of the talking for him. He hardly knew the older man, yet he had done so much in such a short time to look out for Nyr. It wasn’t the kind of treatment Nyr was used to from others, but it was… Well, it was nice.
Something soft and fluffy curling around him gives the boy a bit of a fright. But when he looks down and sees soft fur in the same color as Kvasir’s hair, he relaxes minutely. It was okay. It was just Kvasir continuing to look after him.
How strange. Strange, yet comforting.
The boy squeezes onto Kvasir’s hand as they make their way back to that strange woman and other tiefling’s table. He sits awkwardly, his back too straight to be comfortable, elbows and hands kept away from the table’s surface. Like he was stuck with some stiff form of manners, he couldn’t bring himself to break.
Nyr fumbles when the strange woman- Kara- Offers her weapon to him. He holds his hands up in front of him, palms facing her, though they are shaking ever so lightly. “Erm- Uh- I’m Nyr- But I don’t think- I mean- Ah… Th-That’s alright. I… appreciate the gesture?” He tries, voice a bit helpless. “I wouldn’t know how to use a weapon like that.” And he wasn’t even sure he’d be able to hold it. “S-So, thank you, but. Um. N-No…. No, thank you.”
Talk of Celestial Souls and new homes fly over Nyr’s head as his eyes dart between the adults at the table. Well, maybe he could also be considered an adult by now, but he hardly felt like one. With everything going on, he felt more like a lost child. Considering how little he knew of the outside world and how to handle other people, he supposed he couldn’t blame himself.
Nafr, gentle and kind Nafr, had tried so hard to teach Nyr everything he would need to know before leaving their little world of the frozen North. But Nafr had been dead for decades before Nyr was even born, and he had been a cloistered scholar, no less, who spent the vast majority of his life tucked away among dusty tomes of ancient knowledge. Nafr had tried but had not had enough time to knowledge to teach Nyr everything he needed to know.
At least he had tried.
“Oh- Um- N-No. Paying for my meal, and apologies. Those aren’t needed. I-it’s okay. I have plenty of money with me.” Stolen from his father, not that anyone else needed to know that. “And really- I’m okay now, so… You don’t need to apologize. I was just.. Ah… I was caught off guard…?” His defense is a bit weak, as is the shaky smile on his face, but he is clearly trying to lighten the atmosphere at the table.
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Post by Kvasir Sigurrós on Dec 23, 2022 22:56:16 GMT -5
Quite the entanglement of emotions flashes across Kvasir's face in a short amount of time with each contribution to the conversation.
First, there is fondness in no short order-- his eye lights up at the book Zarius sets before him, ears perking up in poorly-concealed delight as his gaze roves over all the detailing, from the spiraling floral filigree to the shining ink embossed across soft leather, the title scrawled in sweeping cursive. Oh, and the cover is hardly just the main attraction; the notes within are carefully written, with such lovely illustrations, all with carefully diagramming that does not detract from their beauty in the slightest... perhaps his tail wags, just slightly, with the excitement this stirs up, in tandem with the joy that comes from being considered kindly by another.
"Thank you," Kvasir says, his voice light with elated surprise. A tiny smile pulls at his lips as he holds the book close. Really, such a gesture had hardly been at all expected-- it's not as if he and Zarius are overly close, though he does consider the tiefling a good acquaintance. This... this is sweet in ways he hardly anticipated. "That's very kind of you, Zarius. I... really, that means quite a lot. I hope you know that should you need anything of the medicinal variety, I'd be happy to provide for you."
Just as there is fondness for Zarius, there is that same gentle protectiveness for Nyr; Kvasir keeps his hand against his, though he suspects there is no mortal danger, here. Even so, offering what bastion he can amidst such an unfamiliar and tumultuous situation is the very least he feels he can do. The more pieces of the puzzle he scrapes together, the more words Nyr manages to speak, the more that surge of protectiveness flutters to life in Kvasir's heart.
And lastly, there's a wariness reserved for the strange woman-- Kara, he notes, reminding himself to write that down later on--, though it's less colored by any shades of hostility; her intentions do not seem unkind, her endeavors to forge peace between herself and Nyr genuine, if... misguided. He's willing to bet she just has a poor handle on social structure, but...
...that does not change the fact that she is achingly aware of Kasra, and all too willing to bring him up.
"...All this talk of Celestials," he murmurs, shooting Kara a look he hopes comes across as sufficiently pleading, an unspoken 'please can we not talk about this right here I swear to Solaria.' "Ah, really, I... Nyr, I'd be happy to cover whatever you'd like, as well as... Miss Kara and Zarius's meals, too. Since I've been... settling in, it feels right."
Gods, please let this gentle subject nudge work.
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Post by Kara on Dec 25, 2022 0:34:04 GMT -5
What is with this Zarius fellow? At every turn, he seemed to be positioning Kara in a bad light. Her eyes narrowed at him. In the beginning, when he placed himself between her and Kvasir as if she’d been a threat. When he stood ready to intercept her when she offered Nyr steak. Now, when he twists her words to imply that she considered herself a threat… And all along, this undercurrent of… something to his very being. Something that scratched at Kara’s senses like a rat in the walls…
At least Nyr seemed to be calming down. He seemed more inclined to accept her apology than Zarius was at least.
Zarius.
Zarius.
Dark and mysterious Zarius, with a smile on his lips and a lie on his tongue. Kara blinked. Where did she get that impression from? Yet she was certain she was right. This man…
Her eyes snapped back to Kvasir as he shot her a look. What?
In truth, she might have pursued the celestial thing, but now that she was starting to get a feel for Zarius, she wasn’t particularly inclined to speak about anything, anymore. Not in front of him. She stood up, reaching for her spear. You know, Light Piercer really is a good name for it.
She looked at the three men before her- well, two men and one boy- and suddenly felt very out of place in this world. She didn’t belong here. This wasn’t her world. Foxmen and Tieflings. She was from a realm of light. This physical land was… foreign. She... was a foreigner.
“You know, I might just take you up on your offer.” She said to Kvasir when he mentioned paying for her meal. After all, she didn’t have a Solar on her. “But I think it would be best if I leave. I’ve clearly caused enough trouble here. Nyr…” She nodded a goodbye to the boy, then hesitated, as if she had more to say.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Dec 25, 2022 12:27:17 GMT -5
Zarius wears an amused smile on his face as Kvasir and Nyr go back and forth about who will be paying the bill. He chooses not to tell them that neither will get their wish. Even if they did manage to somehow pass some Solars to the server before he did, he would just slip a few right back into their pockets without them noticing. It wasn't about the money after all, it was about the gesture.
Clearly it was working, Kvasir's reaction to receiving the book was more positive than he expected. He smiles as the fox-man extends the offer to provide their skills and wares should he need them.
"You are very welcome. I appreciate the offer. Fortunately, I do not have any need of any medicines, but I will certain reach out should that change."
It was good to have an alchemist nearby. His other alchemically talented associate, the Witch of Moonglade, was not exactly right next door. She also had ambitions the tiefling was still trying to fully understand, while Kvasir seemed more...simple.
Well, at least he did until Kara brought up the whole dead god thing. This was neither the time nor the place for that conversation though. Obviously the topic made Kvasir uncomfortable.
He looks at Kara as she narrows her eyes at him. Ah, so he had gotten under her skin a bit. Not unexpected, but if she threw another spell at him she would quickly regret it. His patience could only be tried so many times in one day. Celestial or not, she seemed to be tangible which meant that he could still punch her in the face should it came to that. He leans back in his chair and tilts his head at her as she attempts to leave again.
"What is your rush? From what you told me, you do not even know why you are here. It seems to me that this whole awkward situation was just a misunderstanding and some poor communication. I think we all can agree to perhaps show one another some grace and consider the earlier incident water under the bridge. No one got hurt after all."
An olive branch. Perhaps it would be enough for the so-called celestial, though if she insisted on leaving, he wouldn't object. The issue was more if she now intended to go behind his back and bother Kvasir and Nyr. It still wasn't clear what her intentions exactly were in regards to the younger tiefling.
In regards to the young tiefling, the boy sure was a nervous wreck. His reaction to a possible magic fight breaking out wasn't unreasonable, but the way he speaks and acts suggests that he is far out of his element. Zarius looks him over again. He's young and dressed in a foreign colors and cloth, yet has stated he is not hard pressed for coin. A noble heir from further north if he had to guess. Most likely sheltered, though he was even more nervous than Zarius' meeker sibling, Karize. He hasn't seen much of the world, that is for certain.
Perhaps he fled home and is here by himself? Zarius certainly would have picked out body guards from the crowd had any been accompanying the young man. Impressive that he made it to the oasis without getting ransomed or shaken down by the many bandits and criminals that roam Zeinav.
Curious. Very curious. He smiles at Nyr.
"My apologies, I have not introduced myself to you yet. My name is Zarius, it is a pleasure to meet you, Nyr. If it is not too forward to ask, where about are you from?"
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Post by Nyr on Dec 29, 2022 19:42:19 GMT -5
The gentle weight and warmth of Kvasir’s hand against his own sinks into Nyr’s skin and grounds him in the moment. Even if this whole situation felt strange and off-putting, there was something comforting about Kvasir’s presence. Maybe it was because… Maybe it was because the fox man reminded him of Nafr in all these little ways.
So. Even if there is a frightening woman and a strange tiefling at the table and talk of celestials that he doesn’t quite understand, Nyr is able to keep himself from running off and hiding with Kvasir’s gentle hand keeping him in place.
Though Nyr does balk a bit when Kvasir once again offers to pay.
“Th-There’s really no need for you to pay for me, Sir Kvasir. I have more than enough solars on me to pay for any food or lodging I might need.” The boy offers in a halting but earnest voice.
He hadn’t quite understood the importance of money when he first left his father’s northern manor, but Nafr had instructed him to pocket as much of the stuff as he could from his father’s coffers before he made his escape. It took months for Nyr to gather the coins little by little without notice, and now that he had been in the real world for long enough, all of that work and secrecy and anxiety felt more than necessary.
Once again, the ache of gratefulness swells in Nyr’s chest, brutal and lovely and a reminder of what he left behind.
Kara attempts to leave the table, bidding Nyr a lingering goodbye, but the tiefling Zarius stops her from getting very far. He looks between the both of them, unsure of what to say as he always is. They both seemed oddly interested in him, though he couldn’t tell why that might be.
They hadn’t… noticed anything off about him, had they…?
It’s impossible to tell, but the thought alone brings anxiety with it.
The question of his origins brings even more anxiety, but at least Nyr already had an answer for this one. “Ah, I’m from Frost Gale. I hail from the T’saya’s lands in the north.” Not entirely a lie, really. His father had been T’saya, once upon a time. And the area of his father’s home though part of no settlement did border on T’saya lands. Nyr was removed from his father’s people entirely, but so was the rest of the world, and it would be hard to track down Nyr’s lie among a nomadic people. Nafr had been the one to teach Nyr about the T’saya. He wasn’t an expert by any means, but being formerly a scholar in Bleakfort meant he had enough knowledge to fool a southerner, all of which he made sure to have Nyr memorize before leaving.
"K-Kind of obvious I'm not from around here, huh?" Nyr laughs, a bit awkward. Yes, it was likely extremely obvious that Nyr had no idea what he was doing here.
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Post by Kvasir Sigurrós on Dec 30, 2022 3:27:20 GMT -5
There are a lot of things Kvasir can confidently claim to be; he knows he is extraordinarily capable in his field, he knows he is tenacious enough to get under the skin of a deity of all things, and he knows that his experience in medicine, with years upon years of treating patients from all walks of life, has made him considerably adept at reading people. Perhaps he isn't privy to every intention, or to every emotion that every person wears upon their face, but he does know a fair amount about how to discern what might be going through a person's mind from a glance or two.
Kara has to be one of the most vexing people he's ever met, and one of the greatest challenges to that claim.
Her features are difficult to parse, the look in those eyes indiscernible, to the point that he isn't even certain why she hesitates after confidently stating it may be best if she departs; she is a walking contradiction, an amalgamation of diverging intention and action, and Kvasir is having a hard time figuring out exactly what's going through her head. There is a part of him, that gentler fragment, that wants to urge her to stay, not wanting her to feel unwelcome-- there is the uglier piece, afraid of the wretched fruit his bone and flesh and blood veils being bared to the world, that cannot help but hope she turns and leaves. It is... an unwelcome set of feelings, and he can't help but grimace over it, uncertain of what to say.
Luckily, he doesn't have to say anything-- Zarius takes care of that matter, smooth and easy as ever, the perfect mediator to an uneasy situation. Thank the Gods for Zarius. Kvasir gives Nyr's hand a gentle squeeze, watching Kara carefully to see how she'll respond; he isn't against her settling back down, after all. She truly does seem ultimately harmless, just awkward and with a warped view of the world; he just... selfishly hopes that she does not speak of Kasra again.
He squeezes Nyr's hand once more, but this time, it is not necessarily for the boy next to him.
"The Frost Gale?" he asks, his ears twitching with interest. "My, that's quite different from here-- ah, you haven't been overheating, have you? I imagine there must have been a bit of a temperature shock..."
Kvasir's tail fretfully swishes back and forth a bit as he looks Nyr over, a bit of worry shining in his eye. Still, midway through his fretting, he pauses, his attention flitting back over to Kara, still standing a bit awkwardly in place, as hesitant as ever-- if she... is truly uncertain about staying, then maybe he should extend an olive branch of sorts.
"...what about you, Miss Kara?" he begins, tilting his head. "Where do you hail from?"
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Post by Kara on Dec 31, 2022 23:08:03 GMT -5
Well. This was awkward. Kara had been prepared to leave, but now… Why do they want me to stay? The Foxman, he definitely doesn’t want me here. Even Kara, with her limited understanding of body language, was picking up on that. And Zarius…
Her mind was made up when Kvasir asked her a question. So… either he’s pretending to want me to stay… Or he’s actually nice? …Nah.
Well, maybe.
Kara plopped back down heavily back in her seat, six feet of muscle, not to mention the spear on her back, and the wooden chair beneath her promptly shattered. As bits of wood went flying out from beneath her, Kara landed on her back, staring up at the cloth ceiling.
“... I hate you. I hate you, you stupid physical world.” Kara kept staring up at the ceiling, not moving a muscle. “I hate these people, I hate touching things, Light do I hate removing food from my body, and I… freaking…. Hate…” Kara slowly rose into a sitting position. “Onions.” She whispered the last word, a look of absolute loathing on her face. She slowly got to her feet, and brushed some wood chips off her legs.
“Ahem.” She looked at the other three. Well… now she didn’t even have a place to sit. She should definitely leave. On the other hand… Kvasir had asked her a question. Who was she to deny him knowledge? “Auriel. That’s the realm I hail from.”
Auriel... one of the realms of Light. She wondered if Kvasir knew of it, or if the celestial within him knew. She also wondered about Zarius, and about Nyr. In fact, everything about this whole physical world was one big wonderment.
She took a breath as a waiter hurried over with a spare chair and shot her a look. What?
She settled herself down more gently this time, adjusted her spear on her back, then looked up brightly. "As for me... I'm an Angel, as I've said before, and I'm stuck here. Don't know why, don't know who did this to me, and don't know most of your mortal customs. But," She held up a finger, "There are a few things I know. Things I've found out. For example, Hot Dogs are not made out of dogs, regardless of their temperature; when male-folk whistle at me, they are not truly trying to get my attention; Brothels are not places where a woman can find work, oh no, it is specifically for the sexual acts; You have a celestial in you and you... something is deeply, deeply wrong with your soul." The last sentence was directed first at Kvasir, then she settled her gaze finally on Zarius as she said the final words.
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Post by Eameia (Zarius unavailable) on Jan 1, 2023 14:19:47 GMT -5
Zarius nods as Nyr provides a little information on where he is from. Frost Gale is quite a ways and a wildly different environment than the Zeinav Desert. Whatever he was looking for here must be pretty important to risk such a long journey.
He gives Nyr a reassuring smile.
"A bit, though speaking from experience, it would not matter where you were from, our kind tends to draw attention to themselves."
Tieflings as a whole had to contend with a lot of superstitions and mistrust due to the assumptions about their heritage and origins of their demonic features. Though it seemed to vary wildly, those with small minds liked to lump them all together and often could not even tell the difference between a tiefling, fiend, or a true demon. It was sometimes very difficult for their kind to keep track of their lineages since many suffered from the prejudices against them.
Zarius, coming from a long line of tieflings himself, barely knew when, where, or why their fiendish appearance manifested. It was lost to the sands of time, unfortunately. He knew his mother's side of the family were predominately of Zeinav, though his father's side was a bit more scattered. It didn't matter much to him, at least, it hadn't. But now he had some personal reasons to pay it some more attention.
"I hope no one has been giving you any trouble. Ah, present company aside," he teases.
The ruckous Kara causes snaps his attention away from the young tiefling and back to the woman. It was difficult to discern if Kara was just careless or if the universe was intentionally trying to humble her. Her luck certainly was not very good at the very least.
He had almost gotten up to help her back onto her feet and offer his chair, if only to continue to improve Kvasir's opinion of him. Her ranting was at least very amusing, though where all this vitriol for the physical world came from wasn't entirely clear.
It made for more question about what this Auriel place was like if it was so different from their own, not just from a culture standpoint, but as a plane of existence in general. He had been to another plane once before, and things didn't seem that different aside from the denizens that inhabited it. That said, he had only been there briefly and had not gotten the chance to see beyond the walls of a single building. He was not keen on going back to explore it further.
The woman rises to her feet and a new chair is presented to her by the flustered waiter. The tiefling offers the staff member a nod of gratitude. Seems that Kara would at least stick around a while longer and answer questions from Kvasir.
Her explanation of what she has learned since arriving in their plane of existence is...interesting. He isn't sure what a hot dog even is. When her attention turns to him and she makes her accusation, he just offers a smile in return.
"I am no expert on souls, so I will take your word for it."
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Post by Nyr on Jan 2, 2023 18:14:54 GMT -5
The concern Sir Kvasir immediately shows Nyr when he speaks of hailing from the Frost Gail brings a small smile to Nyr’s face. He really was like Nafr, wasn’t he? Only instead of worrying about Nyr being properly bundled up to venture out into the snow and ice, Sir Kvasir worried about how the heat and blinding sun of Zeinav might feel to someone so used to the cold.
Zarius’ comment about their kind dims that smile of his, just a bit. Ah, yes. He hadn’t been in the wider world of Charon for long, but he had noticed that his features seemed to draw attention to him no matter where he went, for better or worse. At first he had thought it was because he was obviously–
Obviously. Unusual.
But Zarius seemed to imply it was merely the fact that he had the features of a tiefling in general that drew that kind of attention to him.
“The heat isn’t so bad; I’ve been trying to travel more at night when it’s cold since I’m used to that, and I’ve been camping during the day in the shade.” He reassures the kindly Sir Kvasir before he addresses Zarius’ concern next. “Ah, yes, I’ve noticed a bit of that, but it hasn’t been too bad. I traveled here on a merchant's vessel and with a caravan after that, and there were all sorts of people in those crews. I don’t think I stood out too much.”
Kara plopping back into her seat roughly sends a jolt through Nyr, but he doesn’t run from her, nor does he appear to be as frightened as he was before. Instead, he listens quietly and patiently as she describes where she hails from.
Sir Kvasir’s hand on his own surely has nothing to do with his quiet lack of fear.
“You hail from another plane entirely…?” It wasn’t impossible. Nyr had never been to any other planes but this one, but he certainly knew of beings that resided in those worlds removed from this one.
Usually, those weren’t very good beings, but if she really was an angel, he doubted she could be evil, right…?
She makes a few strange comments about Sir Kvasir and Zarius again that bring back an edge of nervousness to Nyr. But she hadn’t pointed out anything about him yet, so…
So maybe her ability to sense these things was thrown off in the material plane? After all, Sir Kvasir and Zarius seemed perfectly normal to Nyr, but Kara seemed to notice nothing unusual about Nyr, even though he… Yeah. Maybe she was just wrong about all three of them. Maybe her senses were completely confused by this new plane of existence. That made some sense to him.
“I.. are you.. Okay? Did coming here hurt you or something…?”
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Post by Kvasir Sigurrós on Jan 4, 2023 1:49:54 GMT -5
An... angel?
All Kvasir can really think to do is blink at that, poorly-hidden shock rooting in his expression as Kara rants on and on about all the minutiae of the world she takes issue with, at the darkness she swears is swirling in Zarius's soul, at the god she so plainly sees in his own. Half of the things she says sound downright nonsensical, a mess of oddities that don't connect, but that one glaring thing stands out among them, a disgusting truth shining sickly gold amidst a pile of old and faded remnants of possibilities.
So that... that's why-- this is why she's privy to the divinity that lingers in the corners of his mind, that stains his veins in gold. It is nauseating, and yet, an echo of interest that does not belong to him pulls at him, pulsing somewhere in his skull in the form of a dull, resonant ache. It is enough to send a short spike of panic jolting up Kvasir's spine, agonizing and electric, all the tension of the Dragon's Cradle condensed into one feeling, the urge to stand up and leave already settling in--
...No. None of that; right now, he needs to sit still and smile and nod along with the pleasant conversation, keep himself together so Zarius does not bear witness to all his fraying ends, and then patiently wait for an acceptable time to leave with Nyr at his side.
He gives Nyr's hand another gentle squeeze.
"I see," he says, voice eerily devoid of inflection as he addresses Kara once again. "I... am sorry this plane has been so difficult to adjust to. I hope it grows... easier."
Kvasir does not address her words about Kasra. He will not, not until it is demanded of him, until he is given no other choice, and even then, he will not say more than a few vague words. The less attention given to the God of What Once Was, the better.
"...I am... glad that travel has not been too terrible for you, Nyr," the shift in Kvasir's tone when he addresses Nyr once more is obvious, softening just so as soon as he is no longer biting back the interest of the Archivist King. "Still... you have traveled quite a long way. Do you... have anywhere you're staying? You don't intend to camp out here, do you?"
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Post by Kara on Jan 4, 2023 20:52:14 GMT -5
“What?” Kara stared at Nyr in confusion. “No, coming here didn’t… hurt me. I mean, there was a Dragon that attacked me right when I arrived, but other than that…” She shrugged. “I’m fine, child.”
She turned her attention to Kvasir as he flatly intoned some sympathy for her, though Kara was less than certain he meant any of it.
What are you doing, Kara? She had come here for one reason. To find out what the Celestial energy she had sensed was. She had hoped it was a fellow Angel; It was not. She should leave. You’ve only gone from upsetting them to upsetting them. Leave while you’re still a stranger and not an enemy.
Kara stood back up, surveyed the little group around her. “I’m sorry.” she said simply. “I’ve caused trouble here, and I apologize. Despite what you may say,” She directed this at Zarius, “I believe it would be best to leave.” She nodded at Nyr, sitting across the table, glanced at Zarius and decided she did not want to shake his hand, and instead reached out to grasp Kvasir’s. The man accepted her outstretched arm in farewell, and as her grip tightened around his, she reached out with her soul and connected to the god in his.
Anghara opened her eyes in the cerebral plane. Here, where nothing existed except for what was thought and imagined, she was a being of brilliant Light. She looked at the other Celestial.
“I am Anghara.”
"...hm. It is a quaint thing, to find one capable of reaching out to me without me doing so first. So you are a Celestial, and not merely delusional. Interesting. Greetings, then, Anghara-- the one before you is known by many titles. The God of Remains, Archivist King, Deity of What Once Was... but I will allow you to call me Kasra."
"For a being with so many names, you are remarkably... Unknown to me. Are you a god to this realm alone? For you certainly have no presence in Auriel."
"My time has long passed, Anghara, though I do not intend for it to stay that way. I am indeed a deity within this realm alone."
"I... see. Ah... He is your vessel then?"
"This body is my vessel, yes. It has served me well thus far, despite its stubbornness."
"Stubbornness? It is not willing?" The shock in Anghara's voice was tinged with horror.
"Perhaps not, but that does not matter. Mortals are mortals, Anghara, and their lives are fleeting and simple. To be a god's vessel is to do something truly divine-- do you not understand?"
"No, Kasra, I do not. I know not if you once laid claim to a body, but where I come from, all we have is a Soul. To exert control over someone else's... What could be worse?"
"Hm. Then you do not understand, nor could you understand; I will not attempt to make you. You cannot dissuade me from my path, little angel. Spare me the moral lecture. I am an archivist, not a philosopher."
"And I am a warrior, not an orator. I will speak no more to you. But should we meet in the physical realm, and should you be found to be controlling a vessel that does not belong to you, know that the archivist will meet the warrior."
Kara severed the mental connection with a shudder, and let go of Kvasir’s hand. What sort of being would be so cruel…?
The conversation, while lengthy in her mind, had taken but a moment in the physical world.
She looked at Kvasir for a moment, then simply said: “Be strong, and should you need it, my aid is yours.” Then she leaned in and whispered in his ear. “And should you fail… my spear is yours as well. For what needs to be done.”
Then she straightened, took one last look at the other two, and left.
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Post by Kvasir Sigurrós on Jan 4, 2023 23:14:19 GMT -5
Well, that... isn't a shock.
Ever since the thought of leaving slipped into her mind, it's seemed to seize her attention, settling at the forefront of her mind no matter what they say-- whatever is on her mind saws away at the chain of any anchor they throw her. As soon as she stands up from the table, resignation settling darkly like tea dregs in those sulfuric eyes, Kvasir is all-too aware that it is likely for the final time.
He remains quiet as she starts to give her goodbyes, in the form of a cursory nod and lingering glance for Nyr, a surprisingly wary look for Zarius, and... then she turns to him. There is something strange, something pensive in her face as she stares his way, extending her hand to him in an offer for a shake--
And like a fool, he takes it.
A lance of brilliant gold pulses in his mind, pain blistering behind his eyes for a brief and agonizing moment, a mess of words and whispers and memories that are distinctly Not His pulsing in his mind, glittering sand-gold; there is the dark of a temple, the whispers of solemn attendants begging for his attention, the chill of ink and warmth of blood forming a scarlet-shadow spiral against his palms, a name on his lips, a name on her lips, and it is not his, not his, Not His. A low, weak cry punches out of his lips, eye screwing shut as it all fades away, as the Archivist King's consciousness ebbs away like some brutal tide, licking at the sand and promising to return again.
And then Kara's voice is against his ear, strangely soft, as soft as a voice like hers can be, promising the very same thing Sariya Mirzadeh one did on a cold desert night all those years ago, when she lit his pyre, tossed sand over his coffin, read his rites before he drew his final breath. The Khet Lotus seed feels heavy somewhere in the depths of his herb satchel, heavy with its promise of incineration, with Niloufar's gentle kiss.
Kara leaves, simple as that, as though she had offered a later outing for tea instead of merciful death.
Kvasir lifts a trembling hand to his cheek, his breath hitching as he processes the dampness against it.
"Oh," he whispers, a short, strained laugh following. "Um."
He falters for a long moment, staring fixedly at the table before him, desperate not to spare a look over at Zarius, at Nyr-- he does not want to know what emotion twists their faces, does not want to know what questions lurk in their minds. He has no answers for them; how can he possibly explain that Kara pried into his mind, tossed herself into a conversation with a sleeping god, and then promised-- promised the very same thing his would-be mother-in-law once did in the midst of the White Sand Sea when he was still younger and more whole?
It takes a while, takes a while of trying to force himself to breathe properly, trying to piece together the scattering patches of his mind, before Kvasir glances up at Nyr and Zarius and manages a fragile smile.
"I... It's a bit late," he manages, his voice so strained, fraying at the edges. "Um-- Z-Zarius, I-- I would love to catch up at another time, friend-- a-and Nyr, you... you wanted books, yes...?"
He speaks like he only barely remembers what he's talking about.
"...Y-You... can come with me, if you'd like, Nyr, but I really-- need to go," he says, rising to his feet. He gives Zarius one last weak smile before glancing over at Nyr, indicating he's on his way out, before swiveling around and starting for the exit, still trying to sew together his scattered pieces.
He does not know if he will cross paths with that angel again.
He does not know if he wants to.
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Post by Nyr on Jan 6, 2023 22:18:11 GMT -5
Sir Kvasir was crying.
Nyr isn’t quite sure what happened to lead up to this. Kara had bid her farewells to them all, a bit stiffly, but he felt her apologies were genuine. Strange as that woman was, Nyr truly believed she meant no harm. Even if she scared the ever loving shit out of him.
It’s not like scaring him was hard, in any case. He couldn’t exactly hold that against her.
But something happens in the moment she holds Sir Kvasir’s hand. A moment too quick for him to notice or understand. He doesn’t see the aftermath at first as he watches Kara leave and gives her a hesitant wave. But when he looks back to his remaining companions…
He… What…. What happened?
Genuine distress blooms on Nyr’s face as Sir Kvasir seems to come back to himself. It’s jarring to see a man who had brought him out of the throes of panic not all that long ago with his petal-soft kindness seem so shaken now.
The young man did want books, that much was true, but what he wanted even more at the moment was to be able to do… Something. Anything at all to help in this moment. But at first he doesn’t follow, shock keeping his body placid in his seat.
It’s only when Sir Kvasir crosses the threshold of the doorway that Nyr is able to leap up to his feet with a frantic look in Zarius’ direction.
“I- Um- It was very nice to meet you, Zarius- I’m sorry but- I think I’m gonna- I’m gonna go? I’m gonna– I’m just gonna go follow him…!”
With one last glance over his shoulder and a hurried wave, Nyr scurries out of the restaurant and dashes after that fading silhouette of green and black, already so far in the distance.
“S-Sir Kvasir, wait for me…!”
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