Evan relaxed back down on the cot, settling in for the healer to really get to work stitching up his wound. He groaned softly, doing his best to brace for the less-pleasant parts of this and get into a state that wouldn't mind it too terribly. You'd think with all the shit he did with the goddess it'd be a breeze--and, honestly, usually it was--but now it felt so gods damned... empty, he supposed. The healer was just doing his job, poking into Evan's skin not to elicit any kind of response or make any sort of power play, but purely just to mend the captain's body. Even when the goddess had been focused on mending, with her there'd been so much more to the action than that.
A melancholy started seeping into Evan's chest, lamenting at the hours ahead in which he'd have to move through the world without the goddess' touch and devoid of her company. His cheeks colored and he tilted his head away from the healer, embarrassment creeping in around the edges, and a tinge of fear. It would be no good if he got to the point of genuinely not wanting to be in this world. He reassured himself that it wouldn't seem so empty here once he had some sleep. And, once he spent time with Xavier again. The mere thought of the boy did lighten his heart.
The darker soldier stood and said something about returning to duty. Evan refocused his eyes on the soldier, catching sight of him from an odd angle and only briefly, but just enough to swear the man's eyes had been purple. Evan grit his teeth, irritation pushing his melancholy and embarrassment aside. What was the goddess up to now? He was fucking tired, and now bedridden while the healer finished his work. But, maybe he'd imagined it; in a fucked up way, it might even have been wishful thinking. And even if it wasn't... surely he and the goddess had enough trust now that she wouldn't fuck anything up. Surely it wasn't all on him to micromanage her. Surely it was fine if she slipped past him when he was tired and literally getting his skin sewn back together.
"U-um, I think I feel fine too," the younger soldier spoke up, and Evan glanced at the boy as he practically scampered out of the tent after the other soldier. Evan finally allowed himself to roll his eyes now that the boy was gone, and fully gave himself permission to stop worrying about whether the other soldier's eyes had actually been purple or not.
((OOC: I think Nathan is actually planning to leave Ramanujan alone and is either gonna find Philip or Chloe or go to bed. And Evan will go check in with Mizu once his stitches are done. Happy to go ahead and get into that but figured I'd stop here in case Dehaljadrun/Ramanujan wants to get up to anything before Evan's on his feet lol.
Edit: Nathan's POV continued here.))
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1
The goddess could feel the way Ramanujan's heart sped up as the two of them walked past Evan, and it was everything Dehaljadrun could do not to look at Evan on the way out. Just one smirk? But, no, that would absolutely give her away, and she wanted some freedom here. Every other time, he had stopped her.
Once she and Ramanujan were out of the tent, however, she paused and took a deep breath, calming herself but also thoroughly enjoying being outside in the human realm, even in someone else's body. It was the most freedom she had felt since the king had locked her in her realm, and the weight of that fact hit the goddess hard and began to move Ramanujan to tears. But, no, she couldn't dwell there, the potency of the emotion might make it harder to be in the body, and it wouldn't do to lose control now.
Taking one more deep breath, this one a little shakier than the last, the goddess walked forward, not entirely sure what she wanted to do or where she wanted to go, but standing conspicuously in front of the infirmary tent wasn't going to draw the right kind of attention.
She could go talk to the commander. She did remember where that tent was, and there was certainly some appeal to going to talk to her without Evan involved. But, then she remembered that they also had Ponderance. Her feet began to lead her there, but she immediately began second-guessing that decision. What would be the point of doing that? She didn't want to free him and didn't particularly have anything to say to him. He wouldn't recognize her anyway, whether in this shape or any other shape. Then there was the fact that, if Dehaljadrun went to Ponderance first, Evan might report in to his commander before she could get there.
Thinking about the limited time the goddess might have within the human body, she decided to go see the commander, slightly altering her course.
The goddess was not intercepted on her way to the strategy tent, though she was momentarily concerned that someone might try to talk to the soldier. He was, after all returned from her realm. Ramanujan got a few stares, but most of the other soldiers simply nodded, and Dehaljadrun assumed that, by now, they were accustomed to the thralls waking.
I would also have been willing to speak for us both, Ramanujan said, but Dehaljadrun pushed him gently aside, her focus on the meeting ahead of her.
--
Mizu sighed as Captain Miller placed his fist on the table.
"You can't seriously believe that working with the goddess is the right decision here," Captain Miller insisted for the third time. "My men won't stand for this. Don't make us split this army again." Mizu lifted her gaze from the map table and finally stood up from her chair, matching Captain Miller's height and meeting his eyes with her steely, cold stare.
"Captain Miller," Mizu said with a level tone, "when you agreed to break away from the king, you pledged your service to me in this civil war. What would you have me do? Deny the goddess and allow more men to fall? Would you have me ignore the gods altogether?"
"I don't want to be the one to have to say this, but," Captain Miller began, looking down, "it is possible the lives of our men are not worth as much as our integrity." Mizu set her jaw in response.
"Few know the sacrifices that must be made better than I," she began, "and I have weighed all our options. If we want the defeat the king, if we want to rule this kingdom justly in full view of the gods, then we must play into her game. At least for now."
"And what of the sacrifices she will demand from us once she has what she wants?" Captain Miller asked.
It was that moment when Ramanujan walked in, placing a hand on either hip as he answered in the commander's stead, "Beyond rebuilding her temples, she wants little else with the human realm."
"And you are?" Captain Miller asked, his face both confused and frustrated at the interruption.
"He's one of the men who had been attacked," Mizu answered, looking the man over. Sensing the commander's scrutiny, Ramanujan walked closer, and Mizu caught sight of the purple eyes and at once remembered what Evan had told her when he had knelt down in front of her. Purple eyes. Had the goddess somehow taken over the soldier's body? Evan had said that the goddess had tried that with Evan's body, but it hadn't worked. Why was it working now?
Mizu needed to get Captain Miller out of the situation. He was looking from Ramanujan to the commander and back but did not appear to register any further significance to the man or what he carried within him.
"You've been with the goddess then?" Miller said, one side of his lip raising slightly.
"Oh, yes," Ramanujan said in the goddess' voice, making Mizu supremely uncomfortable. "I've certainly been with her. And she within me." Captain Miller covered one of his ears for a moment, and Mizu thought he looked like a child.
"You don't... I don't want to hear it. Commander, if you need to talk to this man, I will take my leave." He began to sidle out of the tent but then added. "But know that, if the situation with the goddess becomes more dire, my soldiers and I will have no choice but to defect."
"I'm aware of that, Captain," Mizu said, not taking her eyes off Ramanujan. Soon afterward, Miller left completely. Mizu knew that she would have to deal with him again later, but there was a more urgent matter at hand now. "So, it seems you've granted me an audience," Mizu said, hoping they could drop the pretenses and speak plainly.
"I wanted to see for myself the woman who thinks she can destroy the king," the goddess said.
"And, what do you make of me?" Mizu asked. The goddess smiled and strode more fully into the room, placing Ramanujan's hands, palms down, on the map table between them.
"I see everything you gave up to be here. And I know how much you wish you hadn't needed to." Mizu looked at the soldier without any response or reaction, so the goddess continued. "I hear the way he called your name in the dark... Oomizuao." It was entirely too soon since Mizu had heard her full first name, and she grit her teeth a moment, her privacy brushed completely aside in the face of this goddess.
"State your business here," Mizu said sternly.
Dehaljadrun looked the woman over, noting the differences between the real version of her and the version of her in each of the soldier's minds. She was narrower and shorter and not nearly as intimidating as she had appeared in the other men's minds, but she was sharp, and the goddess felt the cloud of loneliness around the commander. "I thought you might have different motivations than the men, but no, you're just as simplistic."
"Did you just come here to insult me?" Mizu said, pulling her eyebrows together a little.
"No, I came here to tell you that I want you to win." The goddess set her purple eyes on the commander, pulling the soldier's hands back to his side and standing up straighter. "And that Evan successfully negotiated on your behalf. You'll be getting the Shel'ti back."
Mizu narrowed her eyes. She didn't particularly feel grounded in the idea of the goddess enjoying the idea of their success, especially if she could kill the king herself. What was her stake in all this? But then Mizu remembered what Evan had said about Ponderance possibly being the goddess' son. Was that enough motivation? Did Mizu herself want someone that unpredictable in power? But, there would be time to consider all that later. For now...
"Captain Rutliff could have told me that," Mizu said plainly.
"You're right, but I'm tired of him threatening our deal. I wanted to solidify it with the woman truly in control. You." At this, the goddess folded Ramanujan's arms.
"I assume you aren't giving us the Shel'ti back for free."
"Certainly not. I'll give three back for every man you give me," the goddess said with a wicked grin.
"Give you? What do you mean by that?" Gods damn it, Evan. Couldn't you do better than that?
"They'll be mine. I will take them into my realm and keep them for as long as I want them to stay." The goddess brought one of Ramanujan's hands up toward her lips, the fingers gently touching the skin there. "And let me tell you, few find themselves wanting to leave." Mizu thought hard about it, and remembering Miller's threat, this sounded exactly like something that would make the situation appear more dire.
"We cannot give up more of our men," Mizu said, hoping at minimum to get the goddess to move on her demands.
"Then you will lose your opportunity for allies. How much do your trust your own men to take on the rest of the king's forces? Those same men who threaten to leave you if you even remotely slip up?" Mizu realized that, if she agreed to give the goddess some of their men, she might have to keep it from Miller. If he ever found out, Mizu did think he would follow up with his threat, and Mizu feared losing a section of their army more than losing the Shel'ti. Still, was it worth the lie? Was it worth the risk that Miller might still find out?
But if they had the Shel'ti, would they need Miller and his men? And what were the odds that soldiers would defect if they could truly say they had a goddess on their side?
"How many Shel'ti do you have?" Mizu asked. The goddess smiled. She was gaining ground, and she knew it.
"Twenty-eight."
"So, nine of our men, then?"
"Ten," the goddess said without missing a beat. Mizu considered this. Surely Miller would not notice ten men missing if they weren't from his own faction. And besides, sending those men to the goddess would just be cruel, all things considered. Perhaps there were other men, men like Evan, who would practically volunteer to be taken. Or... might she avoid having to lie to Miller after all?
"If we do this for you, I want you to give our men undeniable proof that you are working with us and that your intentions are benevolent," Mizu said. The goddess was momentarily taken aback, and it showed across Ramanujan's face.
"What do you mean by 'benevolent'?" the goddess asked. Mizu had to take a moment to think about that.
"I don't want the symbol you give to strike fear in the hearts of the men. Give them something to follow."
"You want me to deceive them," the goddess said, raising an eyebrow and recrossing Ramanujan's arms.
"If that's what it would mean... yes," Mizu said, her gaze into the goddess' purple eyes unwavering. Dehaljadrun had to admit she was impressed by Mizu's request.
"And if I don't?" the goddess said, acutely aware that Evan had already promised her this and might, in fact, go against his commander's orders.
"Then our loyalty to you only extends as far as Evan," the commander said. The goddess narrowed her eyes but then looked down at the table to consider this.
"It was nice to meet you, Commander," the goddess said, looking up, smiling, and turning toward the tent flap. "I look forward to continuing to work with you."
Once she was outside again, the goddess pondered what Mizu had said. What could she do to ensure that Mizu and her men would trust in her? It was likely that, whatever she came up with, it would require every last bit of energy she had within this body. So, if she wanted to see Ponderance, she supposed she should do that now.
Without further delay, she strode toward the tent where Ponderance was under guard, eager to move out of any place Evan might find her.
((OOC: Evan can stop her if he wants, but if he doesn't, I guess she's about to run into Yukiko if she's there. Lol.))
Once she and Ramanujan were out of the tent, however, she paused and took a deep breath, calming herself but also thoroughly enjoying being outside in the human realm, even in someone else's body. It was the most freedom she had felt since the king had locked her in her realm, and the weight of that fact hit the goddess hard and began to move Ramanujan to tears. But, no, she couldn't dwell there, the potency of the emotion might make it harder to be in the body, and it wouldn't do to lose control now.
Taking one more deep breath, this one a little shakier than the last, the goddess walked forward, not entirely sure what she wanted to do or where she wanted to go, but standing conspicuously in front of the infirmary tent wasn't going to draw the right kind of attention.
She could go talk to the commander. She did remember where that tent was, and there was certainly some appeal to going to talk to her without Evan involved. But, then she remembered that they also had Ponderance. Her feet began to lead her there, but she immediately began second-guessing that decision. What would be the point of doing that? She didn't want to free him and didn't particularly have anything to say to him. He wouldn't recognize her anyway, whether in this shape or any other shape. Then there was the fact that, if Dehaljadrun went to Ponderance first, Evan might report in to his commander before she could get there.
Thinking about the limited time the goddess might have within the human body, she decided to go see the commander, slightly altering her course.
The goddess was not intercepted on her way to the strategy tent, though she was momentarily concerned that someone might try to talk to the soldier. He was, after all returned from her realm. Ramanujan got a few stares, but most of the other soldiers simply nodded, and Dehaljadrun assumed that, by now, they were accustomed to the thralls waking.
I would also have been willing to speak for us both, Ramanujan said, but Dehaljadrun pushed him gently aside, her focus on the meeting ahead of her.
--
Mizu sighed as Captain Miller placed his fist on the table.
"You can't seriously believe that working with the goddess is the right decision here," Captain Miller insisted for the third time. "My men won't stand for this. Don't make us split this army again." Mizu lifted her gaze from the map table and finally stood up from her chair, matching Captain Miller's height and meeting his eyes with her steely, cold stare.
"Captain Miller," Mizu said with a level tone, "when you agreed to break away from the king, you pledged your service to me in this civil war. What would you have me do? Deny the goddess and allow more men to fall? Would you have me ignore the gods altogether?"
"I don't want to be the one to have to say this, but," Captain Miller began, looking down, "it is possible the lives of our men are not worth as much as our integrity." Mizu set her jaw in response.
"Few know the sacrifices that must be made better than I," she began, "and I have weighed all our options. If we want the defeat the king, if we want to rule this kingdom justly in full view of the gods, then we must play into her game. At least for now."
"And what of the sacrifices she will demand from us once she has what she wants?" Captain Miller asked.
It was that moment when Ramanujan walked in, placing a hand on either hip as he answered in the commander's stead, "Beyond rebuilding her temples, she wants little else with the human realm."
"And you are?" Captain Miller asked, his face both confused and frustrated at the interruption.
"He's one of the men who had been attacked," Mizu answered, looking the man over. Sensing the commander's scrutiny, Ramanujan walked closer, and Mizu caught sight of the purple eyes and at once remembered what Evan had told her when he had knelt down in front of her. Purple eyes. Had the goddess somehow taken over the soldier's body? Evan had said that the goddess had tried that with Evan's body, but it hadn't worked. Why was it working now?
Mizu needed to get Captain Miller out of the situation. He was looking from Ramanujan to the commander and back but did not appear to register any further significance to the man or what he carried within him.
"You've been with the goddess then?" Miller said, one side of his lip raising slightly.
"Oh, yes," Ramanujan said in the goddess' voice, making Mizu supremely uncomfortable. "I've certainly been with her. And she within me." Captain Miller covered one of his ears for a moment, and Mizu thought he looked like a child.
"You don't... I don't want to hear it. Commander, if you need to talk to this man, I will take my leave." He began to sidle out of the tent but then added. "But know that, if the situation with the goddess becomes more dire, my soldiers and I will have no choice but to defect."
"I'm aware of that, Captain," Mizu said, not taking her eyes off Ramanujan. Soon afterward, Miller left completely. Mizu knew that she would have to deal with him again later, but there was a more urgent matter at hand now. "So, it seems you've granted me an audience," Mizu said, hoping they could drop the pretenses and speak plainly.
"I wanted to see for myself the woman who thinks she can destroy the king," the goddess said.
"And, what do you make of me?" Mizu asked. The goddess smiled and strode more fully into the room, placing Ramanujan's hands, palms down, on the map table between them.
"I see everything you gave up to be here. And I know how much you wish you hadn't needed to." Mizu looked at the soldier without any response or reaction, so the goddess continued. "I hear the way he called your name in the dark... Oomizuao." It was entirely too soon since Mizu had heard her full first name, and she grit her teeth a moment, her privacy brushed completely aside in the face of this goddess.
"State your business here," Mizu said sternly.
Dehaljadrun looked the woman over, noting the differences between the real version of her and the version of her in each of the soldier's minds. She was narrower and shorter and not nearly as intimidating as she had appeared in the other men's minds, but she was sharp, and the goddess felt the cloud of loneliness around the commander. "I thought you might have different motivations than the men, but no, you're just as simplistic."
"Did you just come here to insult me?" Mizu said, pulling her eyebrows together a little.
"No, I came here to tell you that I want you to win." The goddess set her purple eyes on the commander, pulling the soldier's hands back to his side and standing up straighter. "And that Evan successfully negotiated on your behalf. You'll be getting the Shel'ti back."
Mizu narrowed her eyes. She didn't particularly feel grounded in the idea of the goddess enjoying the idea of their success, especially if she could kill the king herself. What was her stake in all this? But then Mizu remembered what Evan had said about Ponderance possibly being the goddess' son. Was that enough motivation? Did Mizu herself want someone that unpredictable in power? But, there would be time to consider all that later. For now...
"Captain Rutliff could have told me that," Mizu said plainly.
"You're right, but I'm tired of him threatening our deal. I wanted to solidify it with the woman truly in control. You." At this, the goddess folded Ramanujan's arms.
"I assume you aren't giving us the Shel'ti back for free."
"Certainly not. I'll give three back for every man you give me," the goddess said with a wicked grin.
"Give you? What do you mean by that?" Gods damn it, Evan. Couldn't you do better than that?
"They'll be mine. I will take them into my realm and keep them for as long as I want them to stay." The goddess brought one of Ramanujan's hands up toward her lips, the fingers gently touching the skin there. "And let me tell you, few find themselves wanting to leave." Mizu thought hard about it, and remembering Miller's threat, this sounded exactly like something that would make the situation appear more dire.
"We cannot give up more of our men," Mizu said, hoping at minimum to get the goddess to move on her demands.
"Then you will lose your opportunity for allies. How much do your trust your own men to take on the rest of the king's forces? Those same men who threaten to leave you if you even remotely slip up?" Mizu realized that, if she agreed to give the goddess some of their men, she might have to keep it from Miller. If he ever found out, Mizu did think he would follow up with his threat, and Mizu feared losing a section of their army more than losing the Shel'ti. Still, was it worth the lie? Was it worth the risk that Miller might still find out?
But if they had the Shel'ti, would they need Miller and his men? And what were the odds that soldiers would defect if they could truly say they had a goddess on their side?
"How many Shel'ti do you have?" Mizu asked. The goddess smiled. She was gaining ground, and she knew it.
"Twenty-eight."
"So, nine of our men, then?"
"Ten," the goddess said without missing a beat. Mizu considered this. Surely Miller would not notice ten men missing if they weren't from his own faction. And besides, sending those men to the goddess would just be cruel, all things considered. Perhaps there were other men, men like Evan, who would practically volunteer to be taken. Or... might she avoid having to lie to Miller after all?
"If we do this for you, I want you to give our men undeniable proof that you are working with us and that your intentions are benevolent," Mizu said. The goddess was momentarily taken aback, and it showed across Ramanujan's face.
"What do you mean by 'benevolent'?" the goddess asked. Mizu had to take a moment to think about that.
"I don't want the symbol you give to strike fear in the hearts of the men. Give them something to follow."
"You want me to deceive them," the goddess said, raising an eyebrow and recrossing Ramanujan's arms.
"If that's what it would mean... yes," Mizu said, her gaze into the goddess' purple eyes unwavering. Dehaljadrun had to admit she was impressed by Mizu's request.
"And if I don't?" the goddess said, acutely aware that Evan had already promised her this and might, in fact, go against his commander's orders.
"Then our loyalty to you only extends as far as Evan," the commander said. The goddess narrowed her eyes but then looked down at the table to consider this.
"It was nice to meet you, Commander," the goddess said, looking up, smiling, and turning toward the tent flap. "I look forward to continuing to work with you."
Once she was outside again, the goddess pondered what Mizu had said. What could she do to ensure that Mizu and her men would trust in her? It was likely that, whatever she came up with, it would require every last bit of energy she had within this body. So, if she wanted to see Ponderance, she supposed she should do that now.
Without further delay, she strode toward the tent where Ponderance was under guard, eager to move out of any place Evan might find her.
((OOC: Evan can stop her if he wants, but if he doesn't, I guess she's about to run into Yukiko if she's there. Lol.))
Re: Part 1
Evan was exhausted by the time the healer finished with him. When he'd first arrived he'd still had a lot of momentum from visiting with the goddess today--bolstered, he supposed, in part by his nap yesterday, though he wasn't sure it'd been worth the position it had put him in that night--but laying on a cot trying not to groan while someone poked at his skin in an utterly banal and tedious sort of way... hell, even with the pokes, he damn near fell asleep right there.
He sighed heavily as he sat up once the healer left him to go tidy up the infirmary supplies. The next thing to do was to go report in to Mizu. He felt the news this time was better than previous nights, but even so, the prospect was daunting. He didn't think he could justify not reporting in before crashing out, though.
With a heavy groan, the captain pushed himself to his feet and made his way to the commander's tent. For once, he couldn't quite muster his grumpy 'do not approach' face, but mercifully it seemed his grogginess was apparent enough to accomplish the same effect. He stopped in front of Mizu's tent, and prayed that no one unpleasant was with her inside.
"Permission to enter, Commander?"
--
Four soldiers stood at attention outside the tent the army kept Ponderance within. They all eyed Ramanujan suspiciously once it was clear he was approaching. Most soldiers in camp didn't pay much mind to the prince, especially outside of Captain Fujiwara's retinue.
"State your business," one of them said curtly.
((OOC: I'm imagining that the healer took just long enough on Evan that he arrived at Mizu's tent a couple minutes after Ramanujan/Dehaljadrun left.))
He sighed heavily as he sat up once the healer left him to go tidy up the infirmary supplies. The next thing to do was to go report in to Mizu. He felt the news this time was better than previous nights, but even so, the prospect was daunting. He didn't think he could justify not reporting in before crashing out, though.
With a heavy groan, the captain pushed himself to his feet and made his way to the commander's tent. For once, he couldn't quite muster his grumpy 'do not approach' face, but mercifully it seemed his grogginess was apparent enough to accomplish the same effect. He stopped in front of Mizu's tent, and prayed that no one unpleasant was with her inside.
"Permission to enter, Commander?"
--
Four soldiers stood at attention outside the tent the army kept Ponderance within. They all eyed Ramanujan suspiciously once it was clear he was approaching. Most soldiers in camp didn't pay much mind to the prince, especially outside of Captain Fujiwara's retinue.
"State your business," one of them said curtly.
((OOC: I'm imagining that the healer took just long enough on Evan that he arrived at Mizu's tent a couple minutes after Ramanujan/Dehaljadrun left.))
Re: Part 1
Mizu was not altogether thrilled that the goddess was now potentially wandering the camp however she pleased. And while it seemed that the goddess had been amenable to the idea of giving the soldiers some reason to be excited that they were working with her, Mizu had hoped the goddess would say what she would do. Mizu was contemplating whether she should go and follow the goddess when Evan asked to come in.
"Permission granted," Mizu said, returning to alertness. She had been wondering where he was and why the goddess had managed to arrive before him. Had the two of them planned this? But, no, the goddess herself had said she wanted to circumvent Evan, so that was unlikely. Mizu wondered exactly how the goddess had given Evan the slip.
As Evan entered, Mizu had a hard time believing that he was aware of the situation as there was no urgency in his expression. In fact, Evan looked like he would sooner drop dead asleep on the floor. And that was without considering the blood stains on Evan's pants. Gods, what did the goddess do to him?
Mizu had wanted to be angry at Evan, to thrash him for the agreement he made regarding the Shel'ti, but she found it difficult to feel anything but sympathy for the man. Mizu was absolutely putting him through hell making him deal with this on his own. Though, she reminded herself, he did get himself into this position in the first place. Still, Mizu didn't need to make it harder.
"New injuries or did the old ones worsen?" Mizu asked, looking pointedly at Evan from where she sat at the map table across from the entrance to the tent. She wanted to jump straight into the matters at hand, but she supposed she needed to take stock of the whole situation first.
--
Somehow, Dehaljadrun didn't expect to be met with resistance once she arrived at the tent where Ponderance was kept. Then again, he was a prisoner of war, so she shouldn't be surprised.
Sensing her uncertainty about what do say, Ramanujan wasted no time in supplying an answer. Ask to speak directly to Captain Fujiwara. She's the one tasked with care of Ponderance.
The goddess was immensely pleased at Ramanujan's offering and hesitated only a split second before using that information. "I have an urgent message for Captain Fujiwara." After a moment of concern that Fujiwara might be elsewhere, the goddess added. "It's a private matter; I'm sure you understand."
"Permission granted," Mizu said, returning to alertness. She had been wondering where he was and why the goddess had managed to arrive before him. Had the two of them planned this? But, no, the goddess herself had said she wanted to circumvent Evan, so that was unlikely. Mizu wondered exactly how the goddess had given Evan the slip.
As Evan entered, Mizu had a hard time believing that he was aware of the situation as there was no urgency in his expression. In fact, Evan looked like he would sooner drop dead asleep on the floor. And that was without considering the blood stains on Evan's pants. Gods, what did the goddess do to him?
Mizu had wanted to be angry at Evan, to thrash him for the agreement he made regarding the Shel'ti, but she found it difficult to feel anything but sympathy for the man. Mizu was absolutely putting him through hell making him deal with this on his own. Though, she reminded herself, he did get himself into this position in the first place. Still, Mizu didn't need to make it harder.
"New injuries or did the old ones worsen?" Mizu asked, looking pointedly at Evan from where she sat at the map table across from the entrance to the tent. She wanted to jump straight into the matters at hand, but she supposed she needed to take stock of the whole situation first.
--
Somehow, Dehaljadrun didn't expect to be met with resistance once she arrived at the tent where Ponderance was kept. Then again, he was a prisoner of war, so she shouldn't be surprised.
Sensing her uncertainty about what do say, Ramanujan wasted no time in supplying an answer. Ask to speak directly to Captain Fujiwara. She's the one tasked with care of Ponderance.
The goddess was immensely pleased at Ramanujan's offering and hesitated only a split second before using that information. "I have an urgent message for Captain Fujiwara." After a moment of concern that Fujiwara might be elsewhere, the goddess added. "It's a private matter; I'm sure you understand."
Re: Part 1
Evan felt surprised by Mizu's question, and a little embarrassed, though he wasn't entirely sure why that emotion was coming into play. He only let it enter his expression though a subtle shade of blush.
"Ah," he shifted his weight and glanced down towards his side before recovering a slight smile. "New. Turns out, she can heal burns." His smile almost got cocky before he brought his gaze back up to Mizu and quickly grew serious again. "This should heal quickly; it was a clean cut and I got it stitched up." Here was hoping she wouldn't ask for details on how he got this particular injury. She hadn't asked him much about the burns last night, so he was hopeful she'd let him just continue.
"She's released the rest of our men, and has agreed to release three Shel'ti soldiers for each of ours who volunteers to go back to her."
Evan watched Mizu's expression nervously, unsure how that would land. He felt confident that he could find enough volunteers, if not for all the Shel'ti then at least for enough to be a show of good faith, but he wasn't sure how incredulous Mizu would be. And, he supposed, he was feeling a bit more humble than usual after all the bullshit he and the goddess had gone through that night, and some part of him worried that he might in fact be a bit too sure of his ability to find volunteers, though it seemed a bit late for worry about that part to actually do any good. Fuck, he really hoped after all that he hadn't just ended up fucking up all over again.
The longer Mizu took to reply, the more nervousness and honestly some kind of desperation seeped into his expression. He was so fucking tired, and honestly wasn't sure he'd be able to get much more from the goddess at this point, which was something he really fucking hated admitting to himself. Then again, maybe all this doubt was just because he was tired... one thing was sure: he really fucking looked forward to getting some godsdamned sleep.
"Ah," he shifted his weight and glanced down towards his side before recovering a slight smile. "New. Turns out, she can heal burns." His smile almost got cocky before he brought his gaze back up to Mizu and quickly grew serious again. "This should heal quickly; it was a clean cut and I got it stitched up." Here was hoping she wouldn't ask for details on how he got this particular injury. She hadn't asked him much about the burns last night, so he was hopeful she'd let him just continue.
"She's released the rest of our men, and has agreed to release three Shel'ti soldiers for each of ours who volunteers to go back to her."
Evan watched Mizu's expression nervously, unsure how that would land. He felt confident that he could find enough volunteers, if not for all the Shel'ti then at least for enough to be a show of good faith, but he wasn't sure how incredulous Mizu would be. And, he supposed, he was feeling a bit more humble than usual after all the bullshit he and the goddess had gone through that night, and some part of him worried that he might in fact be a bit too sure of his ability to find volunteers, though it seemed a bit late for worry about that part to actually do any good. Fuck, he really hoped after all that he hadn't just ended up fucking up all over again.
The longer Mizu took to reply, the more nervousness and honestly some kind of desperation seeped into his expression. He was so fucking tired, and honestly wasn't sure he'd be able to get much more from the goddess at this point, which was something he really fucking hated admitting to himself. Then again, maybe all this doubt was just because he was tired... one thing was sure: he really fucking looked forward to getting some godsdamned sleep.
Re: Part 1
The fact that the goddess could heal burns was certainly surprising and of note. Perhaps Mizu could trust her with a demonstration for the camp if that was among her abilities. And, Mizu was further pleased that all their soldiers had now returned. The goddess had failed to mention that part, though she had showed up in the body of one of them. What would happen to him? Mizu briefly wondered.
"Yes, I've been informed," Mizu said, her tone veering toward sardonic, figuring Evan would realize exactly what that meant.
"Yes, I've been informed," Mizu said, her tone veering toward sardonic, figuring Evan would realize exactly what that meant.
Re: Part 1
Evan again looked surprised, but quickly drew his expression in to irritated.
"I see."
He kicked himself for not stopping the soldier from leaving the infirmary, but then again, wouldn't that have just made a larger scene? And wasn't it in some ways good that the goddess and the commander had talked? That had been once of Mizu's requests, after all. But the commander didn't exactly sound pleased. Evan clenched his jaw and swallowed as he contemplated what to say next. What did she even want him to say?
"Anything else I should know about that?"
--
The soldier who had asked Ramanujan his business nodded and ducked quietly into the tent behind him while the other soldiers staid put. The remaining soldiers certainly kept an eye on Ramanujan, but more out of diligence than any sort of hostility. It wasn't but a moment before the fourth soldier re-emerged from the tent, and immediately after him a short, small woman with feathery short brown hair and a warm smile approached Ramanujan.
"Shall we go talk in my tent, then?"
Her voice was friendly and curious, excited to chat with this soldier who had awoken from the goddess' spell with eerie purple eyes. She gestured softly in the direction she intended to start walking, though there was little insistence behind it; after all, speaking privately had been the soldier's request, and she hardly wanted to make him feel rushed about it.
"I see."
He kicked himself for not stopping the soldier from leaving the infirmary, but then again, wouldn't that have just made a larger scene? And wasn't it in some ways good that the goddess and the commander had talked? That had been once of Mizu's requests, after all. But the commander didn't exactly sound pleased. Evan clenched his jaw and swallowed as he contemplated what to say next. What did she even want him to say?
"Anything else I should know about that?"
--
The soldier who had asked Ramanujan his business nodded and ducked quietly into the tent behind him while the other soldiers staid put. The remaining soldiers certainly kept an eye on Ramanujan, but more out of diligence than any sort of hostility. It wasn't but a moment before the fourth soldier re-emerged from the tent, and immediately after him a short, small woman with feathery short brown hair and a warm smile approached Ramanujan.
"Shall we go talk in my tent, then?"
Her voice was friendly and curious, excited to chat with this soldier who had awoken from the goddess' spell with eerie purple eyes. She gestured softly in the direction she intended to start walking, though there was little insistence behind it; after all, speaking privately had been the soldier's request, and she hardly wanted to make him feel rushed about it.
Re: Part 1
Mizu nodded, gratified that she had been correct in the assumption that Evan did not know the goddess was in camp. She also took note of the fact that Evan did not look particularly concerned about that, which should have given Mizu some peace of mind, but perhaps that was simply Evan's fatigue talking.
"I asked her to do something to convince the troops that she exists and that she supports our cause," Mizu said, wondering how much to tell Evan about Captain Miller's threat. "If we are going to give the goddess yet more than she had already taken, we will need some way to placate the troops." The commander looked hard at Evan for a moment, indicating her displeasure at the arrangement.
And yet, the thought of the goddess walking among them--embodied in one of their soldiers and still full of power--deeply troubled Mizu, so she let her hardened gaze fall away and simply asked Evan about it. "Should I be concerned, letting her walk around unsupervised?" Mizu now let worry show in her face, which in and of itself showed Evan a deep level of trust. The thought of babysitting a goddess was ridiculous, but there was so much uncertainty around the situation that Mizu could not help but be uncomfortable.
And then she remembered Ponderance, and a shiver went up her spine. "You don't think she will interfere with her son, do you?"
--
The goddess now wondered if asking for privacy had been such a great idea after all. Could she convince this woman to let her see Ponderance? Yes, that was likely, but it was risky assuming that she could go to the woman's tent, see Ponderance, and make a grand gesture in camp before Ramanujan's body rejected her.
I will do everything I can to make this as effortless as possible for you, my goddess, Ramanujan said. And while that was helpful, it wouldn't be enough.
"I don't think the kid will mind if we speak in front of him, actually," the goddess said, hoping that was enough to force the issue. "Assuming you wouldn't mind yourself, Captain Fujiwara."
"I asked her to do something to convince the troops that she exists and that she supports our cause," Mizu said, wondering how much to tell Evan about Captain Miller's threat. "If we are going to give the goddess yet more than she had already taken, we will need some way to placate the troops." The commander looked hard at Evan for a moment, indicating her displeasure at the arrangement.
And yet, the thought of the goddess walking among them--embodied in one of their soldiers and still full of power--deeply troubled Mizu, so she let her hardened gaze fall away and simply asked Evan about it. "Should I be concerned, letting her walk around unsupervised?" Mizu now let worry show in her face, which in and of itself showed Evan a deep level of trust. The thought of babysitting a goddess was ridiculous, but there was so much uncertainty around the situation that Mizu could not help but be uncomfortable.
And then she remembered Ponderance, and a shiver went up her spine. "You don't think she will interfere with her son, do you?"
--
The goddess now wondered if asking for privacy had been such a great idea after all. Could she convince this woman to let her see Ponderance? Yes, that was likely, but it was risky assuming that she could go to the woman's tent, see Ponderance, and make a grand gesture in camp before Ramanujan's body rejected her.
I will do everything I can to make this as effortless as possible for you, my goddess, Ramanujan said. And while that was helpful, it wouldn't be enough.
"I don't think the kid will mind if we speak in front of him, actually," the goddess said, hoping that was enough to force the issue. "Assuming you wouldn't mind yourself, Captain Fujiwara."
Re: Part 1
Evan raised his eyebrow at the thought of the goddess making some sort of display. What would she even do? What could she do in that soldier's body? Surely not everything she could have done in his. A tingle started at his fingertips and bloomed up his arm at the memory of the goddess calling down lightning the first night they had merged. He would have reveled in the memory, jolting some awakeness back into him, but Mizu moved on quickly.
And, shit, she didn't seem pleased with the deal he'd struck. Defensiveness dulled the tingles on his skin and hardened something in his chest. He was doing his fucking best, and what the fuck else did she expect, anyway? He mulled bitterly over how to most bitingly explain that the alternative would have been literal demons and a more tangible change in Evan's loyalty, but once again Mizu moved on quickly, and her softened expression disarmed him.
At first, Evan was relieved by Mizu's question--he thought he'd be able to say quickly and confidently that, no, he didn't think they should be concerned--but then Mizu had to go and ask about Ponderance, and that was admittedly something Evan hadn't thought of. Would she want him back? She'd never made any such request in their negotiations.
"I don't believe she'll harm anyone." At least that Evan could say confidently. And in fact, that helped him find his footing, and actually feel more confident about the rest of this, too. "She's said she wants Ponderance on the throne, and hasn't made any requests regarding him in our negotiations. If she decides to pay the prince a visit, I believe Captain Fujiwara can handle it."
Might that just be the fatigue making excuses to not have to deal with anything else today? Maybe, but it didn't feel dishonest. At worst, discomfort twisted in Evan's gut at the thought of the goddess and Yukiko interacting, but that was rather fucking separate from anything else. He'd told Yukiko what she needed to know, and whatever else the captain was, she was perfectly fucking capable, and certainly a hell of a lot more tactful than he was.
Having checked his work and still feeling confident in it, Evan nodded to Mizu. He was sure discomfort had played over his face, but he hoped the nod would highlight his confidence more strongly.
--
Yukiko's eyebrows raised with increased curiosity when the soldier referenced Ponderance. Either he was in a hurry, or he low-key wanted the prince involved in the conversation, both of which were intriguing.
The captain had to stop herself from immediately agreeing--after all, why wouldn't she want to learn more as fast as she could? Instead she took a moment to think back on her conversation with Evan, though he hadn't told her much. She wanted to believe this was a mother simply wanting to talk to her child, but she knew her station meant she couldn't always deal in pure optimism.
"First, I'd like your word that you have no intention of removing him from my custody. I hope you understand."
Her smile remained warm and curious, though her eyelids were just a bit heavier than when she'd initially greeted the soldier before.
And, shit, she didn't seem pleased with the deal he'd struck. Defensiveness dulled the tingles on his skin and hardened something in his chest. He was doing his fucking best, and what the fuck else did she expect, anyway? He mulled bitterly over how to most bitingly explain that the alternative would have been literal demons and a more tangible change in Evan's loyalty, but once again Mizu moved on quickly, and her softened expression disarmed him.
At first, Evan was relieved by Mizu's question--he thought he'd be able to say quickly and confidently that, no, he didn't think they should be concerned--but then Mizu had to go and ask about Ponderance, and that was admittedly something Evan hadn't thought of. Would she want him back? She'd never made any such request in their negotiations.
"I don't believe she'll harm anyone." At least that Evan could say confidently. And in fact, that helped him find his footing, and actually feel more confident about the rest of this, too. "She's said she wants Ponderance on the throne, and hasn't made any requests regarding him in our negotiations. If she decides to pay the prince a visit, I believe Captain Fujiwara can handle it."
Might that just be the fatigue making excuses to not have to deal with anything else today? Maybe, but it didn't feel dishonest. At worst, discomfort twisted in Evan's gut at the thought of the goddess and Yukiko interacting, but that was rather fucking separate from anything else. He'd told Yukiko what she needed to know, and whatever else the captain was, she was perfectly fucking capable, and certainly a hell of a lot more tactful than he was.
Having checked his work and still feeling confident in it, Evan nodded to Mizu. He was sure discomfort had played over his face, but he hoped the nod would highlight his confidence more strongly.
--
Yukiko's eyebrows raised with increased curiosity when the soldier referenced Ponderance. Either he was in a hurry, or he low-key wanted the prince involved in the conversation, both of which were intriguing.
The captain had to stop herself from immediately agreeing--after all, why wouldn't she want to learn more as fast as she could? Instead she took a moment to think back on her conversation with Evan, though he hadn't told her much. She wanted to believe this was a mother simply wanting to talk to her child, but she knew her station meant she couldn't always deal in pure optimism.
"First, I'd like your word that you have no intention of removing him from my custody. I hope you understand."
Her smile remained warm and curious, though her eyelids were just a bit heavier than when she'd initially greeted the soldier before.
Re: Part 1
Mizu looked for a long time at Evan, attempting to determine how much to believe him. Finally, she supposed he was right. The goddess surely would have mentioned this beforehand. What incentive would she have for throwing everything to the wind now? And yes, of all the people in camp, Mizu did believe that Captain Fujiwara would handle it. Thank the gods Mizu knew that she would be there at this time.
Moving on, then.
"So, tell me how you plan to find men to give her. When does she need them by?" Mizu asked, her eyes flicking again to the blood stains on Evan's pants.
--
The goddess felt the captain's scrutiny upon her and held Ramanujan's expression as neutrally as possible while she awaited for the woman's response. She was tempted to delve into the woman's mind and find some leverage to use in the situation, but the goddess worried that would further weaken her hold on the soldier. Still, she was acutely paying attention to any stray thoughts strong enough to be loud in the woman's mind.
When she did answer, the goddess had to hold back laughter. All she had to give was her word? This was all simply too easy. With a brief raise of both eyebrows, the goddess said, "I have no intention of releasing him. I understand how important he is to our cause."
Moving on, then.
"So, tell me how you plan to find men to give her. When does she need them by?" Mizu asked, her eyes flicking again to the blood stains on Evan's pants.
--
The goddess felt the captain's scrutiny upon her and held Ramanujan's expression as neutrally as possible while she awaited for the woman's response. She was tempted to delve into the woman's mind and find some leverage to use in the situation, but the goddess worried that would further weaken her hold on the soldier. Still, she was acutely paying attention to any stray thoughts strong enough to be loud in the woman's mind.
When she did answer, the goddess had to hold back laughter. All she had to give was her word? This was all simply too easy. With a brief raise of both eyebrows, the goddess said, "I have no intention of releasing him. I understand how important he is to our cause."