Bringing the newly arrived human to her ceremony circle, the goddess contemplated what she was about to do. She was not totally sure it would work--or that it would be a better outcome than she had originally planned for them--but the only reason she could imagine that a rogue human would be here at the same time as Evan was that this was a volunteer, one of the people who would replace the Shel'ti.
Regardless, she needed to make a split-second decision to save her strength and ensure that Evan wouldn't... that he wouldn't...
She was pitting Evan's life against the life of Evan's soldier and calling the former more valuable, but this being was a volunteer. They had come through that portal on their own.
The goddess reached out to touch the mind of the androgynous being and sunk into her impressions of them, seeking more information about if this would work. They did not notice her poking around, and she found that fascinating. Telling, even. It was not uncomfortable.
Perhaps they would make it out all right.
With a heave, the goddess threw the human down in the center of the circle and gestured around to light the torches. At this point, nothing could get in or out, and she could prevent herself from worrying about Evan. She couldn't hurt him by accident, and he couldn't interfere.
Placing a lightning band against each of Raccoon's wrists and ankles as well as their neck, she carefully placed the amulet over the human's head, taking a deep breath before letting it land with a thud on Raccoon's chest. As quickly as possible afterward, the goddess reached toward both of the human's hands, completing some kind of circuit she herself barely understood.
Help me filter this, the goddess said in Raccoon's mind. There's something strong and useful in here somewhere.
The human continued to be surprisingly mentally pliant, giving the goddess a slight affirmative nod that didn't disrupt the lightning band around their neck and squeezed the goddess' hands.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The moment that the goddess touched Raccoon's hands, she felt the darkness of the amulet completely. It was all she could pay attention to and enveloped all of her awareness. The stink of death followed the sickly lightening of cavernous walls of mud, offal, and blood. The goddess knew she was seeing glimpses of the underneath of Samael's realm, at least a small part of it, and she was sick. Whatever he was doing to his own realm was even worse than what she had been doing to hers.
But then she felt the pulsing lightning of the small human bucking up slightly against the lightning band, and she eagerly leaned into the sensation, delighted and elated to experience something else, something that completely restarted her senses. Yes, she could feel some of the power from the amulet getting back to her, and it was clear.
The goddess had half a mind to cause Raccoon to move again herself, but then she saw images of her moving her hands away from them, and she obeyed immediately to allow them to complete their task. The second she did so, realizing that she still felt the blackness even after the connection was broken, the goddess knew.
It hadn't been Samael's realm, it had been the underside of her own. Bile again rose in the goddess' throat, and she turned to cough at the ground, certain that, if she had bothered to eat anything, she would have vomited.
Something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
Then, the poison...
It was a mirror, reflection, a collaboration to show you exactly what your faults were, where your fractures lay. And the amulet showed all of them at once.
She sank down to her knees at the edge of the circle, furthest from where Evan was now watching, and she sobbed, her face in her hands.
The goddess was full of holes, full of traumas, full of expectations and other people's desires and the crippling fear that she would never get out of here. She was estranged from her people and trapped with the memory of being exactly the god who enabled this entire fiasco to occur in the first place. If she had been able to turn Rorrim away...
But she hadn't. And now she needed to deal with it. She had to believe that it was still possible to heal this place. There was still beauty here, just like there might still be beauty in the amulet.
The goddess opened her eyes and stared at the amulet. The gem had gone completely white, and the human was twitching a toe. When the goddess gasped and reached out excitedly with her mind, she realized that they were even rousing. Carefully, the goddess crawled over, released the lightning bands, and gently lifted Raccoon's head to take the amulet from underneath them, wasting no time to place it around her own neck.
The goddess looked curiously for any signs of wear on Raccoon. They looked tired and scared, but there was also a satisfaction in their body. They were proud of what they had done.
Dehaljadrun wondered just how much of her transgressions had been visible to them.
The goddess laughed hollowly, feeling the purified energy from the amulet begin to work through her body, brightening her by the moment. With a gesture, she extinguished the torches and looked at the human, saying, "Now, go on. The orchards are that way." She nodded her head in the direction of the palace and gave Raccoon a small smile. They wasted little time, snapping their head back to meet Evan's gaze before gently pushing themselves to standing. Their body looked tender, but Dehaljadrun thought they would be all right. They were only a little worse for the wear, and they had been planning to explore on their own--uninvited--anyway.
As Raccoon skittered away, limping slightly but with a triumphant and disbelieving grin, the goddess turned toward Evan, and tears began to well up in her eyes again. She never wanted to get so close to losing him as that again but shivered as she realized the Underworld was still waiting.
But then she felt the pulsing lightning of the small human bucking up slightly against the lightning band, and she eagerly leaned into the sensation, delighted and elated to experience something else, something that completely restarted her senses. Yes, she could feel some of the power from the amulet getting back to her, and it was clear.
The goddess had half a mind to cause Raccoon to move again herself, but then she saw images of her moving her hands away from them, and she obeyed immediately to allow them to complete their task. The second she did so, realizing that she still felt the blackness even after the connection was broken, the goddess knew.
It hadn't been Samael's realm, it had been the underside of her own. Bile again rose in the goddess' throat, and she turned to cough at the ground, certain that, if she had bothered to eat anything, she would have vomited.
Something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
Then, the poison...
It was a mirror, reflection, a collaboration to show you exactly what your faults were, where your fractures lay. And the amulet showed all of them at once.
She sank down to her knees at the edge of the circle, furthest from where Evan was now watching, and she sobbed, her face in her hands.
The goddess was full of holes, full of traumas, full of expectations and other people's desires and the crippling fear that she would never get out of here. She was estranged from her people and trapped with the memory of being exactly the god who enabled this entire fiasco to occur in the first place. If she had been able to turn Rorrim away...
But she hadn't. And now she needed to deal with it. She had to believe that it was still possible to heal this place. There was still beauty here, just like there might still be beauty in the amulet.
The goddess opened her eyes and stared at the amulet. The gem had gone completely white, and the human was twitching a toe. When the goddess gasped and reached out excitedly with her mind, she realized that they were even rousing. Carefully, the goddess crawled over, released the lightning bands, and gently lifted Raccoon's head to take the amulet from underneath them, wasting no time to place it around her own neck.
The goddess looked curiously for any signs of wear on Raccoon. They looked tired and scared, but there was also a satisfaction in their body. They were proud of what they had done.
Dehaljadrun wondered just how much of her transgressions had been visible to them.
The goddess laughed hollowly, feeling the purified energy from the amulet begin to work through her body, brightening her by the moment. With a gesture, she extinguished the torches and looked at the human, saying, "Now, go on. The orchards are that way." She nodded her head in the direction of the palace and gave Raccoon a small smile. They wasted little time, snapping their head back to meet Evan's gaze before gently pushing themselves to standing. Their body looked tender, but Dehaljadrun thought they would be all right. They were only a little worse for the wear, and they had been planning to explore on their own--uninvited--anyway.
As Raccoon skittered away, limping slightly but with a triumphant and disbelieving grin, the goddess turned toward Evan, and tears began to well up in her eyes again. She never wanted to get so close to losing him as that again but shivered as she realized the Underworld was still waiting.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan allowed himself a few moments to catch his breath once he'd gotten out of the water. The mist had receded from sight, and it seemed prudent to check his bearings in this reprieve, however agonizing. He shoved his hands in his pockets, breathing a sigh of relief when he found the talisman and the wooden horse still there. He looked down to his shirt and frowned that he couldn't presently tell the difference between water and blood. He pressed his hand to his side instead, and sucked air in sharply through his teeth when he found that the pain cut deep; he'd certainly torn some healing, and maybe a stitch or two too. He briefly cursed whatever madness in him had inspired him to cut himself the night before, and prayed it wouldn't be the death of him.
It hasn't been before.
A rich, dark succulent unfurled against his leg, drawing out a shudder as his mind darted wildly between the thrill of the goddess in his body when he'd summoned the gates to the Underworld, and the dull, desperate pain of bark pressed roughly against his cheek when he'd made his way through the woods as a boy.
Evan's nails bit into the back of his neck, and with a soft gasp his eyes refocused on the woods in front of the pools, and the stairs leading to the palace. With a groan, the captain finished dragging his nails over his skin, using the pain to sharpen his sight and build up the energy he needed to start walking. He was ready to face whatever the goddess needed next.
His heart dropped to his stomach when he saw Raccoon in the stone circle, pinned to the ground with lightning bands and the goddess dropping something heavy on their chest. Shit, had his warning done any good?
He watched in awe as the goddess knelt down and grasped Raccoon's hands, though, and the purposefulness of her movements sank into him. She was more in control of herself than she'd been, and that was of some relief, though Evan had no idea how much effort she'd be willing or able to expend on Raccoon's behalf.
The captain caught up with his breath and then moved swiftly towards the circle, intending to try to catch the goddess' gaze, but he paused again in his approach when the goddess pulled back from Raccoon, and the soldier pushed against their lightning bands all at once. Evan watched the display with awe and jealousy and relief, somehow certain that Raccoon was giving the goddess something that she needed, and devastated that he was unable to give it to her himself.
Evan found himself falling on his knees in the grass, his hands frantically unbuckling his belt and then pulling at his pants, still heavy with water and clinging to skin. Fingers angrily pulled aside uncooperative fabric until he finally grasped his aching cock and his whole body shuddered.
He panted for a moment, his eyes re-opening hazily to find the goddess while he held himself as still as he could, assessing whether he'd gone truly mad. But, if the promise he'd made her would indeed be of help to her like the priestess had said, then this was the best thing he could think to do while they were separated--he remembered all too painfully the shock of the barrier her lit torches made. He stroked himself with another whole-body shudder, his mind tumbling through memories of her whip stinging at his back, the thrilling uncertainty of testing her edges their first night together, and the humbling pain of the electric rope she'd tied around him in punishment for his sins.
He hadn't realized his eyes had closed again until he heard the goddess' voice, and he forced them open again to see Raccoon skittering away, the torches extinguished. He stopped his hand from stroking, groaning through another powerful shudder as the goddess found his gaze, her eyes full of tears. He wanted to chant her name and keep going, but something held his tongue and tensed his body, uncertainty staying his hand. He held her gaze intently, though, longing and fear dancing wildly across his eyes. He still didn't know why she'd left him at the pools, even if some part of him was glad that she had, and as desperately as he wanted to race towards her skin, he didn't want to risk mis-stepping--not without first grasping some new sliver of the situation from observation, despite the frantic cries in his body to fuck the situation and go to her.
It hasn't been before.
A rich, dark succulent unfurled against his leg, drawing out a shudder as his mind darted wildly between the thrill of the goddess in his body when he'd summoned the gates to the Underworld, and the dull, desperate pain of bark pressed roughly against his cheek when he'd made his way through the woods as a boy.
Evan's nails bit into the back of his neck, and with a soft gasp his eyes refocused on the woods in front of the pools, and the stairs leading to the palace. With a groan, the captain finished dragging his nails over his skin, using the pain to sharpen his sight and build up the energy he needed to start walking. He was ready to face whatever the goddess needed next.
His heart dropped to his stomach when he saw Raccoon in the stone circle, pinned to the ground with lightning bands and the goddess dropping something heavy on their chest. Shit, had his warning done any good?
He watched in awe as the goddess knelt down and grasped Raccoon's hands, though, and the purposefulness of her movements sank into him. She was more in control of herself than she'd been, and that was of some relief, though Evan had no idea how much effort she'd be willing or able to expend on Raccoon's behalf.
The captain caught up with his breath and then moved swiftly towards the circle, intending to try to catch the goddess' gaze, but he paused again in his approach when the goddess pulled back from Raccoon, and the soldier pushed against their lightning bands all at once. Evan watched the display with awe and jealousy and relief, somehow certain that Raccoon was giving the goddess something that she needed, and devastated that he was unable to give it to her himself.
Evan found himself falling on his knees in the grass, his hands frantically unbuckling his belt and then pulling at his pants, still heavy with water and clinging to skin. Fingers angrily pulled aside uncooperative fabric until he finally grasped his aching cock and his whole body shuddered.
He panted for a moment, his eyes re-opening hazily to find the goddess while he held himself as still as he could, assessing whether he'd gone truly mad. But, if the promise he'd made her would indeed be of help to her like the priestess had said, then this was the best thing he could think to do while they were separated--he remembered all too painfully the shock of the barrier her lit torches made. He stroked himself with another whole-body shudder, his mind tumbling through memories of her whip stinging at his back, the thrilling uncertainty of testing her edges their first night together, and the humbling pain of the electric rope she'd tied around him in punishment for his sins.
He hadn't realized his eyes had closed again until he heard the goddess' voice, and he forced them open again to see Raccoon skittering away, the torches extinguished. He stopped his hand from stroking, groaning through another powerful shudder as the goddess found his gaze, her eyes full of tears. He wanted to chant her name and keep going, but something held his tongue and tensed his body, uncertainty staying his hand. He held her gaze intently, though, longing and fear dancing wildly across his eyes. He still didn't know why she'd left him at the pools, even if some part of him was glad that she had, and as desperately as he wanted to race towards her skin, he didn't want to risk mis-stepping--not without first grasping some new sliver of the situation from observation, despite the frantic cries in his body to fuck the situation and go to her.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess, still on her knees in the circle of the stone circle, looked at Evan and suddenly saw him laid bare. Though it took her a moment to realize what exactly she was seeing, his hand on his stationary cock and at the ready. He stared at her with longing and a desire to help that caught her by surprise, and her body visibly swelled and waved with pleasure.
She needed to go to him.
With the aid of the energy in the amulet, she rose carefully to her feet, her naked body growing cold in the chill air. She found it a particularly good sign that she could feel that again, even if it was uncomfortable.
Tucking some loose strands behind one ear, she closed the distance between herself and Evan, reaching out when they were only inches away and placing a hand on the left side of his face. She did feel much, much better now. Maybe she wouldn't even need the amulet soon. Evan was here, the most urgent threat had passed, and he was more than willing to give her whatever she wanted and needed.
Her calf incidentally slipped along the hand that Evan held around his cock, and the goddess bent down, keeping contact there as long as she could to enjoy that slight friction before her knees settled into the grass and her lips came toward his left ear.
"Continue," she whispered.
She needed to go to him.
With the aid of the energy in the amulet, she rose carefully to her feet, her naked body growing cold in the chill air. She found it a particularly good sign that she could feel that again, even if it was uncomfortable.
Tucking some loose strands behind one ear, she closed the distance between herself and Evan, reaching out when they were only inches away and placing a hand on the left side of his face. She did feel much, much better now. Maybe she wouldn't even need the amulet soon. Evan was here, the most urgent threat had passed, and he was more than willing to give her whatever she wanted and needed.
Her calf incidentally slipped along the hand that Evan held around his cock, and the goddess bent down, keeping contact there as long as she could to enjoy that slight friction before her knees settled into the grass and her lips came toward his left ear.
"Continue," she whispered.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan had deeply mixed feelings about the goddess' ability to rise to her feet so slowly. She saw Evan--understood his state, he was certain--and she took her sweet fucking time to approach him, first taking a moment to feel the air on her skin, its chill hardening her nipples. A throb of frustration tensed through Evan, and his gaze slipped into a glare.
He couldn't bring himself to move as she did approach, though, his body entirely too transfixed to budge merely for his pride. It was all it could do to keep still, his breath wavering softly as the goddess' fingers caressed against his cheek. A louder shudder escaped him as her leg grazed against his fingers, adding subtle pressure to his length and sending a cascade of warmth through him. Still, he held his hand steady, the drumming of his heart growing almost deafening in his ears.
"Continue."
Even at a whisper, the goddess' voice cut through him, and his hand immediately moved up his length and caressed its palm over his tip, eliciting a soft gasp from his throat while a shudder rippled through his body. He wanted to give in--gods, did he want to--but he managed to stop his hand again, albeit with a groan that threatened towards cracking.
"What happened?" he breathed hastily, and tried to lean back and find the goddess' eyes, his expression serious. She seemed to be out of whatever crisis he had found her in, and he had to make sure he didn't lose himself blindly.
He couldn't bring himself to move as she did approach, though, his body entirely too transfixed to budge merely for his pride. It was all it could do to keep still, his breath wavering softly as the goddess' fingers caressed against his cheek. A louder shudder escaped him as her leg grazed against his fingers, adding subtle pressure to his length and sending a cascade of warmth through him. Still, he held his hand steady, the drumming of his heart growing almost deafening in his ears.
"Continue."
Even at a whisper, the goddess' voice cut through him, and his hand immediately moved up his length and caressed its palm over his tip, eliciting a soft gasp from his throat while a shudder rippled through his body. He wanted to give in--gods, did he want to--but he managed to stop his hand again, albeit with a groan that threatened towards cracking.
"What happened?" he breathed hastily, and tried to lean back and find the goddess' eyes, his expression serious. She seemed to be out of whatever crisis he had found her in, and he had to make sure he didn't lose himself blindly.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan obeyed her, brought himself to an edge that she hadn't realized was so close, and the goddess breathed heavy as his desire collided with his ability to hold himself back. Gods, she wanted him in every possible way, but some part of her was still terrified that, even now, she could lose herself and do something that would jeopardize the situation. She needed to prepare him, she remembered, thinking somewhat bitterly to their conversation about that yesterday. And, they had things to do today. For Samael.
Gods damn him.
"What happened?" Evan asked, and for a moment, she wasn't sure what the captain was talking about. She was shocked that he was able to speak at all. Why did he want to spend time on this right now?
She just wanted him to continue, and toward that end, the goddess place her right hand over the hand Evan used to hold his cock, leading his hand up and down his length one more time and meeting his serious gaze with her own hungry one. She waited to feel the shudders in and through his body before she spoke, eager to soak up whatever radiated off Evan and simultaneously drawing presence and power from the amulet. With every passing moment, she was more capable of containing herself, more in control, and the intensity of how much she missed Evan, how pathetically she had waited for him, how bare he was to her now, began to hit her with full force. Fuck, yes, he had come back, he had brought a volunteer, and...
Wait, one?
The goddess abruptly grasped a handful of Evan's hair at the base of his neck and leaned in close, enjoying the proximity of their bodies immensely.
In a gruff voice, the goddess said, "I could ask you the same question."
Gods damn him.
"What happened?" Evan asked, and for a moment, she wasn't sure what the captain was talking about. She was shocked that he was able to speak at all. Why did he want to spend time on this right now?
She just wanted him to continue, and toward that end, the goddess place her right hand over the hand Evan used to hold his cock, leading his hand up and down his length one more time and meeting his serious gaze with her own hungry one. She waited to feel the shudders in and through his body before she spoke, eager to soak up whatever radiated off Evan and simultaneously drawing presence and power from the amulet. With every passing moment, she was more capable of containing herself, more in control, and the intensity of how much she missed Evan, how pathetically she had waited for him, how bare he was to her now, began to hit her with full force. Fuck, yes, he had come back, he had brought a volunteer, and...
Wait, one?
The goddess abruptly grasped a handful of Evan's hair at the base of his neck and leaned in close, enjoying the proximity of their bodies immensely.
In a gruff voice, the goddess said, "I could ask you the same question."
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan couldn't hold his serious expression for long, not when the goddess bid his hand to move again along with her own up his length. He allowed his brow to furrow, his lips parting to let out a vocal gasp. He was keeping himself from losing sight of the larger situation, but he wasn't hiding how potent his desire was. He wanted it laid bare to her--wanted to show her that he'd saved his climax just as they'd agreed, and that it hadn't been fucking easy. He wanted to give her everything he could spare, while still keeping his head on his shoulders.
In some ways, it was easier when the goddess grabbed harshly at his hair. The pain helped him refocus again, a groan pushing from his throat through freshly gritted teeth. His whole body pulsated with longing, feeling the goddess so close and yet still barely touching him. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and pull her down against him, but he had a question to answer. It took him a moment to click all the context into place, but he got there.
"We have all ten," he breathed, more airily than he would have liked, but it's what he had in him at the moment. He decided not to promise the eleventh, not without knowing how the commander would handle that. "The rest will come tomorrow."
In some ways, it was easier when the goddess grabbed harshly at his hair. The pain helped him refocus again, a groan pushing from his throat through freshly gritted teeth. His whole body pulsated with longing, feeling the goddess so close and yet still barely touching him. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and pull her down against him, but he had a question to answer. It took him a moment to click all the context into place, but he got there.
"We have all ten," he breathed, more airily than he would have liked, but it's what he had in him at the moment. He decided not to promise the eleventh, not without knowing how the commander would handle that. "The rest will come tomorrow."
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess pulled back, looking at Evan with an eyebrow raised in amusement. He wasn't giving her any resistance, which only belied further how intensely he was focused on holding himself back. And, gods, she wanted to indulge him, but the moment she let go of his hair and trailed her hand down his shoulder, she realized again how soaked through he was. Gods, they were both a mess, weren't they?
But... all the volunteers. So, she hadn't let the Shel'ti go in vain.
Why bring only one now?
Looking at him, though, she just wanted to connect with him again. She wanted to use what she needed from the amulet and get it off herself. Wrapping an arm around Evan's neck, the goddess pulled his lips to hers deeply and fully, her tongue tasting his bottom lip and teeth between letting her lips grip and grab his. She grabbed one of his lips with her teeth, hungry again and eager.
He'd done it. He'd done everything she asked of him. And still he was giving her no resistance. Is this what she wanted?
Slowly, the goddess pulled away and returned to standing, not wanting to do this here in the cold with Evan's wet clothes and figuring that she owed Evan some kind of information.
"Come with me," she said gently and started walking around her palace, her steps light and tentative.
When it became obvious that he was following her, she said, "Samael poisoned the pools with a water-soluble stone. It would have poisoned the rest of the water here, and I..." She remembered vividly the process of extracted the molecules from each other within each droplet of water, of the crescendo of it all, of the sensation of thrusting the selenite to the dark fae gates. She almost wished she could show Evan all of it. And, in fact, she could. Abruptly, she stopped and turned to him, placing a hand on his wrist and transferring the images of what she had done at the hot pools to Evan.
When he had seen it all, she pulled away and kept walking into her palace, quiet and tired.
((OOC: For reference, here is where she dealt with the selenite.))
But... all the volunteers. So, she hadn't let the Shel'ti go in vain.
Why bring only one now?
Looking at him, though, she just wanted to connect with him again. She wanted to use what she needed from the amulet and get it off herself. Wrapping an arm around Evan's neck, the goddess pulled his lips to hers deeply and fully, her tongue tasting his bottom lip and teeth between letting her lips grip and grab his. She grabbed one of his lips with her teeth, hungry again and eager.
He'd done it. He'd done everything she asked of him. And still he was giving her no resistance. Is this what she wanted?
Slowly, the goddess pulled away and returned to standing, not wanting to do this here in the cold with Evan's wet clothes and figuring that she owed Evan some kind of information.
"Come with me," she said gently and started walking around her palace, her steps light and tentative.
When it became obvious that he was following her, she said, "Samael poisoned the pools with a water-soluble stone. It would have poisoned the rest of the water here, and I..." She remembered vividly the process of extracted the molecules from each other within each droplet of water, of the crescendo of it all, of the sensation of thrusting the selenite to the dark fae gates. She almost wished she could show Evan all of it. And, in fact, she could. Abruptly, she stopped and turned to him, placing a hand on his wrist and transferring the images of what she had done at the hot pools to Evan.
When he had seen it all, she pulled away and kept walking into her palace, quiet and tired.
((OOC: For reference, here is where she dealt with the selenite.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan didn't know what to make of the amused expression on the goddess' face, and his eyes narrowed with frustration and embarrassment. Should he not be so open to her? He reeled something in, though it was hard to say exactly what. The goddess released his hair and caressed down his neck to his shoulder, and Evan suppressed the shudder that cascaded down his back as best he could. The goddess wrapped her arm around him before he could recover though, and he practically fell into the kiss, moaning against her as his hands abandoned his groin in favor of touching her skin. It shimmered and glowed against his palms and fingers, and joy enveloped his chest that he could touch her--that she was here, and she was powerful and alive.
She pulled away, and Evan fell onto his palms against the grass, panting through the agony of her absence. He shut his eyes and groaned in frustration, his whole body tensing to stop himself from looking at her with a pleading gaze and try to subdue the longing in his mind that wanted to beg her--don't go.
"Come with me,"
The goddess' voice was soft velvet, gently smoothing down parts of him that had bristled. He breathed out a long, focused sigh, exhaling what tension he could manage. His cock throbbed in protest, but he gathered the resolve to sit up and hastily re-button his pants before finally pushing himself to his feet with a groan. The goddess glanced over her shoulder, and Evan began to walk after her, his muscles slow and lethargic under the weight of his clothing and everything else he'd already been through. Some part of him was also still afraid, that the goddess might try again to drown him, and that next time he might not make it back up.
He listened intently when the goddess spoke, relieved that she was answering his question. It had indeed been Samael, though Evan was still making sense of what exactly the god had done, or why it had put the goddess in the state that she'd been in, when he felt her hand on his wrist. An itching pain pricked its way across his skin, making Evan want to gasp and cry with despair, but instead he focused--no, the goddess focused. There was something in the hot pool--poison, like she'd said. She spread her awareness thin, zooming in on the water and the poison to find the tiny boundaries between them. Evan could only catch glimpses of shapes he didn't understand, and he felt lost and jumbled in the water and the poison before he zoomed out, and understood that the poison was being collected outside of the water on a spot of dry ground. He wished he could chant her name--wished that anyone could. Gods, why was she alone? Why the fuck had she sent the Shel'ti away already?
The goddess collapsed into haze upon the water, already exhausted but with one more task to do. Evan ached as he tensed along with her, pressing the dust into crystal and then flinging it with every last thread of energy that could be spared. It sank in sharply, and Evan gasped and stumbled, nearly falling down into the grass again as the goddess's touch disappeared from his wrist.
He watched her turn and continue walking towards the palace as he steadied himself, and his heart ached as he saw freshly her deep exhaustion. He was grateful that he and Raccoon had been able to help, but he was also angry. Angry at Samael for poisoning her realm in the first place--and angry at her, too.
"Why in the hell did you send the Shel'ti away before I got you new volunteers?"
His anger gave him fresh energy to quicken his pace and catch back up with her, though there was also something surprisingly gentle in his voice. His brows were harsh with that anger, but deep pools of pain and worry gleamed clearly in his eyes, too potent to overshadow.
She pulled away, and Evan fell onto his palms against the grass, panting through the agony of her absence. He shut his eyes and groaned in frustration, his whole body tensing to stop himself from looking at her with a pleading gaze and try to subdue the longing in his mind that wanted to beg her--don't go.
"Come with me,"
The goddess' voice was soft velvet, gently smoothing down parts of him that had bristled. He breathed out a long, focused sigh, exhaling what tension he could manage. His cock throbbed in protest, but he gathered the resolve to sit up and hastily re-button his pants before finally pushing himself to his feet with a groan. The goddess glanced over her shoulder, and Evan began to walk after her, his muscles slow and lethargic under the weight of his clothing and everything else he'd already been through. Some part of him was also still afraid, that the goddess might try again to drown him, and that next time he might not make it back up.
He listened intently when the goddess spoke, relieved that she was answering his question. It had indeed been Samael, though Evan was still making sense of what exactly the god had done, or why it had put the goddess in the state that she'd been in, when he felt her hand on his wrist. An itching pain pricked its way across his skin, making Evan want to gasp and cry with despair, but instead he focused--no, the goddess focused. There was something in the hot pool--poison, like she'd said. She spread her awareness thin, zooming in on the water and the poison to find the tiny boundaries between them. Evan could only catch glimpses of shapes he didn't understand, and he felt lost and jumbled in the water and the poison before he zoomed out, and understood that the poison was being collected outside of the water on a spot of dry ground. He wished he could chant her name--wished that anyone could. Gods, why was she alone? Why the fuck had she sent the Shel'ti away already?
The goddess collapsed into haze upon the water, already exhausted but with one more task to do. Evan ached as he tensed along with her, pressing the dust into crystal and then flinging it with every last thread of energy that could be spared. It sank in sharply, and Evan gasped and stumbled, nearly falling down into the grass again as the goddess's touch disappeared from his wrist.
He watched her turn and continue walking towards the palace as he steadied himself, and his heart ached as he saw freshly her deep exhaustion. He was grateful that he and Raccoon had been able to help, but he was also angry. Angry at Samael for poisoning her realm in the first place--and angry at her, too.
"Why in the hell did you send the Shel'ti away before I got you new volunteers?"
His anger gave him fresh energy to quicken his pace and catch back up with her, though there was also something surprisingly gentle in his voice. His brows were harsh with that anger, but deep pools of pain and worry gleamed clearly in his eyes, too potent to overshadow.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess felt Evan's understanding in the form of the emotions on the surface of his mind--awe, frustration, and confusion swirling in a potent blend--and she was grateful she didn't have to use words to communicate. It had been exhausting to experience it all again, but she felt confident that it would be easier to recover now. Evan was here, after all.
Why in the hell did you send the Shel'ti away before I got you new volunteers?
The goddess winced, a plethora of emotion curdling within her. Why did she need them at all? She could keep blaming it all on the king, but at some point, these were her actions.
You've doing what you can to stave off being a far more destructive force, she reminded herself, but it was small consolation. She couldn't have always been this way, but she couldn't remember being anything different.
Rounding the corner and entering the palace, the goddess strode through the empty main room and headed toward one of the hallways off to the left.
In truth, she hadn't intended for Evan to see that she had released her thralls, but sharing memories was unpredictable. And, perhaps it was obvious. The realm felt unmistakably empty to her. Was it so difficult to believe that Evan also felt that to some degree?
"They were no longer useful to me," the goddess said quietly, not bothering to look back at Evan. She thought back to earlier that morning, which felt an age ago, coming back into her body from being inside Ramanujan's awareness, the demonstration, the visit with Ponderance, and...
The goddess cried out as one hand flew to her stomach and one hand flew to her chest. She stumbled toward the wall and leaned against it a moment, a heavy sob rushing out of her mouth. Gods, damn it. In all the commotion, she had forgotten the memories she had seen of Evan in Yukiko's mind. And Yukiko was guarding her kidnapped son. Heavens above.
Drawing more energy out of the amulet, the goddess attempted to right herself, embarrassed and frustrated that she had had such a reaction in front of Evan.
Looking at Evan briefly with watery eyes and furrowed brows, the goddess continued walking until they reached a much warmer, smaller back room. It was decorated with similar red and purple cushions and tapestries like the first room, but it also had a number of enormous, inky black plants, each individual leaf larger than a human torso. They actively leaned away from the small and sparse light sources in the room. Though they had little ability to communicate with the goddess, their awarenesses made the goddess feel a little less alone.
Sitting down in the center of the room on a low, triple-large chasse-style cushion with pillows against a center dividing wall for back support, the goddess crossed her ankles and took a good look at Evan.
"You may as well get out of those clothes," she said, turning her head toward the nearest of the plants.
((OOC: If Evan does start taking his clothes off, it won't be long until the goddess adds, "I spoke with your commander. And Captain Fujiwara." Then she would look back and glare at him.))
Why in the hell did you send the Shel'ti away before I got you new volunteers?
The goddess winced, a plethora of emotion curdling within her. Why did she need them at all? She could keep blaming it all on the king, but at some point, these were her actions.
You've doing what you can to stave off being a far more destructive force, she reminded herself, but it was small consolation. She couldn't have always been this way, but she couldn't remember being anything different.
Rounding the corner and entering the palace, the goddess strode through the empty main room and headed toward one of the hallways off to the left.
In truth, she hadn't intended for Evan to see that she had released her thralls, but sharing memories was unpredictable. And, perhaps it was obvious. The realm felt unmistakably empty to her. Was it so difficult to believe that Evan also felt that to some degree?
"They were no longer useful to me," the goddess said quietly, not bothering to look back at Evan. She thought back to earlier that morning, which felt an age ago, coming back into her body from being inside Ramanujan's awareness, the demonstration, the visit with Ponderance, and...
The goddess cried out as one hand flew to her stomach and one hand flew to her chest. She stumbled toward the wall and leaned against it a moment, a heavy sob rushing out of her mouth. Gods, damn it. In all the commotion, she had forgotten the memories she had seen of Evan in Yukiko's mind. And Yukiko was guarding her kidnapped son. Heavens above.
Drawing more energy out of the amulet, the goddess attempted to right herself, embarrassed and frustrated that she had had such a reaction in front of Evan.
Looking at Evan briefly with watery eyes and furrowed brows, the goddess continued walking until they reached a much warmer, smaller back room. It was decorated with similar red and purple cushions and tapestries like the first room, but it also had a number of enormous, inky black plants, each individual leaf larger than a human torso. They actively leaned away from the small and sparse light sources in the room. Though they had little ability to communicate with the goddess, their awarenesses made the goddess feel a little less alone.
Sitting down in the center of the room on a low, triple-large chasse-style cushion with pillows against a center dividing wall for back support, the goddess crossed her ankles and took a good look at Evan.
"You may as well get out of those clothes," she said, turning her head toward the nearest of the plants.
((OOC: If Evan does start taking his clothes off, it won't be long until the goddess adds, "I spoke with your commander. And Captain Fujiwara." Then she would look back and glare at him.))