Evan palpably felt the goddess' body shift beneath him, and excitement trilled in his gut as he settled low against her, bracing for her to take off running as he could swear her muscles prepared to do. Instead, she walked calmly over to the satchel she'd placed the portals in--fallen to the ground when she'd transformed. She gently picked it up by her teeth and turned toward Evan--passing it to him. He accepted it, and for a brief moment he instinctively hugged it tightly against his stomach, but then, with some blush, it occurred to him to loop the strap of it over his shoulder.
Hold on tightly, lover.
The sound of the goddess' voice, at last in Evan's mind again, sent warmth rushing through him--to say nothing of her choice of words. He had no time to revel in it, though, before he felt her muscles tighten, and her instruction sank in just in time for him to lean forward and brace again for motion. She bounded off in a gallop--or at least, that was the best word Evan had for it. Her movements were much more fluid than a horse's, although a bit more involved than her dragon's had been. Perhaps it was just that their bodies were closer in size, and so as the goddess swayed around trees, Evan's body curled with her, relying on the connections between their muscles to guide his movements as they passed together through the forest in a blur.
All at once, the goddess leapt up into the air, and Evan's stomach tumbled into his throat as gravity seemed to briefly separate their bodies. He didn't go far, though, before his body was beckoned back down, caught by the goddess' gently curving back. He couldn't even help the laugh that escaped, almost boyish with delight, and the goddess' own laughter glittered and echoed in his mind as she bounded off again. Tingles pricked pleasantly at Evan's skin and nearly pulsed into his muscles as she ran.
Between the wind and blur of her swift movement, Evan largely had to shield his eyes near her fur, but he did at last spy her palace as they emerged into the clearing. No sooner had he registered that, though, then his stomach lurched into his throat again as the goddess abruptly stopped and pivoted, sending him all by flying from her back. He instinctively curled around the satchel and rolled as best he could, protecting the orbs with his bruised and naked body--and a few groans.
As he settled, the goddess soon bid him to unwind as her warm, rough tongue licked at his hip, beckoning his body to open and welcome her. She nuzzled into his arm, and he laughed again--a bit more awkwardly this time, lost in the absurdity of the juxtaposition between the throbbing aches in his skin and the goddess' endearing antics. But, in some ways, that was hardly new. Finally she laid her head down on his stomach, and Evan sighed with contentment, enjoying the warmth and weight of her gently pushing him down on the cool grass below.
After a moment, the weight of her was suddenly gone, but it returned in a smooth slowness as she coalesced from mist again, back into the human form that Evan was more familiar with. She curled herself around one of his legs and nuzzled her face gently against his stomach, and Evan absent-mindedly caressed her hair, once again suffused with the sensation that he could stay right where he was for forever.
"Evan..." she whispered. "Evan..." she said again and kissed his ribs twice with a sleepy smile.
The urge arose again to say something sweet--exactly what he'd said before, to be honest--but melancholy tugged it back. He didn't let it pull at his smile, though, and with a long, pleasant sigh, he did his best to relax his chest and let the sensation move through him rather than get stuck. Then, an even better idea came to mind, one which thoroughly warmed and excited him.
"De..." His voice began in a soft, rich caress as his fingers ran through the goddess' hair.
"Dehal..." His body relished every movement of hers, ready to sway or undulate through both their pleasures.
"Dehaljadrun..." Tingles danced up Evan's neck and spilled from his lips. Behind his closed eyes he saw gentle, sparkling bursts of bright colors, reminding him once again of the place by the waterfall they had visited together. His smile was wide and happy, content that surely, this would express his love for her in a way that she could receive it.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan stroked his fingers through her mass of wavy black hair, and she couldn't bring herself to complain. It was comforting, and she didn't want him to stop.
Gods, she could stay like this forever. She could keep him here forever. No part of her wanted to let him go.
All her limbs curled about him tightened pleasantly, seeking as much skin contact as possible. Her fingers explored around past Evan's ribs; her legs straightened, and her toes reached down toward his ankle; her head pushed deeply into the smooth skin of his abdomen.
If she couldn't keep him forever, she would have as much of him as he would allow right now.
"De..." Evan began, soft and compelling, and her muscles tensed as a light, surprised shock coursed through her and abruptly into Evan.
"Dehal..." Evan continued, and the goddess let out a low, deep moan, unable to help remembering their very first night together when he had stopped at the first two syllables of her name to tease her. Was he going to do that now?
But Evan did not miss a beat as he completed her name. "Dehaljadrun..." A rush of some current--electricity? blood?--careened through the goddess' body like a waterfall, emptying into her mouth, which could not help but nip and bite at the taut skin under his ribs. But the movements of her mouth were not enough. Her fingers surged into Evan, pouring pleasure through him in a red echo of what he must have felt within the pool of the tree as her sensations enveloped him and invited him in. And even that was not enough as her hair became pleasantly electric, tingling around his fingers as though each tiny strand aimed to caress him.
The goddess gasped, and her back arched in a somewhat delayed reaction, her body now entirely full of sensations--Evan's and her own--and gods damn it, she saw it. She saw it. Deep behind her eyes where her consciousness gazed into Evan's very soul, there was the rippling, iridescent nebula that was his love and adoration for her. With her awareness, she reached out, tentatively stroking one tendril of it as it undulated, almost oblivious to her observation. Seemingly delighted at the gentle contact, the shining mass brightened and shot off golden and silver sparks of color, and distantly, the goddess' human body giggled with corresponding delight. This mirth was intoxicating--only growing as the iridescence continued to pay her no mind, at least, not directly. This was not a mindless, numb, bundle of impulses--this was purpose where it mingled with peace, presence where it invited pleasure, belonging where it twined with identity. And it was well and truly separate from her.
Gods, maybe she did really love this man.
Finally, retreating gently from the depths of Evan's soul, having so abruptly fallen into him, the goddess opened her more human eyes, not even having realized she had closed them. She blinked up at Evan with a stunned, open-mouthed smile, belief spreading through her belly like wildfire.
"You're ridiculous," she said, her grin growing wider. "Relentless." Her finger traced the subtle outline of Evan's lowest rib. She pressed another kiss into his stomach, and her chest started to ache.
Looking down, she whispered, "Perfect." Her face fell a little and grew somewhat somber as she looked at her own fingers, long and lithe with smooth, short fingernails. She took a deep breath against him and felt all the places his skin accommodated her expansion. She breathed out slowly, contacting back into him.
((OOC: I guess, if Evan doesn't do anything, she would invite him back to her bedchamber, saying "Come lie with me a while?" and then lead him that direction.))
Gods, she could stay like this forever. She could keep him here forever. No part of her wanted to let him go.
All her limbs curled about him tightened pleasantly, seeking as much skin contact as possible. Her fingers explored around past Evan's ribs; her legs straightened, and her toes reached down toward his ankle; her head pushed deeply into the smooth skin of his abdomen.
If she couldn't keep him forever, she would have as much of him as he would allow right now.
"De..." Evan began, soft and compelling, and her muscles tensed as a light, surprised shock coursed through her and abruptly into Evan.
"Dehal..." Evan continued, and the goddess let out a low, deep moan, unable to help remembering their very first night together when he had stopped at the first two syllables of her name to tease her. Was he going to do that now?
But Evan did not miss a beat as he completed her name. "Dehaljadrun..." A rush of some current--electricity? blood?--careened through the goddess' body like a waterfall, emptying into her mouth, which could not help but nip and bite at the taut skin under his ribs. But the movements of her mouth were not enough. Her fingers surged into Evan, pouring pleasure through him in a red echo of what he must have felt within the pool of the tree as her sensations enveloped him and invited him in. And even that was not enough as her hair became pleasantly electric, tingling around his fingers as though each tiny strand aimed to caress him.
The goddess gasped, and her back arched in a somewhat delayed reaction, her body now entirely full of sensations--Evan's and her own--and gods damn it, she saw it. She saw it. Deep behind her eyes where her consciousness gazed into Evan's very soul, there was the rippling, iridescent nebula that was his love and adoration for her. With her awareness, she reached out, tentatively stroking one tendril of it as it undulated, almost oblivious to her observation. Seemingly delighted at the gentle contact, the shining mass brightened and shot off golden and silver sparks of color, and distantly, the goddess' human body giggled with corresponding delight. This mirth was intoxicating--only growing as the iridescence continued to pay her no mind, at least, not directly. This was not a mindless, numb, bundle of impulses--this was purpose where it mingled with peace, presence where it invited pleasure, belonging where it twined with identity. And it was well and truly separate from her.
Gods, maybe she did really love this man.
Finally, retreating gently from the depths of Evan's soul, having so abruptly fallen into him, the goddess opened her more human eyes, not even having realized she had closed them. She blinked up at Evan with a stunned, open-mouthed smile, belief spreading through her belly like wildfire.
"You're ridiculous," she said, her grin growing wider. "Relentless." Her finger traced the subtle outline of Evan's lowest rib. She pressed another kiss into his stomach, and her chest started to ache.
Looking down, she whispered, "Perfect." Her face fell a little and grew somewhat somber as she looked at her own fingers, long and lithe with smooth, short fingernails. She took a deep breath against him and felt all the places his skin accommodated her expansion. She breathed out slowly, contacting back into him.
((OOC: I guess, if Evan doesn't do anything, she would invite him back to her bedchamber, saying "Come lie with me a while?" and then lead him that direction.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess nipped and bit at Evan in what he could only describe as a gentle frenzy, perhaps the best outlet available to her to express the pleasure his chant had brought her. He was utterly content beneath it, relishing the pricks and pressures of her teeth. That contentment only pooled and grew as her fingers pressed into him, reminding him of the way the tree's pool had touched him, finding perfect places on his body to touch, to caress, to pinch and scratch, and he moaned freely with her motions, his fingers still warmly and affectionately tangled in her hair. Electricity seemed to prick at his skin, and he nearly felt like he was glowing.
Almost distantly, he heard the goddess gasp, felt her body arch and tense with sensation. He groaned and reached for her, swaying his body toward her, hungry for all the skin contact he could get. Warmth tumbled into him, and he and the goddess both laughed - giggled, nearly, so full of echoing delight. Finally, he felt the goddess shift against him in a way that beckoned his attention. He cupped her cheek first, and then managed to open his eyes and look down to her, her red-purple eyes looking so happily back at him. He couldn't even help his bright smile as warmth and joy splashed through his chest.
"You're ridiculous," the goddess said, and Evan's lungs exhaled a playful scoff. "Relentless," she went on, her finger tracing over a rib and sending delighted shivers through his body, which he couldn't even try to contain. He was starting to form the beginnings of a retort in his mind, but the goddess placed a gentle kiss on his stomach, and instead he exhaled a sigh, relenting to something and relaxing his head back down against the grass, eyes falling shut.
"Perfect." The goddess' whisper pulled a soft gasp from Evan, tears rolling down his cheeks he hadn't realized had been welling. His fingers found her hair again, stroking tenderly as he pulled at the loose, sprawling strands of his mind to form some kind of a reply. But, what could he possibly say back? He'd already said his piece - twice, in fact - so he let that pursuit go, instead just relishing all the places their bodies connected and the warmth of their words still blanketing them in delight.
Finally, the goddess spoke again. "Come lie with me a while?"
Evan's first thought was yes, but, that he already was, was he not? But, as he began to gather those strands again, he pieced together that of course she meant not just out in the meadow, and he supposed he was amenable to that. He nodded, and then, unsure if that gesture translated through their present positions, offered a soft hum of affirmation. He didn't move save continuing to stroke the goddess' hair until she rose first, and with a soft groan, he gathered himself enough to follow after her, longing and eagerness tugging at the whole of him.
Almost distantly, he heard the goddess gasp, felt her body arch and tense with sensation. He groaned and reached for her, swaying his body toward her, hungry for all the skin contact he could get. Warmth tumbled into him, and he and the goddess both laughed - giggled, nearly, so full of echoing delight. Finally, he felt the goddess shift against him in a way that beckoned his attention. He cupped her cheek first, and then managed to open his eyes and look down to her, her red-purple eyes looking so happily back at him. He couldn't even help his bright smile as warmth and joy splashed through his chest.
"You're ridiculous," the goddess said, and Evan's lungs exhaled a playful scoff. "Relentless," she went on, her finger tracing over a rib and sending delighted shivers through his body, which he couldn't even try to contain. He was starting to form the beginnings of a retort in his mind, but the goddess placed a gentle kiss on his stomach, and instead he exhaled a sigh, relenting to something and relaxing his head back down against the grass, eyes falling shut.
"Perfect." The goddess' whisper pulled a soft gasp from Evan, tears rolling down his cheeks he hadn't realized had been welling. His fingers found her hair again, stroking tenderly as he pulled at the loose, sprawling strands of his mind to form some kind of a reply. But, what could he possibly say back? He'd already said his piece - twice, in fact - so he let that pursuit go, instead just relishing all the places their bodies connected and the warmth of their words still blanketing them in delight.
Finally, the goddess spoke again. "Come lie with me a while?"
Evan's first thought was yes, but, that he already was, was he not? But, as he began to gather those strands again, he pieced together that of course she meant not just out in the meadow, and he supposed he was amenable to that. He nodded, and then, unsure if that gesture translated through their present positions, offered a soft hum of affirmation. He didn't move save continuing to stroke the goddess' hair until she rose first, and with a soft groan, he gathered himself enough to follow after her, longing and eagerness tugging at the whole of him.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan made a sound that the goddess decided to accept as affirmation, and she began the difficult work of disentangling from Evan. Her limbs were limber from having run on all four here, but she found moving still a little awkward, having returned now to her human shape. After gathering herself into a crouch--her hair clinging to Evan's fingers for as long as physically possible--the goddess finally stood and walked toward her palace.
She was almost startled to see no one at the front of the palace--no thralls waiting for her at all. And then she remembered having let all the Shel'ti go. She looked back at Evan with what she imagined was a confusing combination of chagrin and irritation. But, her face softened again before she turned back around and went in. She would have actual offerings soon, and that other soldier was still wandering around out there, somewhere. Besides, Evan was still here now, for a few moments more. Best not to dwell on what would come before long.
The goddess considered which room to take Evan in and quickly rejected the room they had been in earlier in the evening. She knew the wooden horse--and Ponderance--lay in that direction. Her stomach clenched and tightened, but she reminded herself that there was next to nothing she could do for her son trapped as she was here.
Shaking her head and all her hair, the goddess ducked instead behind her throne and threw herself onto the soft cushions and blankets of the bed in the room behind it. In seconds, she was a vision of disheveled hair, wrapped blankets, and limbs, with her breasts still on full display as she looked in Evan's direction, a fresh and hazy smile on her lips. She refused to let anything jostle her bliss.
"I'd say we've earned something of a reward," the goddess said with a sultry lilt to her voice and stroked the place on the bed next to her.
She was almost startled to see no one at the front of the palace--no thralls waiting for her at all. And then she remembered having let all the Shel'ti go. She looked back at Evan with what she imagined was a confusing combination of chagrin and irritation. But, her face softened again before she turned back around and went in. She would have actual offerings soon, and that other soldier was still wandering around out there, somewhere. Besides, Evan was still here now, for a few moments more. Best not to dwell on what would come before long.
The goddess considered which room to take Evan in and quickly rejected the room they had been in earlier in the evening. She knew the wooden horse--and Ponderance--lay in that direction. Her stomach clenched and tightened, but she reminded herself that there was next to nothing she could do for her son trapped as she was here.
Shaking her head and all her hair, the goddess ducked instead behind her throne and threw herself onto the soft cushions and blankets of the bed in the room behind it. In seconds, she was a vision of disheveled hair, wrapped blankets, and limbs, with her breasts still on full display as she looked in Evan's direction, a fresh and hazy smile on her lips. She refused to let anything jostle her bliss.
"I'd say we've earned something of a reward," the goddess said with a sultry lilt to her voice and stroked the place on the bed next to her.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Evan couldn't help a soft groan as the goddess began to disentangle from him. He reassured himself that they were merely changing locations and would retangle soon, but the sorrow of having to leave her too soon after that welled up in him. He sighed a little shakily as he followed after her, trying to set those emotions aside for now.
The goddess seemed to startle as they approached the palace, though, and she looked back at Evan with a look of irritation that cut him deeply. Must they continue to fight and fight and fight? Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks again as defensiveness flashed across his expression, but her own expression softened and she continued to walk inside. Evan breathed deep and followed after her, hopeful that she was just as eager as he was to set whatever had struck her aside.
She led him behind her throne, into the room where they had first merged together. He couldn't help thinking of the demons that had held him down on the bed that night, a somber curiosity flaring about just what they were, now that he'd truly met one. Surely they weren't all quite so pained.
The goddess stole his attention back to the present quickly as she threw herself onto the bed, brining joy into the room as she rolled in the blankets and invited Evan's gaze to delight in her body.
"I'd say we've earned something of a reward," the goddess said with a sultry lilt to her voice and stroked the place on the bed next to her.
Evan smiled and walked toward her, hooking his knee up on the bed as gracefully as he could to climb on beside her. He tugged playfully at the blanket around her at first, and then he nearly dove into it, eager to get next to the goddess' skin and wrap his limbs around her.
The goddess seemed to startle as they approached the palace, though, and she looked back at Evan with a look of irritation that cut him deeply. Must they continue to fight and fight and fight? Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks again as defensiveness flashed across his expression, but her own expression softened and she continued to walk inside. Evan breathed deep and followed after her, hopeful that she was just as eager as he was to set whatever had struck her aside.
She led him behind her throne, into the room where they had first merged together. He couldn't help thinking of the demons that had held him down on the bed that night, a somber curiosity flaring about just what they were, now that he'd truly met one. Surely they weren't all quite so pained.
The goddess stole his attention back to the present quickly as she threw herself onto the bed, brining joy into the room as she rolled in the blankets and invited Evan's gaze to delight in her body.
"I'd say we've earned something of a reward," the goddess said with a sultry lilt to her voice and stroked the place on the bed next to her.
Evan smiled and walked toward her, hooking his knee up on the bed as gracefully as he could to climb on beside her. He tugged playfully at the blanket around her at first, and then he nearly dove into it, eager to get next to the goddess' skin and wrap his limbs around her.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess watched Evan, half-concerned he might not follow her invitation, but in quick order, he stepped with one foot onto the bed and made it across the large expanse of coverlets over to her, tugging the blankets away from her skin before throwing himself into her arms. The goddess guided Evan's head against her chest as her legs wrapped around his naked form, bringing him as close to her as either of them could manage and pushing the blankets out of the way when they encroached. She pressed the side of her cheek against the top of Evan's head and sighed, settling into stillness except for her hands, one of which stroked Evan's hair while the other lightly caressed his spine.
The last few nights had been so full. When the fires had erupted around her at the beginning of the summoning, she had never expected to be here with this man, tangled as they were physically, spiritually, emotionally. The goddess could not bear the thought of losing him now.
She held him like that for a while, not quite tempting him toward sleep but not trying to keep him from it either, stroking and petting his hair, letting her fingers love his spine. She kissed the top of his head, thinking of the words he had spoken to her at the tree.
I love you.
She didn't doubt it. Not exactly. But what did it mean to him, to her? Was this a worshipful love? A romantic love? A sexual love? The love of a man about to become a thrall in her care? Gods damn the inadequacy of the human language.
But then she took a deep breath and let herself look beyond the words into the ways he had felt in that moment. She had just shocked him against the tree, listened to his plea to trust him just a little bit more. He had just let the tree within himself in so many delicious ways, and then there was the joyous, boyish smile that had spread across his cheeks as his face reddened with embarrassment and resolve.
I love you.
A coiled pit of grief wound itself tighter in her stomach. Was she worthy of love? She had done little more than destroy her own realm in the time since she had been imprisoned. And before that, she was thoroughly distracted with one human man or another... How much of a goddess was she, anyway?
But maybe that was exactly what would make this easier. Perhaps she had become somewhat more human since her exile from the upper realms. She cared about them, didn't she? Tended their dreams? Argued against their destruction even when she knew their darkest secrets and most painful desires?
Her throat felt like it was closing in on itself, and the goddess pulled Evan in tighter.
Whispering just barely loud enough so he might hear but not loud enough to disturb sleep if it had begun, the goddess said, "I don't want to lose you. I want to see you again. I want you to come back to me after I am free. After I am free, I'll want to be by your side. I'll want you to come here. I'll want to visit you there. I want to share again the tree with you. I want to send lightning through the farthest reaches of your body and your soul and know you will come away from that experience with joy and love and beauty and reverence. I want to see you transform into a dragon again. I want to watch you win this war, and I want you to be there when I exact my revenge on the king. I don't want to hide anything I am from you. I want you to see me whole, damaged though I may presently be, and watch me blossom again into the goddess I once was. I want you there through all that and nothing less. And maybe, just maybe, that is love."
The goddess kept stroking Evan's hair, unsure if he had heard any or all of that, content to hold him as long as he would allow it.
((OOC: So... she's not going to be like, "Evan, you should probably go back, it's, like, daytime." So, I guess, he'll need to motivate himself to leave... or not.))
The last few nights had been so full. When the fires had erupted around her at the beginning of the summoning, she had never expected to be here with this man, tangled as they were physically, spiritually, emotionally. The goddess could not bear the thought of losing him now.
She held him like that for a while, not quite tempting him toward sleep but not trying to keep him from it either, stroking and petting his hair, letting her fingers love his spine. She kissed the top of his head, thinking of the words he had spoken to her at the tree.
I love you.
She didn't doubt it. Not exactly. But what did it mean to him, to her? Was this a worshipful love? A romantic love? A sexual love? The love of a man about to become a thrall in her care? Gods damn the inadequacy of the human language.
But then she took a deep breath and let herself look beyond the words into the ways he had felt in that moment. She had just shocked him against the tree, listened to his plea to trust him just a little bit more. He had just let the tree within himself in so many delicious ways, and then there was the joyous, boyish smile that had spread across his cheeks as his face reddened with embarrassment and resolve.
I love you.
A coiled pit of grief wound itself tighter in her stomach. Was she worthy of love? She had done little more than destroy her own realm in the time since she had been imprisoned. And before that, she was thoroughly distracted with one human man or another... How much of a goddess was she, anyway?
But maybe that was exactly what would make this easier. Perhaps she had become somewhat more human since her exile from the upper realms. She cared about them, didn't she? Tended their dreams? Argued against their destruction even when she knew their darkest secrets and most painful desires?
Her throat felt like it was closing in on itself, and the goddess pulled Evan in tighter.
Whispering just barely loud enough so he might hear but not loud enough to disturb sleep if it had begun, the goddess said, "I don't want to lose you. I want to see you again. I want you to come back to me after I am free. After I am free, I'll want to be by your side. I'll want you to come here. I'll want to visit you there. I want to share again the tree with you. I want to send lightning through the farthest reaches of your body and your soul and know you will come away from that experience with joy and love and beauty and reverence. I want to see you transform into a dragon again. I want to watch you win this war, and I want you to be there when I exact my revenge on the king. I don't want to hide anything I am from you. I want you to see me whole, damaged though I may presently be, and watch me blossom again into the goddess I once was. I want you there through all that and nothing less. And maybe, just maybe, that is love."
The goddess kept stroking Evan's hair, unsure if he had heard any or all of that, content to hold him as long as he would allow it.
((OOC: So... she's not going to be like, "Evan, you should probably go back, it's, like, daytime." So, I guess, he'll need to motivate himself to leave... or not.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess accepted Evan so wholly, guiding his head to her chest as they both wrapped limbs around each other. He was almost startled by the ease of it. She pressed her cheek into his hair, her fingertips caressing his spine, and he allowed a contented moan to roll freely from his lips. He nuzzled against her, determined to spend every ounce of his need to move on remaining close, pulling her even closer, highlighting how much of their bodies were so blissfully in contact with one another.
Eventually, though, the need to move subsided. The goddess seemed quite content to stroke his spine and his hair, and he was quite content to simply hold her close nestled between her limbs and around her, cheek upon her breast. He sighed as he settled into it, eyes sliding shut. He lamented that there was still something that he couldn't fully let settle - if he did, he'd fall asleep. And gods, he wanted to fall asleep in her arms, but the priestess' warning kept some small ball of tension wound tight deep within him, vigilant to push him into action if need be. Sorrow swirled around that tension, devastated that he couldn't let it go, but he was determined not to get stuck in another spiral. So, he focused on the touch of the goddess' skin, on the sweet ripples of her caresses, on memories of bliss within the tree and the goddess' girlish smile. He bid the sorrow to flow instead into a meditative swirl, revisiting caresses beneath his very own wing, sparkling excitement of riding on the goddess' back, the column of light the goddess had sent through him their very first night together...
"I don't want to lose you," the goddess said, her voice soft and almost ethereal. Evan might have pulled himself out of his reveries to engage with her, but she kept going, almost like she didn't care whether or not he heard, and he relaxed back into his meditative reminiscing, allowing her words to gently weave through his awareness.
"I want to see you again. I want you to come back to me after I am free. After I am free, I'll want to be by your side. I'll want you to come here. I'll want to visit you there. I want to share again the tree with you. I want to send lightning through the farthest reaches of your body and your soul and know you will come away from that experience with joy and love and beauty and reverence. I want to see you transform into a dragon again. I want to watch you win this war, and I want you to be there when I exact my revenge on the king. I don't want to hide anything I am from you. I want you to see me whole, damaged though I may presently be, and watch me blossom again into the goddess I once was. I want you there through all that and nothing less. And maybe, just maybe, that is love."
As the goddess spoke, Evan's memories bloomed more vividly, and his chest grew almost unbearably hot. He pressed himself into her, moaning softly nearly in rhythm with her words. Finally, in the riveting silence after she finished speaking, Evan erupted into full-body sobs. He clung tightly to her as emotion crashed through him, relief and elation and melancholy and more pouring from him in great, splashing waves. He had no idea how long he went on like that, only that by the time he began to recover himself, he felt so thoroughly, utterly spent--in the best possible way. He remained clung to the goddess until his breath was caught, and then finally relaxed and unwound himself just enough to look her in the eye with a warm, blissful smile--perhaps a touch bashful, acknowledging the absurdity of his display. Some sorrow did creep in--he could feel the weight of needing to leave beginning to press on him, the awareness that outside of this perfect moment was still a war to be fought--but before it could overshadow his happiness, he leaned in for a kiss, like that might at least seal something about this moment into eternity.
Eventually, though, the need to move subsided. The goddess seemed quite content to stroke his spine and his hair, and he was quite content to simply hold her close nestled between her limbs and around her, cheek upon her breast. He sighed as he settled into it, eyes sliding shut. He lamented that there was still something that he couldn't fully let settle - if he did, he'd fall asleep. And gods, he wanted to fall asleep in her arms, but the priestess' warning kept some small ball of tension wound tight deep within him, vigilant to push him into action if need be. Sorrow swirled around that tension, devastated that he couldn't let it go, but he was determined not to get stuck in another spiral. So, he focused on the touch of the goddess' skin, on the sweet ripples of her caresses, on memories of bliss within the tree and the goddess' girlish smile. He bid the sorrow to flow instead into a meditative swirl, revisiting caresses beneath his very own wing, sparkling excitement of riding on the goddess' back, the column of light the goddess had sent through him their very first night together...
"I don't want to lose you," the goddess said, her voice soft and almost ethereal. Evan might have pulled himself out of his reveries to engage with her, but she kept going, almost like she didn't care whether or not he heard, and he relaxed back into his meditative reminiscing, allowing her words to gently weave through his awareness.
"I want to see you again. I want you to come back to me after I am free. After I am free, I'll want to be by your side. I'll want you to come here. I'll want to visit you there. I want to share again the tree with you. I want to send lightning through the farthest reaches of your body and your soul and know you will come away from that experience with joy and love and beauty and reverence. I want to see you transform into a dragon again. I want to watch you win this war, and I want you to be there when I exact my revenge on the king. I don't want to hide anything I am from you. I want you to see me whole, damaged though I may presently be, and watch me blossom again into the goddess I once was. I want you there through all that and nothing less. And maybe, just maybe, that is love."
As the goddess spoke, Evan's memories bloomed more vividly, and his chest grew almost unbearably hot. He pressed himself into her, moaning softly nearly in rhythm with her words. Finally, in the riveting silence after she finished speaking, Evan erupted into full-body sobs. He clung tightly to her as emotion crashed through him, relief and elation and melancholy and more pouring from him in great, splashing waves. He had no idea how long he went on like that, only that by the time he began to recover himself, he felt so thoroughly, utterly spent--in the best possible way. He remained clung to the goddess until his breath was caught, and then finally relaxed and unwound himself just enough to look her in the eye with a warm, blissful smile--perhaps a touch bashful, acknowledging the absurdity of his display. Some sorrow did creep in--he could feel the weight of needing to leave beginning to press on him, the awareness that outside of this perfect moment was still a war to be fought--but before it could overshadow his happiness, he leaned in for a kiss, like that might at least seal something about this moment into eternity.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess was grateful that Evan did not resist her. And while he was not as tempted toward sleep as she might have liked, she was grateful to have his face nestled into her chest with his limbs pulling her all the closer. She reveled in the way Evan moaned quietly in response to some of her words, but she was not at all prepared when, at the end of what she had to say, Evan began to sob with his whole body. He rocked toward and away from her, clinging tighter somehow as he cried with great splashing tears.
She was startled at first, uncomfortable even for a few moments, but after a while, she allowed herself to share more deeply in the emotions flooding his mind--rolling blue-green waves of relief, yellow sparks of elation, and purple tinges of melancholy. He was emptying himself in her the way she had emptied herself in him time and time again, this night alone. He was as bare with her and she had just been with him and more. Gods, he was vulnerable, and she had some urge to laugh or make a snide remark, but instead, she held the moment delicately as she stroked his hair and let him finish.
It was a long time before he was done, and the goddess and the bed beneath them was soaked with his tears. But, where she touched his consciousness with her own, he felt thoroughly wrung out and truly relieved at the release, spent in every possible way. Finally, he caught his breath and unclenched around her enough to look at her directly with a sleepy, satisfied smile. He looked young and boyish to her, and her heart leaped into her throat in response. A touch of embarrassment colored his cheeks, but she was not prepared to comment on it. Not yet.
And then he thought about needing to leave her tonight, and the goddess watched a dark shadow of sorrow begin to weave itself between them. As though to stave that off, Evan leaned toward her, offering a messy, tear-soaked kiss. She made one short laughing sound before she met his lips, tasting the salt on them as she ran her thumb down the side of his jaw. She deepened the kiss as soon as he would allow, tasting his tongue and retreating several times as though she could drink him in one last time before he left at the coming dawn.
When she had her fill, she pulled away from him, looked him over in all his disheveled glory, and gave him a small, understanding smile.
She was startled at first, uncomfortable even for a few moments, but after a while, she allowed herself to share more deeply in the emotions flooding his mind--rolling blue-green waves of relief, yellow sparks of elation, and purple tinges of melancholy. He was emptying himself in her the way she had emptied herself in him time and time again, this night alone. He was as bare with her and she had just been with him and more. Gods, he was vulnerable, and she had some urge to laugh or make a snide remark, but instead, she held the moment delicately as she stroked his hair and let him finish.
It was a long time before he was done, and the goddess and the bed beneath them was soaked with his tears. But, where she touched his consciousness with her own, he felt thoroughly wrung out and truly relieved at the release, spent in every possible way. Finally, he caught his breath and unclenched around her enough to look at her directly with a sleepy, satisfied smile. He looked young and boyish to her, and her heart leaped into her throat in response. A touch of embarrassment colored his cheeks, but she was not prepared to comment on it. Not yet.
And then he thought about needing to leave her tonight, and the goddess watched a dark shadow of sorrow begin to weave itself between them. As though to stave that off, Evan leaned toward her, offering a messy, tear-soaked kiss. She made one short laughing sound before she met his lips, tasting the salt on them as she ran her thumb down the side of his jaw. She deepened the kiss as soon as he would allow, tasting his tongue and retreating several times as though she could drink him in one last time before he left at the coming dawn.
When she had her fill, she pulled away from him, looked him over in all his disheveled glory, and gave him a small, understanding smile.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess laughed a little as Evan leaned in, and a quick spark of fear erupted in his chest before she met his lips and banished it, the kiss offering all the reassurance he needed. Amusement dipped into his own experience then, as the salty taste of his tears mixed with the taste of the goddess' lips. Of course she had laughed. This was absolutely absurd, but so, so deeply needed. Her tongue reached into him and his tongue invited hers to dance, reaching into her when she retreated and pulling back when he needed to take something back into himself. It was meditative and entrancing, inviting swirls of memories back into his awareness again, but all too soon, the goddess pulled back. Evan couldn't help a soft sigh, longing thick on his breath, but when he opened his eyes he saw the goddess nod and smile to him, and warmth splashed through his body. He smiled in turn, contented, until the looming shadow of leaving began to return and chill him. He sighed again, sheepishness and a dash of lament tilting his brow.
"I... should probably get back," he said softly, somberness invading his expression as his thoughts couldn't help turning to the situation back at camp: not knowing the status of the goddess or Evan himself until he returned, having dealt with gods-know-what when Ponderance was taken. His expression winced slightly thinking of the goddess' son back in Ciric's grasp, anger flashing through him for all that he knew the king had done. But all of that was far too much to think of in a single moment, and Evan tried to set it aside and focus back on the goddess herself.
"I... should probably get back," he said softly, somberness invading his expression as his thoughts couldn't help turning to the situation back at camp: not knowing the status of the goddess or Evan himself until he returned, having dealt with gods-know-what when Ponderance was taken. His expression winced slightly thinking of the goddess' son back in Ciric's grasp, anger flashing through him for all that he knew the king had done. But all of that was far too much to think of in a single moment, and Evan tried to set it aside and focus back on the goddess herself.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess rolled her tongue in her mouth, enjoying the lingering taste of Evan and his boyish embarrassment as well as his happiness, his love for her so thoroughly palpable that it was a wonder she had not seen it long before now. For a moment, she thought she had tempted Evan into staying longer--staying through the day perhaps since they had not made any rule against that--but that thought had not even fully completed itself before Evan's somber shadows returned, and the goddess knew he had decided.
Gods, he was leaving her. Again.
And then she would be alone. Again.
Well... there was that other soldier. Raccoon. A ferocious hunger leapt into the goddess' belly, making it difficult to maintain full consciousness for a moment. It had be a long while since the goddess had felt the urge to split herself into several conscious pieces, but it was so potent now that she did begin to split such that there were two superimposed versions of her temporarily, one poised to run and find Raccoon, and one prepared to cling desperately to Evan.
With a breath, she managed to collect herself again, merging with herself and waving off the dizziness splitting had given her.
"I... should probably get back," Evan said, and as the goddess focused on Evan again, more of his thoughts poured in. The prince. Her son. The king. The rest of the army. Evan's role in all the communication. All the people who relied on Evan. His whole life outside here without her. Xavier. Yukiko. Mizu.
On the one hand, some part of her knew it was perfectly reasonable for Evan to mentally prepare himself for the journey back, but the goddess felt only her boiling emotions, each too potent and colorful to separate from the last. An angry fire burned hot behind her eyes, and her hands clenched at her sides while she closed her eyes and tried to think of a way to direct all the energy in a way that would not make their parting even harder than it already was.
Finally, not knowing what else to do, the goddess' swung her arms up and around her, swirling what quickly grew into a massive, superheated black flame tinged purple at the edges, and threw it backward at the wall opposite Evan. Immediately upon contact with the palace wall, the flames burst and exploded against it, tunneling out through it entirely such that most of the wall gave way. In the hushed, pregnant silence after the smoke had cleared, it was possible to see the fog and the pools in the distance.
The goddess did not once even bother to look at the wall but shifted to cover her face with her hair, pulling away from Evan, shifting opposite Evan to prop herself up on one forearm. She knew she was overreacting. Humans did not throw orbs of flame at the wall every time their lovers left.
And yet...
After a long moment, the goddess gave a half-smile and the smallest of laughs from beneath her hair before saying, "I suppose I've made it perfectly clear how much I don't want that." She waited for a moment and then gathered her courage to look again at Evan, knowing her face had fallen, a momentary gray pallor having come over her skin after the use of so much magic at once. Steadily, though, her lavender color began to return. He had done much this night to bolster her power. She took another deep breath.
Looking away again, she said, "Go. Go now so you might come back to me sooner. And bring the rest of what you promised." After another pause, she added, "I'll stay and clean up this mess," although she was not altogether convinced that she was talking about the giant hole in the wall.
Gods, he was leaving her. Again.
And then she would be alone. Again.
Well... there was that other soldier. Raccoon. A ferocious hunger leapt into the goddess' belly, making it difficult to maintain full consciousness for a moment. It had be a long while since the goddess had felt the urge to split herself into several conscious pieces, but it was so potent now that she did begin to split such that there were two superimposed versions of her temporarily, one poised to run and find Raccoon, and one prepared to cling desperately to Evan.
With a breath, she managed to collect herself again, merging with herself and waving off the dizziness splitting had given her.
"I... should probably get back," Evan said, and as the goddess focused on Evan again, more of his thoughts poured in. The prince. Her son. The king. The rest of the army. Evan's role in all the communication. All the people who relied on Evan. His whole life outside here without her. Xavier. Yukiko. Mizu.
On the one hand, some part of her knew it was perfectly reasonable for Evan to mentally prepare himself for the journey back, but the goddess felt only her boiling emotions, each too potent and colorful to separate from the last. An angry fire burned hot behind her eyes, and her hands clenched at her sides while she closed her eyes and tried to think of a way to direct all the energy in a way that would not make their parting even harder than it already was.
Finally, not knowing what else to do, the goddess' swung her arms up and around her, swirling what quickly grew into a massive, superheated black flame tinged purple at the edges, and threw it backward at the wall opposite Evan. Immediately upon contact with the palace wall, the flames burst and exploded against it, tunneling out through it entirely such that most of the wall gave way. In the hushed, pregnant silence after the smoke had cleared, it was possible to see the fog and the pools in the distance.
The goddess did not once even bother to look at the wall but shifted to cover her face with her hair, pulling away from Evan, shifting opposite Evan to prop herself up on one forearm. She knew she was overreacting. Humans did not throw orbs of flame at the wall every time their lovers left.
And yet...
After a long moment, the goddess gave a half-smile and the smallest of laughs from beneath her hair before saying, "I suppose I've made it perfectly clear how much I don't want that." She waited for a moment and then gathered her courage to look again at Evan, knowing her face had fallen, a momentary gray pallor having come over her skin after the use of so much magic at once. Steadily, though, her lavender color began to return. He had done much this night to bolster her power. She took another deep breath.
Looking away again, she said, "Go. Go now so you might come back to me sooner. And bring the rest of what you promised." After another pause, she added, "I'll stay and clean up this mess," although she was not altogether convinced that she was talking about the giant hole in the wall.