Philip's hesitation made Tehlunae nervous, but eventually, he responded with, "I do."
She nodded, allowing another pause for the gravity of the situation. She dipped her fingers in the clay and drew the sigil gently on Philip's low belly.
"Then, please, step into this first circle."
Once he had done so, the chorus of voices again rose up, beginning with the commander and the captains.
"To the goddess!" they all shouted three times.
With Philip settled, Tehlunae looked to the remaining volunteers.
"Who is next to offer themselves to the goddess?" She offered a quick prayer in the hopes that she would be able to keep up the energy and gravity required through the rest of the ceremony. It was to be a long evening.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
"I will go willingly restrained with decorative ropes," Trevor declared for the priestess and everyone to hear.
Evan had known this ahead of time--Kade had made doubly sure of that--but it was still another thing entirely to be approaching the actual moment.
The priestess instructed the soldier to undress, which Trevor did with just the right balance of flare and hesitation. It made Evan want to smirk, though he was hyper-aware of his expression and kept it to just a subtle curl at the corner of his lips. There was a genuine satisfaction about the volunteers going to the goddess nude, while Evan would arrive in this armor she had made for him. Perhaps that wasn't the kindest thought, but kind was a difficult direction for him to lean in all of this. The volunteers were at once accomplices and competitors; inheritors, in some ways, of the complex project that he had entered into with the goddess on his own just days before. He simply could not help the jealousy that roiled in his chest; the best he could do was resolve to savor it.
Trevor made for a complicated start to that practice, though. He still seemed most familiar to Evan, most understandable in how he related to the goddess. And yet, Evan wouldn't have been able to stomach being tied up in front of the army. At moments, the process made him deeply uncomfortable to watch, but he was resolved to witness everything, and it grew easier when Evan reminded himself that Trevor wasn't him, no matter their apparent similarities. And when Evan was able to let go of the discomfort, the display was pleasing indeed. The priestess had rubbed oil over Trevor's skin, and he glistened in the firelight as Kade adorned him with rope, murmuring in his ear and slowly guiding Trevor into a delicious, palpable surrender.
Kade caught Evan's gaze as he began to tie Travor's arms behind his back, and Evan gave him a solemn nod in understanding. Kade had asked him to take a little extra care with Trevor, given his offering. Trevor wasn't just getting decorated; he was getting restrained, and Kade had been tediously emphatic with Evan about the dangers inherent in that. Evan couldn't make Kade any promises, not really--who the fuck knew how things would go with the goddess tonight--but he understood the stakes, and he would do what he could for Trevor's safety. He'd genuinely do what he could for all of them; jealousy be damned, he'd gotten them all into this mess, and there was an additional, inevitable fondness that they'd risen to the occasion--even if other sentiments also swirled about it all.
Gods, Trevor's cock even twitched and dripped as Kade continued his bindings. Evan was like to be ravenous by the end of all this. A little bit of guilt tugged at him about Xavier, his chest aching that he hadn't gotten a chance to truly debrief with the lieutenant. He seemed understanding about Evan's interactions with the goddess herself, but the closest they'd gotten to talking about his interactions with others was... well, messy, to say the least, and hardly what Evan would call conclusive.
"Do you intend to serve the goddess of desire, of shadow, of mist, and of purpose of your own free will?" The priestess asked to a thoroughly restrained Trevor after marking a sigil on his leg with clay.
"I do."
Evan let out a deep exhale, grounding himself back in the present moment. He would sort things out with Xavier, one way or another. Tonight of all nights was about the goddess--was about this frankly sacred thing that they were all doing together. As ever, jealousy be damned.
"Then, please, step into this first circle."
The priestess nodded to Evan and bowed her head, and Evan caught on that he should follow suit. He was just a little disappointed, desire tugging at the edges of his vision to watch Travor walk, naked and bound as he was. He did tilt his gaze to catch a nice view of Trevor’s ass as the man passed by, bound hands framing it nicely. Gods, what a night it was going to be.
Trevor got himself situated and Evan turned his gaze to the priestess, just as she motioned to Mizu.
“Repeat after me,” Mizu said, addressing the line of captains and raising her arms to the sky.
"To the goddess!” Her voice boomed, and shivers danced across Evan’s shoulders. He could swear the tendrils around his throat constricted, just slightly, as he instinctively echoed her call with the other captains, elation and thrill bubbling from his core.
“To the goddess!”
Then, the whole of the crowd that had gathered shouted in turn, surprising Evan, and he couldn’t quite help the crooked, astonished smile that he flashed as his eyes surveyed the whole of them. It wasn’t everyone in the army--many had remained back at camp for one reason or another--but it was still a great number of people, celebrating the goddess he had come to know--and to love. A flicker of pride glowed in his chest, too--that in a way, all of this was his doing.
"Who will be next to offer themselves to the goddess?"
Now things grew a little more awkward. Evan watched the volunteers shift with uncertainty, each of them eyeing the others to gauge who should go. The pride and elation inside of him twisted with fear that they might back out, but one of them finally spoke up--albeit a bit softly.
“I will.”
The young cadet who moved forward toward Evan and the priestess clutched a small sack to him. Evan smiled warmly to him, recalling their earlier exchange fondly. Nick had spent most of the day going around camp inviting nearly everyone he came upon to touch him with one of the objects he carried--an invitation he extended to Evan when he’d found him to check in. Evan had chosen a jagged rock, relishing the soft nervousness in Nick’s expression as he pressed it under his jaw and gently scraped the sharp tip over his skin. He’d been gentle, the interaction a brief and simple exploration, but it had pleased Evan rather considerably--and Nick as well, if he wasn’t mistaken.
"And what will your offering to the goddess be?"
Nick hesitated, his eyes looking a little blankly at the crowd. Evan felt for him, but the cadet recovered soon enough.
"A collection," he said, holding his bag out in front of him as though inviting everyone present to peek inside. He projected a little bit better now, though nervousness did warble through. "Moments of intimacy gifted to the goddess through these objects, and me."
Evan nearly hummed, pleased by the description.
Nick looked to the priestess with wide, hopeful eyes in an adorable show of seeking some kind of affirmation. The priestess offered him a smile, and prompted him, "Please, undress.”
The cadet drew in a deep breath to muster his resolve, and then set his sack of items on the ground, and his jacket beside it. Nick’s gaze lingered on it, almost prompting Evan to give the jacket a second glance--was there something special about it? But then Nick was moving on to pulling his shirt over his head. He hugged the thinned and tattered garment against himself, tears wetting his cheeks, and for a moment Evan worried--he wasn’t regretting this, was he? Surely not--Nick had honestly been one of the more confident in his decision to go to the goddess, when Evan had checked in on him. But was the spectacle too much? The reality more than he could handle?
When Nick finally set his shirt atop his jacket, he let out a sigh, and all at once looked much lighter. In his next adorable move, he started to futz with his belt before realizing he should get his boots off, first. Then, when he did get to his belt, he dithered about what direction to face, and ultimately pivoted toward Evan. Not that others wouldn’t be able to see, but Evan took it as a compliment of sorts, and it did make sense to offer the most forward angle to him, of anyone. A satisfied growl silently licked at his throat, especially when Nick chanced a glance up at him. Evan was doing his best to keep his expression in check, but he couldn’t quite help the sinister flash that showed itself to the cadet--a pleasant echo that he was sure reminded them both of that jagged rock in Nick’s bag that would be coming with him.
Nick shook out his wrists once he was undressed and presented himself eagerly to the priestess, sighing and finding some serenity in this all. He took to being washed rather well, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks that were decidedly happy.
"Do you intend to serve the goddess of desire, of shadow, of mist, and of purpose of your own free will?" the priestess asked, and Nick let out a boisterous laugh of a sob, nearly beaming as he responded with an enthusiastic,
“Yes!”
Evan felt deeply warmed by the display, heartened to see such unabashedly positive enthusiasm. Even the priestess seemed a bit moved, touching her hand to Nick’s shoulder.
"Then, please, step into this first circle."
Evan bowed his head again once Nick had collected his sack, obediently mirroring the priestess as Nick stepped between them. The bizarreness of participating in a ceremony like this struck him potently in that moment--how very different this felt than any other ceremony he’d attended in his life--but before he could get tangled up in all that, the commander gave another boisterous call.
“To the goddess!”
Evan heartily echoed it again, settling into pure joy that this was a ceremony that he wanted to participate in. He watched Nick sob openly, clutching his bag dearly as the crowd echoed the call, and oh how he beamed once he was empty.
"And who will be next to offer themselves to the goddess?"
Evan sobered quite a bit when Lieutenant Pemberley was the next to speak up.
“I will.”
It was tempting to regard him with scrutiny, to offer up scathing critiques of the bouquet in his arms. Some part of Evan desperately did not want Pemberley to come, had secretly wished that the lieutenant would have changed his mind. And yet… he was also glad. Not just for the sheer numbers--there was something dimly promising about his decision to return. Something which Pemberley named quite aptly when the priestess asked him,
"What will your offering to the goddess be?"
“Reconciliation,” he said with a subtle bow, bouquet held out directly in front of him toward the center of the circles. He looked some parts absurd--like a gentleman caller apologizing for a forgotten birthday--but the word he had spoken resonated poignantly within Evan’s chest. Pemberley met Evan’s eyes when he stood, and Evan felt a roil of different emotions stirring within him, but in the end, he gave Pemberley a nod. It would be difficult--messy, terribly complicated, to say the least--but yes, he, too, wanted reconciliation, once he really got down to it. Pemberley didn’t even know about the demon, about the storm the goddess had gone through just last night. With hope, he might be able to help with all that.
Here was certainly hoping he wouldn’t just make it all worse.
"Please, undress.”
Queasiness began to swim in Evan’s stomach, and his resolve to witness everything faltered as that second night with the goddess started to feel uncomfortably close. Evan really didn’t especially want to hear Pemberley’s belt rustle, or watch his pants fall, but, for better or for worse, stubbornness held his gaze steady, even as flickers began to pulse through Evan’s memories of Pemberley undoing Evan’s belt, of Evan stumbling over his own half-down pants before tripping to the ground in the woods.
Evan balled his fists tight, teeth biting into his tongue and nails pricking his palms to try to anchor himself in the present moment. He watched the priestess squeeze hot water from her cloth over Pemberley’s head and then begin to wash his face and neck, and the lieutenant was just as stony as ever. He almost looked like a statue, and it made Evan angry. Now of all times, shouldn’t Pemberley finally feel just one gods-damned flinch of an emotion, for once?
When the priestess knelt in front of Pemberley, Evan finally had to look away, his whole body clenched tight. It wasn’t that he feared seeing anything lewd from her, and Pemberley had made for damn sure he was faced away from Evan’s gaze anyway. But it was palpable how much care she showed in her washing, and she seemed to be taking her fucking time with this one. Was it terrible that Evan wasn’t ready to see Pemberley treated with so much care? Even if he understood that night had been the goddess’ doing, that Pemberley was as much a victim in so many senses… it didn’t matter. He felt downright sick.
"Do you intend to serve the goddess of desire, of shadow, of mist, and of purpose of your own free will?"
The silence that rang after the priestess’ question made Evan’s blood boil--half with rage, half with petty hope.
Finally, Philip answered, “I do,” and Evan closed his eyes, swallowing down his discomfort.
"Then, please, step into this first circle."
Evan bowed his head as he had with the others, his heart pounding loud in his ears. He opened his eyes to burn holes into the ground for a moment, though as soon as Pemberley’s naked legs stepped into view, he shut his eyes tight again, reeling from the tug on his memory.
“To the goddess!” The commander cheered, and Evan straightened, even managed to look at Pemberley, the man’s eyes downcast, his posture a little absurdly trying to use his bouquet for modesty. Evan felt nervous, and only managed to speak the captains’ cheer, his diaphragm too deflated to muster a proper yell. Luckily, it sounded like the other captains and the rest of the crowd covered for him well enough.
"Who is next to offer themselves to the goddess?"
“I-I will.” Cadet Finch nearly stumbled forward a step or two, quite possibly nudged forward by Cadet Galen beside him. Evan softened, sighing out what he could of his ire for Pemberley. Finch was a bit meek, but Evan held no ire for him, and was looking forward to bearing witness to something more pleasant.
Evan had known this ahead of time--Kade had made doubly sure of that--but it was still another thing entirely to be approaching the actual moment.
The priestess instructed the soldier to undress, which Trevor did with just the right balance of flare and hesitation. It made Evan want to smirk, though he was hyper-aware of his expression and kept it to just a subtle curl at the corner of his lips. There was a genuine satisfaction about the volunteers going to the goddess nude, while Evan would arrive in this armor she had made for him. Perhaps that wasn't the kindest thought, but kind was a difficult direction for him to lean in all of this. The volunteers were at once accomplices and competitors; inheritors, in some ways, of the complex project that he had entered into with the goddess on his own just days before. He simply could not help the jealousy that roiled in his chest; the best he could do was resolve to savor it.
Trevor made for a complicated start to that practice, though. He still seemed most familiar to Evan, most understandable in how he related to the goddess. And yet, Evan wouldn't have been able to stomach being tied up in front of the army. At moments, the process made him deeply uncomfortable to watch, but he was resolved to witness everything, and it grew easier when Evan reminded himself that Trevor wasn't him, no matter their apparent similarities. And when Evan was able to let go of the discomfort, the display was pleasing indeed. The priestess had rubbed oil over Trevor's skin, and he glistened in the firelight as Kade adorned him with rope, murmuring in his ear and slowly guiding Trevor into a delicious, palpable surrender.
Kade caught Evan's gaze as he began to tie Travor's arms behind his back, and Evan gave him a solemn nod in understanding. Kade had asked him to take a little extra care with Trevor, given his offering. Trevor wasn't just getting decorated; he was getting restrained, and Kade had been tediously emphatic with Evan about the dangers inherent in that. Evan couldn't make Kade any promises, not really--who the fuck knew how things would go with the goddess tonight--but he understood the stakes, and he would do what he could for Trevor's safety. He'd genuinely do what he could for all of them; jealousy be damned, he'd gotten them all into this mess, and there was an additional, inevitable fondness that they'd risen to the occasion--even if other sentiments also swirled about it all.
Gods, Trevor's cock even twitched and dripped as Kade continued his bindings. Evan was like to be ravenous by the end of all this. A little bit of guilt tugged at him about Xavier, his chest aching that he hadn't gotten a chance to truly debrief with the lieutenant. He seemed understanding about Evan's interactions with the goddess herself, but the closest they'd gotten to talking about his interactions with others was... well, messy, to say the least, and hardly what Evan would call conclusive.
"Do you intend to serve the goddess of desire, of shadow, of mist, and of purpose of your own free will?" The priestess asked to a thoroughly restrained Trevor after marking a sigil on his leg with clay.
"I do."
Evan let out a deep exhale, grounding himself back in the present moment. He would sort things out with Xavier, one way or another. Tonight of all nights was about the goddess--was about this frankly sacred thing that they were all doing together. As ever, jealousy be damned.
"Then, please, step into this first circle."
The priestess nodded to Evan and bowed her head, and Evan caught on that he should follow suit. He was just a little disappointed, desire tugging at the edges of his vision to watch Travor walk, naked and bound as he was. He did tilt his gaze to catch a nice view of Trevor’s ass as the man passed by, bound hands framing it nicely. Gods, what a night it was going to be.
Trevor got himself situated and Evan turned his gaze to the priestess, just as she motioned to Mizu.
“Repeat after me,” Mizu said, addressing the line of captains and raising her arms to the sky.
"To the goddess!” Her voice boomed, and shivers danced across Evan’s shoulders. He could swear the tendrils around his throat constricted, just slightly, as he instinctively echoed her call with the other captains, elation and thrill bubbling from his core.
“To the goddess!”
Then, the whole of the crowd that had gathered shouted in turn, surprising Evan, and he couldn’t quite help the crooked, astonished smile that he flashed as his eyes surveyed the whole of them. It wasn’t everyone in the army--many had remained back at camp for one reason or another--but it was still a great number of people, celebrating the goddess he had come to know--and to love. A flicker of pride glowed in his chest, too--that in a way, all of this was his doing.
"Who will be next to offer themselves to the goddess?"
Now things grew a little more awkward. Evan watched the volunteers shift with uncertainty, each of them eyeing the others to gauge who should go. The pride and elation inside of him twisted with fear that they might back out, but one of them finally spoke up--albeit a bit softly.
“I will.”
The young cadet who moved forward toward Evan and the priestess clutched a small sack to him. Evan smiled warmly to him, recalling their earlier exchange fondly. Nick had spent most of the day going around camp inviting nearly everyone he came upon to touch him with one of the objects he carried--an invitation he extended to Evan when he’d found him to check in. Evan had chosen a jagged rock, relishing the soft nervousness in Nick’s expression as he pressed it under his jaw and gently scraped the sharp tip over his skin. He’d been gentle, the interaction a brief and simple exploration, but it had pleased Evan rather considerably--and Nick as well, if he wasn’t mistaken.
"And what will your offering to the goddess be?"
Nick hesitated, his eyes looking a little blankly at the crowd. Evan felt for him, but the cadet recovered soon enough.
"A collection," he said, holding his bag out in front of him as though inviting everyone present to peek inside. He projected a little bit better now, though nervousness did warble through. "Moments of intimacy gifted to the goddess through these objects, and me."
Evan nearly hummed, pleased by the description.
Nick looked to the priestess with wide, hopeful eyes in an adorable show of seeking some kind of affirmation. The priestess offered him a smile, and prompted him, "Please, undress.”
The cadet drew in a deep breath to muster his resolve, and then set his sack of items on the ground, and his jacket beside it. Nick’s gaze lingered on it, almost prompting Evan to give the jacket a second glance--was there something special about it? But then Nick was moving on to pulling his shirt over his head. He hugged the thinned and tattered garment against himself, tears wetting his cheeks, and for a moment Evan worried--he wasn’t regretting this, was he? Surely not--Nick had honestly been one of the more confident in his decision to go to the goddess, when Evan had checked in on him. But was the spectacle too much? The reality more than he could handle?
When Nick finally set his shirt atop his jacket, he let out a sigh, and all at once looked much lighter. In his next adorable move, he started to futz with his belt before realizing he should get his boots off, first. Then, when he did get to his belt, he dithered about what direction to face, and ultimately pivoted toward Evan. Not that others wouldn’t be able to see, but Evan took it as a compliment of sorts, and it did make sense to offer the most forward angle to him, of anyone. A satisfied growl silently licked at his throat, especially when Nick chanced a glance up at him. Evan was doing his best to keep his expression in check, but he couldn’t quite help the sinister flash that showed itself to the cadet--a pleasant echo that he was sure reminded them both of that jagged rock in Nick’s bag that would be coming with him.
Nick shook out his wrists once he was undressed and presented himself eagerly to the priestess, sighing and finding some serenity in this all. He took to being washed rather well, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks that were decidedly happy.
"Do you intend to serve the goddess of desire, of shadow, of mist, and of purpose of your own free will?" the priestess asked, and Nick let out a boisterous laugh of a sob, nearly beaming as he responded with an enthusiastic,
“Yes!”
Evan felt deeply warmed by the display, heartened to see such unabashedly positive enthusiasm. Even the priestess seemed a bit moved, touching her hand to Nick’s shoulder.
"Then, please, step into this first circle."
Evan bowed his head again once Nick had collected his sack, obediently mirroring the priestess as Nick stepped between them. The bizarreness of participating in a ceremony like this struck him potently in that moment--how very different this felt than any other ceremony he’d attended in his life--but before he could get tangled up in all that, the commander gave another boisterous call.
“To the goddess!”
Evan heartily echoed it again, settling into pure joy that this was a ceremony that he wanted to participate in. He watched Nick sob openly, clutching his bag dearly as the crowd echoed the call, and oh how he beamed once he was empty.
"And who will be next to offer themselves to the goddess?"
Evan sobered quite a bit when Lieutenant Pemberley was the next to speak up.
“I will.”
It was tempting to regard him with scrutiny, to offer up scathing critiques of the bouquet in his arms. Some part of Evan desperately did not want Pemberley to come, had secretly wished that the lieutenant would have changed his mind. And yet… he was also glad. Not just for the sheer numbers--there was something dimly promising about his decision to return. Something which Pemberley named quite aptly when the priestess asked him,
"What will your offering to the goddess be?"
“Reconciliation,” he said with a subtle bow, bouquet held out directly in front of him toward the center of the circles. He looked some parts absurd--like a gentleman caller apologizing for a forgotten birthday--but the word he had spoken resonated poignantly within Evan’s chest. Pemberley met Evan’s eyes when he stood, and Evan felt a roil of different emotions stirring within him, but in the end, he gave Pemberley a nod. It would be difficult--messy, terribly complicated, to say the least--but yes, he, too, wanted reconciliation, once he really got down to it. Pemberley didn’t even know about the demon, about the storm the goddess had gone through just last night. With hope, he might be able to help with all that.
Here was certainly hoping he wouldn’t just make it all worse.
"Please, undress.”
Queasiness began to swim in Evan’s stomach, and his resolve to witness everything faltered as that second night with the goddess started to feel uncomfortably close. Evan really didn’t especially want to hear Pemberley’s belt rustle, or watch his pants fall, but, for better or for worse, stubbornness held his gaze steady, even as flickers began to pulse through Evan’s memories of Pemberley undoing Evan’s belt, of Evan stumbling over his own half-down pants before tripping to the ground in the woods.
Evan balled his fists tight, teeth biting into his tongue and nails pricking his palms to try to anchor himself in the present moment. He watched the priestess squeeze hot water from her cloth over Pemberley’s head and then begin to wash his face and neck, and the lieutenant was just as stony as ever. He almost looked like a statue, and it made Evan angry. Now of all times, shouldn’t Pemberley finally feel just one gods-damned flinch of an emotion, for once?
When the priestess knelt in front of Pemberley, Evan finally had to look away, his whole body clenched tight. It wasn’t that he feared seeing anything lewd from her, and Pemberley had made for damn sure he was faced away from Evan’s gaze anyway. But it was palpable how much care she showed in her washing, and she seemed to be taking her fucking time with this one. Was it terrible that Evan wasn’t ready to see Pemberley treated with so much care? Even if he understood that night had been the goddess’ doing, that Pemberley was as much a victim in so many senses… it didn’t matter. He felt downright sick.
"Do you intend to serve the goddess of desire, of shadow, of mist, and of purpose of your own free will?"
The silence that rang after the priestess’ question made Evan’s blood boil--half with rage, half with petty hope.
Finally, Philip answered, “I do,” and Evan closed his eyes, swallowing down his discomfort.
"Then, please, step into this first circle."
Evan bowed his head as he had with the others, his heart pounding loud in his ears. He opened his eyes to burn holes into the ground for a moment, though as soon as Pemberley’s naked legs stepped into view, he shut his eyes tight again, reeling from the tug on his memory.
“To the goddess!” The commander cheered, and Evan straightened, even managed to look at Pemberley, the man’s eyes downcast, his posture a little absurdly trying to use his bouquet for modesty. Evan felt nervous, and only managed to speak the captains’ cheer, his diaphragm too deflated to muster a proper yell. Luckily, it sounded like the other captains and the rest of the crowd covered for him well enough.
"Who is next to offer themselves to the goddess?"
“I-I will.” Cadet Finch nearly stumbled forward a step or two, quite possibly nudged forward by Cadet Galen beside him. Evan softened, sighing out what he could of his ire for Pemberley. Finch was a bit meek, but Evan held no ire for him, and was looking forward to bearing witness to something more pleasant.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Nathan couldn't quite help looking back to Chloe the instant he'd stepped forward. His knees practically quaked with nervousness, his heart fluttering anxiously. Chloe smiled to him gently, her eyes encouraging. Taking in a deep breath, Nathan turned his gaze back to the priestess and walked toward her, clutching his journal at his side.
"And what will your offering to the goddess be?"
Nathan held out his journal in both hands toward the priestess, almost as if the gesture was intended to answer. Maybe it was, but he remembered himself and pushed himself to speak, though he could hardly make his voice carry like the others had.
"P-poetry," he stammered, his cheeks burning with fluster. Would he have to read his poem aloud? Could he? Well, he supposed, it wasn't as though Nick had done a show-and-tell of his objects. Nathan looked at the priestess with dark, nervous eyes as he lowered his journal to his side again, hoping if not pleading to simply be told to undress without fuss--not that that in itself wouldn't be utterly terrifying.
"And what will your offering to the goddess be?"
Nathan held out his journal in both hands toward the priestess, almost as if the gesture was intended to answer. Maybe it was, but he remembered himself and pushed himself to speak, though he could hardly make his voice carry like the others had.
"P-poetry," he stammered, his cheeks burning with fluster. Would he have to read his poem aloud? Could he? Well, he supposed, it wasn't as though Nick had done a show-and-tell of his objects. Nathan looked at the priestess with dark, nervous eyes as he lowered his journal to his side again, hoping if not pleading to simply be told to undress without fuss--not that that in itself wouldn't be utterly terrifying.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
“I-I will," a short, small young man said, stumbling. He came over to the priestess, holding a well-worn journal in one hand at his side. It appeared to be hand-stitched.
"And what will your offering to the goddess be?"
He thrust his hands forward as though that was enough of an answer, and the priestess smiled knowingly. He had spent a lot of time writing in that journal--she could see it.
"P-poetry," he stammered. His cheeks turned red as he said it, and she could practically feel him pleading to move on. She smiled, maybe just a little mischievously, and leaned down toward the boy.
Quietly, she said, "Why don't you read a couple lines?"
"And what will your offering to the goddess be?"
He thrust his hands forward as though that was enough of an answer, and the priestess smiled knowingly. He had spent a lot of time writing in that journal--she could see it.
"P-poetry," he stammered. His cheeks turned red as he said it, and she could practically feel him pleading to move on. She smiled, maybe just a little mischievously, and leaned down toward the boy.
Quietly, she said, "Why don't you read a couple lines?"
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The priestess smiled--kindly, but with a glint that settled dread in Nathan's stomach.
"Why don't you read a couple lines?" she said quietly to him. Nathan's lips twisted to the side as he cast his gaze down toward his journal. Then he took in a deep breath and opened it to where he'd written his poem, his hands shaking and heartbeat pounding in his earrs as he read over the words in his mind, frantically trying to assess what he could bear to read aloud to such an audience.
"Om-- ominous..." he stammered, but he knew he was too quiet, and embarassment burned at his cheeks and caught in his throat. He frowned a little, shaking his head, and looked at this priestess again, eyes still pleading. But then, he thought of a compromise, and held the journal out to her again, open and facing her, his whole body trembling.
((OOC: In the end, I wrote the whole poem lol. With disclaimers that of course Nathan will likely revise it more for the novel whenever we get here but I think it's good enough for the rp's purposes. So uh, let me know if/when you're ready for it. Didn't want to jump the gun, especially cuz it occurred to be that this would be a good opportunity for someone else to participate in the ceremony, if the priestess would like to invite someone else in. Elaine, Idel, Ari, Caleb, and Ashleigh all seem potentially interesting... of course, Evan and Serio would both be happy to participate. (Honestly Yukiko W I S H E S she could read this but it might be RATHER inappropriate honestlyyyy this might make her cry for very complicated reasonsssss)))
"Why don't you read a couple lines?" she said quietly to him. Nathan's lips twisted to the side as he cast his gaze down toward his journal. Then he took in a deep breath and opened it to where he'd written his poem, his hands shaking and heartbeat pounding in his earrs as he read over the words in his mind, frantically trying to assess what he could bear to read aloud to such an audience.
"Om-- ominous..." he stammered, but he knew he was too quiet, and embarassment burned at his cheeks and caught in his throat. He frowned a little, shaking his head, and looked at this priestess again, eyes still pleading. But then, he thought of a compromise, and held the journal out to her again, open and facing her, his whole body trembling.
((OOC: In the end, I wrote the whole poem lol. With disclaimers that of course Nathan will likely revise it more for the novel whenever we get here but I think it's good enough for the rp's purposes. So uh, let me know if/when you're ready for it. Didn't want to jump the gun, especially cuz it occurred to be that this would be a good opportunity for someone else to participate in the ceremony, if the priestess would like to invite someone else in. Elaine, Idel, Ari, Caleb, and Ashleigh all seem potentially interesting... of course, Evan and Serio would both be happy to participate. (Honestly Yukiko W I S H E S she could read this but it might be RATHER inappropriate honestlyyyy this might make her cry for very complicated reasonsssss)))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Tehlunae watched as the young man shook with nerves and opened his journal to what he had ostensibly written the goddess.
He began with a stutter, "Om-- ominous..." but his voice soon caught in his throat. His cheeks were flushed, and he shook his head, distraught. Finally, he held the journal out toward Tehlunae as though inviting her to read it for him instead.
With a gentle, soothing smile, she shook her head and nodded instead toward the gathered captains, indicating he should look elsewhere for a reader.
((OOC: Elaine would be very happy to read, but it felt important for Nathan to choose someone. Mizu would also read.))
He began with a stutter, "Om-- ominous..." but his voice soon caught in his throat. His cheeks were flushed, and he shook his head, distraught. Finally, he held the journal out toward Tehlunae as though inviting her to read it for him instead.
With a gentle, soothing smile, she shook her head and nodded instead toward the gathered captains, indicating he should look elsewhere for a reader.
((OOC: Elaine would be very happy to read, but it felt important for Nathan to choose someone. Mizu would also read.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Nathan was confused and a little bit frightened when the priestess shook her head, but he followed her gaze to the line of captains, and slowly, he understood, though choosing the person to read his poem was also a terrifying prospect.
In some ways, it might have been appropriate for his own captain to read it, and Nathan's heart sank a little that she wasn't here. He understood, though. She had done was she could to be kind, even to accept the decision that he and Chloe and Lieutenant Pemberley had all made, but this was terribly difficult for her. He held his journal against his chest again, though still open, the poem pressing against his heart as he looked at the captains who were here.
Borcher seemed kind and patient and accepting, as did Dodd, and Nathan considered them. Fujiwara caught his eye, too; she was vibrant, and seemed like she would be an exceptionally good reader. For a moment Nathan perked up in her direction, but she gently shook her head, catching on to his intentions almost before he himself did. She looked so sad, even as she smiled, and Nathan's heart sank again, confusion swirling within him.
But then, his eyes settled on Nicholaides, and he remembered their conversation the other day in the woods. She had also been kind and patient and accepting, and also curious, asking him questions while also giving him space. He felt warmth in his chest thinking about it, his body calming a little, and so finally scurried over toward her, and held his journal out toward her much like he had to the priestess.
"U-um, would you--" he asked softly, "Would you read this, please?"
The poem was scrawled across both open pages, with small doodles and abstract shadings sprinkled throughout--a wolf; a dragon; trees and mountains; shadows and clouds adorning little corners. Not especially sophisticated in rendering, but the sketchy shading and dreamlike composition of it all lent a certain mystique.
The poem itself read:
Ominous forest familiar and strange / wolves prowling in shadow
footstep heartbeat / growling breath / jaws destiny--beckoning.
Sacred clearing familiar and strange / quaking roar encompass
body sensation / mind surrender / heart terror and yearning.
Lonely landscape familiar and strange / wind whipping through talons
plummet fear / shiver thrill / affection ache toward trust.
Primordial mountain familiar and strange / enwrapping one and another
truce embrace / rejuvenate whole / sleep or dream or breathe together.
Complex body familiar and strange / reaching and running in tandem
shame constricts / awe burgeons / acceptance becomes this offering.
In some ways, it might have been appropriate for his own captain to read it, and Nathan's heart sank a little that she wasn't here. He understood, though. She had done was she could to be kind, even to accept the decision that he and Chloe and Lieutenant Pemberley had all made, but this was terribly difficult for her. He held his journal against his chest again, though still open, the poem pressing against his heart as he looked at the captains who were here.
Borcher seemed kind and patient and accepting, as did Dodd, and Nathan considered them. Fujiwara caught his eye, too; she was vibrant, and seemed like she would be an exceptionally good reader. For a moment Nathan perked up in her direction, but she gently shook her head, catching on to his intentions almost before he himself did. She looked so sad, even as she smiled, and Nathan's heart sank again, confusion swirling within him.
But then, his eyes settled on Nicholaides, and he remembered their conversation the other day in the woods. She had also been kind and patient and accepting, and also curious, asking him questions while also giving him space. He felt warmth in his chest thinking about it, his body calming a little, and so finally scurried over toward her, and held his journal out toward her much like he had to the priestess.
"U-um, would you--" he asked softly, "Would you read this, please?"
The poem was scrawled across both open pages, with small doodles and abstract shadings sprinkled throughout--a wolf; a dragon; trees and mountains; shadows and clouds adorning little corners. Not especially sophisticated in rendering, but the sketchy shading and dreamlike composition of it all lent a certain mystique.
The poem itself read:
Ominous forest familiar and strange / wolves prowling in shadow
footstep heartbeat / growling breath / jaws destiny--beckoning.
Sacred clearing familiar and strange / quaking roar encompass
body sensation / mind surrender / heart terror and yearning.
Lonely landscape familiar and strange / wind whipping through talons
plummet fear / shiver thrill / affection ache toward trust.
Primordial mountain familiar and strange / enwrapping one and another
truce embrace / rejuvenate whole / sleep or dream or breathe together.
Complex body familiar and strange / reaching and running in tandem
shame constricts / awe burgeons / acceptance becomes this offering.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Captain Nicolaides had thoroughly enjoyed the ceremony thus far. She was, honestly, proud to see her lieutenant standing up there ready to go with the others, even if he did look more nervous that she had ever seen him. And, she couldn't deny she relished privately in the sight of some of their soldiers undressing and being washed tenderly. She especially reveled in watching Kade at work with Trevor, deftly tying knot after knot. She thought she might have developed a new sexual interest after all that.
But, throughout it all, Ari had stayed resolute, chanting where expected, and offering her rapt attention. Ari did sneak glances at Elaine on a number of occasions, checking to see how she was handling things. Ari knew that Elaine had friends who had gone to the serve the goddess, long ago. But Elaine did not give anything away and did not return Ari's attention.
When one of the attacked men, Nathan, the soldier Ari herself had sought out to speak with, declared that he was ready, Ari could see his shaking even from where she stood. He was thoroughly terrified but also, she thought, excited.
He declared that he had poetry to offer the goddess, and Ari watched the priestess contemplate how she wanted to include such an offering in the ritual. Finally, she heard the priestess say gently to the boy, "Why don't you read a couple lines?"
Ari's heart clenched in her chest, having a strong intuition that the boy would freeze up at the suggestion. He did stumble through opening his journal, but eventually, he began, "Om--ominous..." but he couldn't make it any further. Finally, he held the open journal to the priestess as though asking her to read it. Ari's heart clenched again when the priestess shook her head, and the captain grew concerned that the priestess would force the issue, perhaps to everyone's detriment. However, the priestess then nodded toward the captains, indicating Nathan should ask for another reader. That made some sense, Ari thought.
Captain Nicolaides could not help but puff up her chest a little as Nathan surveyed the captains, looking very much like he might actually choose Captain Fujiwara, but she surprised Ari by gently shaking her head. What did Fujiwara have against reading poetry? But she was always weird around Evan, maybe that was it.
Finally, Nathan settled on Ari, and the captain smiled widely, pleased to be trusted and included in this moment.
"U-um, would you--" he asked softly, "Would you read this, please?"
Ari accepted the notebook and looked over the poem, appreciating the doodles of a wolf, a dragon, mountainous forests, and clouds. She sighed happily. The effect was beautiful. As she scanned the poem, wondering which lines to choose, she noticed the refrain and had an idea.
Looking around at her fellow captains, she said, "Repeat this first line after me." She hoped they would understand what she meant.
Booming with her loud voice, Captain Nicolaides shouted, "Ominous forest familiar and strange!"
The captains echoed the line, and in turn, the rest of the army chorused it yet one more time as they had with earlier chants, "Ominous forest familiar and strange."
Ari continued, "wolves prowling in shadow / footstep heartbeat / growling breath / jaws destiny--beckoning."
And louder, she called out, "Sacred clearing familiar and strange!" And again, the chorus rang out, with the captains shouting and the army following.
"Quaking roar encompass / body sensation / mind surrender / heart terror and yearning." Ari realized she could probably stop now, but she was enjoying this all so much, and who was to say that the first two stanzas of the poem were the best? Better keep reading.
"Lonely landscape familiar and strange!" And again the answering chorus of voices.
"Wind whipping through talons / plummet fear / shiver thrill / affection ache toward trust."
"Primordial mountain familiar and strange!" Ari shivered at that as the resounding chorus rang out.
"Enwrapping one and another / truce embrace / rejuvenate whole / sleep or dream or breathe together."
Last stanza--savor it, Ari thought.
"Complex body familiar and strange!" Ari shouted even louder, and the answering chorus mirrored her fervor.
"Reaching and running in tandem / shame constricts / awe burgeons / acceptance becomes this offering." Ari was a bit out of breath after she had finished, reveling in the fitting nature of the end of the poem. Gods, this was truly beautiful and easily the most sacred experience Ari herself could easily call to mind.
But, throughout it all, Ari had stayed resolute, chanting where expected, and offering her rapt attention. Ari did sneak glances at Elaine on a number of occasions, checking to see how she was handling things. Ari knew that Elaine had friends who had gone to the serve the goddess, long ago. But Elaine did not give anything away and did not return Ari's attention.
When one of the attacked men, Nathan, the soldier Ari herself had sought out to speak with, declared that he was ready, Ari could see his shaking even from where she stood. He was thoroughly terrified but also, she thought, excited.
He declared that he had poetry to offer the goddess, and Ari watched the priestess contemplate how she wanted to include such an offering in the ritual. Finally, she heard the priestess say gently to the boy, "Why don't you read a couple lines?"
Ari's heart clenched in her chest, having a strong intuition that the boy would freeze up at the suggestion. He did stumble through opening his journal, but eventually, he began, "Om--ominous..." but he couldn't make it any further. Finally, he held the open journal to the priestess as though asking her to read it. Ari's heart clenched again when the priestess shook her head, and the captain grew concerned that the priestess would force the issue, perhaps to everyone's detriment. However, the priestess then nodded toward the captains, indicating Nathan should ask for another reader. That made some sense, Ari thought.
Captain Nicolaides could not help but puff up her chest a little as Nathan surveyed the captains, looking very much like he might actually choose Captain Fujiwara, but she surprised Ari by gently shaking her head. What did Fujiwara have against reading poetry? But she was always weird around Evan, maybe that was it.
Finally, Nathan settled on Ari, and the captain smiled widely, pleased to be trusted and included in this moment.
"U-um, would you--" he asked softly, "Would you read this, please?"
Ari accepted the notebook and looked over the poem, appreciating the doodles of a wolf, a dragon, mountainous forests, and clouds. She sighed happily. The effect was beautiful. As she scanned the poem, wondering which lines to choose, she noticed the refrain and had an idea.
Looking around at her fellow captains, she said, "Repeat this first line after me." She hoped they would understand what she meant.
Booming with her loud voice, Captain Nicolaides shouted, "Ominous forest familiar and strange!"
The captains echoed the line, and in turn, the rest of the army chorused it yet one more time as they had with earlier chants, "Ominous forest familiar and strange."
Ari continued, "wolves prowling in shadow / footstep heartbeat / growling breath / jaws destiny--beckoning."
And louder, she called out, "Sacred clearing familiar and strange!" And again, the chorus rang out, with the captains shouting and the army following.
"Quaking roar encompass / body sensation / mind surrender / heart terror and yearning." Ari realized she could probably stop now, but she was enjoying this all so much, and who was to say that the first two stanzas of the poem were the best? Better keep reading.
"Lonely landscape familiar and strange!" And again the answering chorus of voices.
"Wind whipping through talons / plummet fear / shiver thrill / affection ache toward trust."
"Primordial mountain familiar and strange!" Ari shivered at that as the resounding chorus rang out.
"Enwrapping one and another / truce embrace / rejuvenate whole / sleep or dream or breathe together."
Last stanza--savor it, Ari thought.
"Complex body familiar and strange!" Ari shouted even louder, and the answering chorus mirrored her fervor.
"Reaching and running in tandem / shame constricts / awe burgeons / acceptance becomes this offering." Ari was a bit out of breath after she had finished, reveling in the fitting nature of the end of the poem. Gods, this was truly beautiful and easily the most sacred experience Ari herself could easily call to mind.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Captain Nicholaides accepted the notebook from Nathan with a smile and began to look over what Nathan had written. Nervousness squirmed in his chest like she were tickling him from the inside. He turned back to the priestess, not entirely sure why at first. He realized that it was because he didn't know what he should do while the captain read. Just... stand here waiting for his journal back? Surely not.
"Repeat this first line after me," Nicholaides said, drawing Nathan's gaze back to her. She was looking at the other captains, and some nodded in understanding. Fujiwara practically beamed.
"Ominous forest familiar and strange!" Nicholaides shouted, sending shivers spiraling down Nathan's back.
Then the rest of the captains repeated it, and Nathan gripped at his chest, starting to grow afraid. Afraid of what? Nothing in particular, he supposed, except that he could remember that forest from his dream so vividly, see the ways that even full of people this forest might echo that placeless space where he so often went to feel afraid.
Then, the whole rest of the army repeated the line, and Nathan whimpered softly, closing his eyes and covering his face.
He knew, of course, that he was safe. That this ceremony was a respectful offering to a goddess he fully intended to serve. To entrust himself to. He breathed deep, trying to calm himself, trying to sink into what he liked about that dream--the reasons he had chosen to write about it.
"Wolves prowling in shadow," Nicholaides continued, "footstep heartbeat / growling breath / jaws destiny--beckoning."
As afraid as Nathan was of the wolves that so often hunted him in his dreams, he also felt some inexplicable affection for them. Some thrill in the chase, some release in the inevitability of devourment. He felt more peaceful thinking about it, and lowered his hands with a big breath in and out, huffing some of the trembling fear out of his body as he emptied his lungs. His eyes looked back to the priestess again, wet and longing.
"Sacred clearing familiar and strange!"
Nathan nearly jumped as Nicholaides shouted the start of the next verse, fresh shivers dancing over his skin, and he skurried back over to the priestess, something about standing right in front of Nicholaides while she read proving to be just simply too much. He was grateful that he did when the captains echoed it, glad to have just a little bit more space from the proximity of the sound. He took in another deep breath and let it out, closing his eyes and remembering potently the moment he knew Nicholaides was about to describe. He had been naked for the goddess, or very nearly--a small, shivering creature in awe of the great dragon before him. It was starting to feel honestly a bit strange to be wearing clothes, though perhaps that was colored by knowing that he would be taking them off eventually anyway. After he made it through the whole-body quake of the crowd repeating the line, his eyes opened and again fell on the priestess, questioning this time as he timidly began to remove his jacket.
She nodded.
"Quaking roar encompass / body sensation / mind surrender / heart terror and yearning."
Nathan let out a shaky exhale, closing his eyes again as he set his jacket aside and began to remove his shirt. Embarrassment plucked at him, but he grounded himself in thoughts of that moment in the clearing, of all of the moments the goddess' eyes had taken him in whole. Although she wasn't here yet... she also was, wasn't she? In all of the eyes that watched him now, in all of the ears that listened to his words.
"Lonely landscape familiar and strange!"
Nathan sat himself down to get at his boots while the captains and the crowd echoed the line. It felt a little bit awkward, but in some ways he was also grateful to be focusing on a task now, finding some peace in following a flow and entrusting himself to a process.
"Wind whipping through talons / plummet fear / shiver thrill / affection ache toward trust."
A quiet sob heaved out of Nathan's chest unexpectedly as he removed his boots and nearly hurled them away. Of course, he should have known it was coming, but he'd gone and let himself get lost in his motions, his mind no longer anticipating what was coming next but rather just experiencing the words as they came. It was that last line that made him so very sad--the crux of what had not quite felt good about his previous time with the goddess. He hoped that it could be different this time. He was choosing to believe that it would be. But even so, there was a well of sadness beneath his own experience, for all those whose times with the goddess suffered from that ache.
"Primordial mountain familiar and strange!"
The next stanza brought Nathan back to what he was doing with a bit of a jolt. He sniffed and wiped away some tears that had swelled, and pushed himself to his feet with a deep breath. He wasn't sure he was quite ready to fuss with his belt yet, though. He wiped his face some more as the line echoed once and again through the clearing, and then ultimately wrapped his arms around himself in a hug as he sank into the memory the next lines would allude to.
"Enwrapping one and another / truce embrace / rejuvenate whole / sleep or dream or breathe together."
No matter how scared the goddess had ever made him, no matter how close to his limits she took him, she always showed him the care and tenderness he needed to recover. It had been confusing, but he couldn't deny that simple truth, and he was so grateful for it. It seemed like maybe Lieutenant Pemberley could not say the same, from what little he had shared with Nathan about it, and for that, he was sad. But as far as Nathan's own experience with the goddess... she had done right by him, and he was growing warm with excitement to go back to her.
"Complex body familiar and strange!"
Oof, there was a bit of a cringe. He really hadn't been sure that complex was the right word, but he hadn't some up with a better one. Maybe it was that he was still working on this part of things. To wit, he gulped as he looked down to his belt, fear bubbling up within him again as the captains and army echoed the line. But, bravely, he did begin to unclasp it.
"Reaching and running in tandem / shame constricts / awe burgeons / acceptance becomes this offering."
Nathan had gotten his belt undone, but he froze with his thumbs hooked into his pants and underwear. He'd intended to pull them down together, both considering that it seemed to fit the timing of the poem well, and just that the others had disrobed similarly. But he was still standing that way when Nicholaides finished reading, and his heart beat erratically in his chest as his mind frantically pleaded for his body to move. Three other men were already naked; what was Nathan so afraid of?
Finally, with a sigh, Nathan surrendered to something, and pulled down his pants and stepped out of them, leaving his underwear on for the time being. It at least got him one step closer, though the thought crossed his mind to ask if it was possible to just take his underwear with him, at least. To wit, he looked once again at the priestess, eyes holding the question plainly. But then, seeing her, he thought of the ways she had bathed the others, had touched every part of them with care. Nathan wanted that in its entirety, did he not? Tears blurred his vision and spilled down his cheeks again, and he wiped them for a few moments before finally collecting himself. He looked at the priestess with a renewed sense of resolve, though tender fear also shown plain in his expression. Nonetheless, he closed his eyes and finally pulled his underwear down, and stepped out of it, though he couldn't quite stop himself from covering his face with his hands after.
"Repeat this first line after me," Nicholaides said, drawing Nathan's gaze back to her. She was looking at the other captains, and some nodded in understanding. Fujiwara practically beamed.
"Ominous forest familiar and strange!" Nicholaides shouted, sending shivers spiraling down Nathan's back.
Then the rest of the captains repeated it, and Nathan gripped at his chest, starting to grow afraid. Afraid of what? Nothing in particular, he supposed, except that he could remember that forest from his dream so vividly, see the ways that even full of people this forest might echo that placeless space where he so often went to feel afraid.
Then, the whole rest of the army repeated the line, and Nathan whimpered softly, closing his eyes and covering his face.
He knew, of course, that he was safe. That this ceremony was a respectful offering to a goddess he fully intended to serve. To entrust himself to. He breathed deep, trying to calm himself, trying to sink into what he liked about that dream--the reasons he had chosen to write about it.
"Wolves prowling in shadow," Nicholaides continued, "footstep heartbeat / growling breath / jaws destiny--beckoning."
As afraid as Nathan was of the wolves that so often hunted him in his dreams, he also felt some inexplicable affection for them. Some thrill in the chase, some release in the inevitability of devourment. He felt more peaceful thinking about it, and lowered his hands with a big breath in and out, huffing some of the trembling fear out of his body as he emptied his lungs. His eyes looked back to the priestess again, wet and longing.
"Sacred clearing familiar and strange!"
Nathan nearly jumped as Nicholaides shouted the start of the next verse, fresh shivers dancing over his skin, and he skurried back over to the priestess, something about standing right in front of Nicholaides while she read proving to be just simply too much. He was grateful that he did when the captains echoed it, glad to have just a little bit more space from the proximity of the sound. He took in another deep breath and let it out, closing his eyes and remembering potently the moment he knew Nicholaides was about to describe. He had been naked for the goddess, or very nearly--a small, shivering creature in awe of the great dragon before him. It was starting to feel honestly a bit strange to be wearing clothes, though perhaps that was colored by knowing that he would be taking them off eventually anyway. After he made it through the whole-body quake of the crowd repeating the line, his eyes opened and again fell on the priestess, questioning this time as he timidly began to remove his jacket.
She nodded.
"Quaking roar encompass / body sensation / mind surrender / heart terror and yearning."
Nathan let out a shaky exhale, closing his eyes again as he set his jacket aside and began to remove his shirt. Embarrassment plucked at him, but he grounded himself in thoughts of that moment in the clearing, of all of the moments the goddess' eyes had taken him in whole. Although she wasn't here yet... she also was, wasn't she? In all of the eyes that watched him now, in all of the ears that listened to his words.
"Lonely landscape familiar and strange!"
Nathan sat himself down to get at his boots while the captains and the crowd echoed the line. It felt a little bit awkward, but in some ways he was also grateful to be focusing on a task now, finding some peace in following a flow and entrusting himself to a process.
"Wind whipping through talons / plummet fear / shiver thrill / affection ache toward trust."
A quiet sob heaved out of Nathan's chest unexpectedly as he removed his boots and nearly hurled them away. Of course, he should have known it was coming, but he'd gone and let himself get lost in his motions, his mind no longer anticipating what was coming next but rather just experiencing the words as they came. It was that last line that made him so very sad--the crux of what had not quite felt good about his previous time with the goddess. He hoped that it could be different this time. He was choosing to believe that it would be. But even so, there was a well of sadness beneath his own experience, for all those whose times with the goddess suffered from that ache.
"Primordial mountain familiar and strange!"
The next stanza brought Nathan back to what he was doing with a bit of a jolt. He sniffed and wiped away some tears that had swelled, and pushed himself to his feet with a deep breath. He wasn't sure he was quite ready to fuss with his belt yet, though. He wiped his face some more as the line echoed once and again through the clearing, and then ultimately wrapped his arms around himself in a hug as he sank into the memory the next lines would allude to.
"Enwrapping one and another / truce embrace / rejuvenate whole / sleep or dream or breathe together."
No matter how scared the goddess had ever made him, no matter how close to his limits she took him, she always showed him the care and tenderness he needed to recover. It had been confusing, but he couldn't deny that simple truth, and he was so grateful for it. It seemed like maybe Lieutenant Pemberley could not say the same, from what little he had shared with Nathan about it, and for that, he was sad. But as far as Nathan's own experience with the goddess... she had done right by him, and he was growing warm with excitement to go back to her.
"Complex body familiar and strange!"
Oof, there was a bit of a cringe. He really hadn't been sure that complex was the right word, but he hadn't some up with a better one. Maybe it was that he was still working on this part of things. To wit, he gulped as he looked down to his belt, fear bubbling up within him again as the captains and army echoed the line. But, bravely, he did begin to unclasp it.
"Reaching and running in tandem / shame constricts / awe burgeons / acceptance becomes this offering."
Nathan had gotten his belt undone, but he froze with his thumbs hooked into his pants and underwear. He'd intended to pull them down together, both considering that it seemed to fit the timing of the poem well, and just that the others had disrobed similarly. But he was still standing that way when Nicholaides finished reading, and his heart beat erratically in his chest as his mind frantically pleaded for his body to move. Three other men were already naked; what was Nathan so afraid of?
Finally, with a sigh, Nathan surrendered to something, and pulled down his pants and stepped out of them, leaving his underwear on for the time being. It at least got him one step closer, though the thought crossed his mind to ask if it was possible to just take his underwear with him, at least. To wit, he looked once again at the priestess, eyes holding the question plainly. But then, seeing her, he thought of the ways she had bathed the others, had touched every part of them with care. Nathan wanted that in its entirety, did he not? Tears blurred his vision and spilled down his cheeks again, and he wiped them for a few moments before finally collecting himself. He looked at the priestess with a renewed sense of resolve, though tender fear also shown plain in his expression. Nonetheless, he closed his eyes and finally pulled his underwear down, and stepped out of it, though he couldn't quite stop himself from covering his face with his hands after.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The priestess listened to the captain read the young man's poem and appreciated the energy she put into it. Certainly, even though this was already the fourth man to be offered, the captain's voice infused the ceremony again with fervor and energy. It seemed as though they were really going to pull all this off, to the best of their ability.
Tehlunae appreciated the images the young poet had woven into the piece--each of them pulling up vividly in Tehlunae's mind. The goddess had very nearly done right by this one, it seemed. Good.
The young, skittish man didn't seem to know what to do with himself while the poem was read. He scurried back over to the priestess and ultimately asked with a gesture if it was all right to go ahead and begin removing his clothing. He didn't quite finish, however, by the time the poem was done, and he stood there awkwardly contemplating his belt.
Finally, he took off his pants, though he stood in his underwear for some time, nearly asking the priestess with his eyes if he could keep them on. Before she could answer, however, he bravely took them off and offered himself to her care.
With nod, the priestess picked up a new cloth and dipped it in the steaming water, humming quietly as she began to massage the cloth into the boy's skin. She took note of every shiver as she worked her way from top to bottom, spending extra time in the places she thought would offer him additional warmth--under the armpits, around the neck, around his groin. As the sun had now almost fully sunk below the horizon, the air had gotten a little colder.
When she was finished washing the boy, she massaged in the oil, gently urging it to seal in his warmth. Then, dipping her fingers in clay, she drew a sigil on his cheek. Finally, she placed both of her hands on the young man's shoulders and nodded her approval at him. He, at least, would be safe with the goddess, she thought.
Releasing his shoulders, the priestess asked loudly, "Do you intend to serve the goddess of desire, of shadow, of mist, and of purpose of your own free will?"
Tehlunae appreciated the images the young poet had woven into the piece--each of them pulling up vividly in Tehlunae's mind. The goddess had very nearly done right by this one, it seemed. Good.
The young, skittish man didn't seem to know what to do with himself while the poem was read. He scurried back over to the priestess and ultimately asked with a gesture if it was all right to go ahead and begin removing his clothing. He didn't quite finish, however, by the time the poem was done, and he stood there awkwardly contemplating his belt.
Finally, he took off his pants, though he stood in his underwear for some time, nearly asking the priestess with his eyes if he could keep them on. Before she could answer, however, he bravely took them off and offered himself to her care.
With nod, the priestess picked up a new cloth and dipped it in the steaming water, humming quietly as she began to massage the cloth into the boy's skin. She took note of every shiver as she worked her way from top to bottom, spending extra time in the places she thought would offer him additional warmth--under the armpits, around the neck, around his groin. As the sun had now almost fully sunk below the horizon, the air had gotten a little colder.
When she was finished washing the boy, she massaged in the oil, gently urging it to seal in his warmth. Then, dipping her fingers in clay, she drew a sigil on his cheek. Finally, she placed both of her hands on the young man's shoulders and nodded her approval at him. He, at least, would be safe with the goddess, she thought.
Releasing his shoulders, the priestess asked loudly, "Do you intend to serve the goddess of desire, of shadow, of mist, and of purpose of your own free will?"