Chris had fallen to his knees, braced intently against the ground as though he might also fall forward, and for a few heavy moments, the goddess worried she had asked too much of him. The goddess fought a temptation to give him a path out of her request, but she let it stand--she needed to let this play out.
At last, Chris straightened, sat back on his knees, and flexed his hand one way and then the other, loosening it after the tense position he had been in. And then, with a deep breath, he began to sing. She had expected him to repeat the song that he had sung for the ceremony, but after a few bars, she knew it was something different. The melody was still melancholy, full of longing, but the air of hope rescued the song from despair and quickly caught from Chris to one of the other volunteers once the chorus began.
They sang:
The road is long; Our feet are worn--
still, we carry this oath we've sworn.
We raise our hands to feel the sun,
Grateful we walk with everyone
Eyes up, swords down
One day we'll pass that crown around
Tips sharp, pain dull
seeking peace in all of our souls
At the line about the crown, the goddess smirked, understanding that this was a song the rebel army surely had written since the civil war had begun. A pleasure indeed to hear out of their mouths directly that King Ceric's days were numbered.
Though the verses of the song varied somewhat, the chorus remained a strong throughline, and by the time the second chorus began, all the volunteers were singing, though some of them were quieter than others.
Once the song had solidified, Dehaljadrun started at one end of the curved line the volunteers had naturally formed, smirking again as she placed a hand on the back of Lance's neck. Gently, she closed her eyes and pressed in toward his mind, searching for memories of his offering. The sound of the primordial cry echoed in the goddess internal soundscape, and she opened her eyes with a light gasp, looking into his eyes. Collecting herself, she closed her mouth and eyes once more.
Lance, she said in the man's mind, having learned his name. Welcome. I accept your gift. The goddess smirked once again as she reached around toward his backside to touch the place where his sigil lay, sending pulses of pleasure from that part of his body all throughout.
((OOC: Unless Lance stops her, she's going to move onto Philip, and it would be helpful to know what Philip is feeling right now. I'm assuming they will all keep singing throughout except maybe when the goddess is directly touching them, but maybe even then. Whatever makes sense.
Also, I'm not super attached to the lyrics, and I feel like the last two lines could be better, so I'm open to ideas if you have them. <3
And, so that the order is written down somewhere, Dehaljadrun is starting from the right side going left and will touch Lance, Philip, Novelty, Gavin, Raccoon, (skip Chris), Nick, Nathan, Trevor, Chloe, return to Chris, then probably Evan.))
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Lance's singing wavered when the goddess walked up to him, thrill and nervousness dancing and swirling every which way within him. She smirked, even, and Lance couldn't help mirroring the expression, his chin tilting subtly up in an instinctive attempt to exude confidence despite the storm of butterflies in his stomach, and he did his best to remuster his participation in the song. He fell altogether silent when she touched him, though, the caress of her fingers against the back of his neck pulling a soft gasp from him as he swayed subtly forward. The goddess herself seemed to gasp, her eyes meeting his, and pure pleasure seemed to pulse through him, longing finally bringing an ache to his awareness. His nerves were positively alive, and he might have reached out to touch her had his attention not been pulled more inward, stilling him and helping him to feel surprisingly rooted, if only for a moment.
Lance. It was like the goddess spoke straight into his mind. Perhaps she had. There was no point in disbelieving anything at this point, right? Lance closed his eyes, awash in a brief but potent chill of vertigo as he opened himself to her, a vision coming unbidden of his arms spread wide as he allowed himself to fall backward into a refreshing pool of water. His whole body shivered pleasantly, and his fingers discharged the last of that wave of sensation with gentle dances on his thighs.
Welcome. I accept your gift.
At that, a laugh of pure joy bubbled up from deep within him, tears beginning to well in his eyes. All that worry from the past day and a half, all that stress trying to figure out something perfect, and in the end, an impulsive nostalgic croon had been more than enough. He was nearly dizzy with relief and gratitude, and he felt ridiculously close to weeping, though he held it at bay with a careful, spacious exhale--albeit betraying unsteady breath.
Then, the goddess' fingers found his backside where the pristess had drawn his sigil and the shimmer had buried warmth into his skin, and more pulses of pure pleasure flooded his nerves, pulling a moan past his lips, eyelids fluttering. His hands finally reached for the goddess, his knees growing weak and a swell of fear rising in him that he might altogether stumble to the ground without bracing. Briefly, he fantasized about kissing her, imagining everyone's eyes on him as they'd been on Evan moments prior. But, something stilled him, and he caught his breath and steadied himself, loosening his grasp on the goddess as he collected some sense of composure. He found her eyes and smiled to her, his lips in a playful smirk but his eyes soft and grateful, tears finally spilling over and wetting his cheeks.
((OOC: I think on some level he knows that the fantasy of kissing her and being the center of attention would put him in a self-conscious, performative sort of headspace in actuality right now, though he's probably not consciously identifying that. I figure there's some amount of sensing the goddess being about ready to move on, too, and I think he's at peace with that at this point.
Happy to post for Philip, too, but figured I'd go ahead and post what I had here for Lance.))
Lance. It was like the goddess spoke straight into his mind. Perhaps she had. There was no point in disbelieving anything at this point, right? Lance closed his eyes, awash in a brief but potent chill of vertigo as he opened himself to her, a vision coming unbidden of his arms spread wide as he allowed himself to fall backward into a refreshing pool of water. His whole body shivered pleasantly, and his fingers discharged the last of that wave of sensation with gentle dances on his thighs.
Welcome. I accept your gift.
At that, a laugh of pure joy bubbled up from deep within him, tears beginning to well in his eyes. All that worry from the past day and a half, all that stress trying to figure out something perfect, and in the end, an impulsive nostalgic croon had been more than enough. He was nearly dizzy with relief and gratitude, and he felt ridiculously close to weeping, though he held it at bay with a careful, spacious exhale--albeit betraying unsteady breath.
Then, the goddess' fingers found his backside where the pristess had drawn his sigil and the shimmer had buried warmth into his skin, and more pulses of pure pleasure flooded his nerves, pulling a moan past his lips, eyelids fluttering. His hands finally reached for the goddess, his knees growing weak and a swell of fear rising in him that he might altogether stumble to the ground without bracing. Briefly, he fantasized about kissing her, imagining everyone's eyes on him as they'd been on Evan moments prior. But, something stilled him, and he caught his breath and steadied himself, loosening his grasp on the goddess as he collected some sense of composure. He found her eyes and smiled to her, his lips in a playful smirk but his eyes soft and grateful, tears finally spilling over and wetting his cheeks.
((OOC: I think on some level he knows that the fantasy of kissing her and being the center of attention would put him in a self-conscious, performative sort of headspace in actuality right now, though he's probably not consciously identifying that. I figure there's some amount of sensing the goddess being about ready to move on, too, and I think he's at peace with that at this point.
Happy to post for Philip, too, but figured I'd go ahead and post what I had here for Lance.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Lance's joy at her acceptance bubbled out into her, making her think of the way she might relax into her sacred pool of the tree and lose her body to the pleasure there. His unsteady breath pleased her almost as much as the moan that followed as pleasure pulsed in thick purple waves through their overlapping mindscapes. As his balance grew unsteady, Lance reached for Dehaljadrun's arms, potently communicating his fantasy of her kissing him the way she had kissed Evan, complete with the audience. She was tempted to indulge his fantasy--she liked the effervescent taste of his pleasure--but there was a spiking yellow-green edge of uncertainty to the image, making it difficult for Dehaljadrun to trust that it was actually what Lance wanted.
As though understanding each other, Lance had already begun loosening his grip on her, and she opened her eyes to find him looking at her. He smiled, reciprocating her earlier smirk, though tears still fell from his eyes and wet his cheeks. No matter how confused his fantasies were, he was still grateful to be here. And, really, that was all she wanted. They could figure the rest of it out together. They had plenty of time.
Gently, she nodded and pulled away from him completely, turning her attention to Philip, who was singing perhaps most softly of all. She took a deep breath to steady herself as she took a step toward him, allowing her awareness to expand to include him and sense into whether he wanted her touch and attention. Though he was a roiling set of confused emotions--light blues of gratitude that matched Lance's, grayish black threads of jealousy, yellow spikes of fear, purple-pink swirls of love, and a tightly held ball of orange excitement--Dehaljadrun did not believe he wanted her to stay away from him entirely.
With care, she closed the distance between him, taking the back of his neck into her hand and leaning her forehead toward his as though he were a treasured friend.
Philip, I am grateful you've come back, she said into his mind. Though she meant it, the goddess saw in her peripheral awareness a yellow-green edge emerge around her own mindscape, and she worried Philip could feel it. She tried again, reaching down to touch the sigil on his low belly and abandoning words to send him an image instead, one of her prostrating herself at his feet. Through his sigil, she pulsed a cloud-like swirl of care through him, something akin to what Dehaljadrun imagined of a mother's love, as the sensation enveloped Philip.
We have time, she added, opening her eyes and pulling her forehead back to look at Philip properly, I would like to use it to seek your forgiveness, no matter how long it takes.
Gently, she took the bouquet of flowers from Philip and used her other hand to caress over the top of them, allowing their feathery buds to grace her fingers. She then slid the soft top of the bouquet across her neck, slowly from side to side, genuinely smiling at the sensation. Then, she handed them back to Philip.
Reconciliation is a beautiful gift, she said, her own eyes welling up with gratitude, What is left is only flowers now, a last precious memory of life from your realm. Keep them if they would bring you comfort.
((OOC: She would move onto Novelty here soon.))
As though understanding each other, Lance had already begun loosening his grip on her, and she opened her eyes to find him looking at her. He smiled, reciprocating her earlier smirk, though tears still fell from his eyes and wet his cheeks. No matter how confused his fantasies were, he was still grateful to be here. And, really, that was all she wanted. They could figure the rest of it out together. They had plenty of time.
Gently, she nodded and pulled away from him completely, turning her attention to Philip, who was singing perhaps most softly of all. She took a deep breath to steady herself as she took a step toward him, allowing her awareness to expand to include him and sense into whether he wanted her touch and attention. Though he was a roiling set of confused emotions--light blues of gratitude that matched Lance's, grayish black threads of jealousy, yellow spikes of fear, purple-pink swirls of love, and a tightly held ball of orange excitement--Dehaljadrun did not believe he wanted her to stay away from him entirely.
With care, she closed the distance between him, taking the back of his neck into her hand and leaning her forehead toward his as though he were a treasured friend.
Philip, I am grateful you've come back, she said into his mind. Though she meant it, the goddess saw in her peripheral awareness a yellow-green edge emerge around her own mindscape, and she worried Philip could feel it. She tried again, reaching down to touch the sigil on his low belly and abandoning words to send him an image instead, one of her prostrating herself at his feet. Through his sigil, she pulsed a cloud-like swirl of care through him, something akin to what Dehaljadrun imagined of a mother's love, as the sensation enveloped Philip.
We have time, she added, opening her eyes and pulling her forehead back to look at Philip properly, I would like to use it to seek your forgiveness, no matter how long it takes.
Gently, she took the bouquet of flowers from Philip and used her other hand to caress over the top of them, allowing their feathery buds to grace her fingers. She then slid the soft top of the bouquet across her neck, slowly from side to side, genuinely smiling at the sensation. Then, she handed them back to Philip.
Reconciliation is a beautiful gift, she said, her own eyes welling up with gratitude, What is left is only flowers now, a last precious memory of life from your realm. Keep them if they would bring you comfort.
((OOC: She would move onto Novelty here soon.))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
The goddess' fingers on the back of Philip's neck pulsed through him, stilling his soft singing altogether as the air escaped from his lungs. He had a vision of falling to his knees, overwhelmed by the emotion of it all, but he managed to remain standing--perhaps it helped that the goddess brought her forehead against his. He closed his eyes, gripping the flowers in his hand tight.
Philip, I am grateful you've come back, she said into his mind. The words were what he wanted to hear, her touch and her presence unspeakably relieving after these past days without her, but he still felt nervous and unsure. Could they really forgive each other? As if in answer, the goddess touched his low belly, and a pulse echoed through him of the warm, promising pleasure the shimmer of the portal had bestowed him there. Then, the image came to mind of the goddess prostrating herself before him, and he nearly gasped. Was that his fantasy? Something did please him about the thought, but what hubris--him, a mortal, standing over a god?
We have time, she said, care swirling gently from her touch. She pulled her forehead back from his, and he shyly raised his gaze, feeling her eyes searching for his. Another pulse of emotion threatened to send him to his knees when he met her gaze--in some ways, for the first time. I would like to use it to seek your forgiveness, no matter how long it takes.
Tears blurred his vision and his eyebrows raised with some surprise. This was not the reception his had expected from her, he supposed. And, surely... surely he needed her forgiveness, also. His hand tightened its grip again on his boquet, but he managed to relax it as the goddess reached for the flowers to take them. He watched in awe as she gently ran her fingers over the buds, a subtle shiver passing through him as a sympathetic echo of the caress he beheld. Then she slid the flowers gently over her neck, smiling. He felt honored.
Reconciliation is a beautiful gift, she said as she returned the flowers to him. What is left is only flowers now, a last precious memory of life from your realm. Keep them if they would bring you comfort. Philip nodded as he gently took the boquet back in hand, his eyes moving down to watch his free hand caress over the flowers much as the goddess had done.
Thank you. He replied simply, but managed to bring his eyes back up to hers once more, offering a resolute sort of peace. They would have a lot of work to do, but, as she said, they had time. He was here with her now, his purpose to heal this wound they shared. Surely, they would find a way.
Subtly, Philip's gaze drifted toward Novelty. He did not quite meet Novelty's eyes, but he indulged in gratitude for Novelty's presence. He didn't want to impose on the man too much, but even so, this all felt less daunting with him nearby--to help simply remind Philip of why he'd chosen to return, if nothing else.
Philip, I am grateful you've come back, she said into his mind. The words were what he wanted to hear, her touch and her presence unspeakably relieving after these past days without her, but he still felt nervous and unsure. Could they really forgive each other? As if in answer, the goddess touched his low belly, and a pulse echoed through him of the warm, promising pleasure the shimmer of the portal had bestowed him there. Then, the image came to mind of the goddess prostrating herself before him, and he nearly gasped. Was that his fantasy? Something did please him about the thought, but what hubris--him, a mortal, standing over a god?
We have time, she said, care swirling gently from her touch. She pulled her forehead back from his, and he shyly raised his gaze, feeling her eyes searching for his. Another pulse of emotion threatened to send him to his knees when he met her gaze--in some ways, for the first time. I would like to use it to seek your forgiveness, no matter how long it takes.
Tears blurred his vision and his eyebrows raised with some surprise. This was not the reception his had expected from her, he supposed. And, surely... surely he needed her forgiveness, also. His hand tightened its grip again on his boquet, but he managed to relax it as the goddess reached for the flowers to take them. He watched in awe as she gently ran her fingers over the buds, a subtle shiver passing through him as a sympathetic echo of the caress he beheld. Then she slid the flowers gently over her neck, smiling. He felt honored.
Reconciliation is a beautiful gift, she said as she returned the flowers to him. What is left is only flowers now, a last precious memory of life from your realm. Keep them if they would bring you comfort. Philip nodded as he gently took the boquet back in hand, his eyes moving down to watch his free hand caress over the flowers much as the goddess had done.
Thank you. He replied simply, but managed to bring his eyes back up to hers once more, offering a resolute sort of peace. They would have a lot of work to do, but, as she said, they had time. He was here with her now, his purpose to heal this wound they shared. Surely, they would find a way.
Subtly, Philip's gaze drifted toward Novelty. He did not quite meet Novelty's eyes, but he indulged in gratitude for Novelty's presence. He didn't want to impose on the man too much, but even so, this all felt less daunting with him nearby--to help simply remind Philip of why he'd chosen to return, if nothing else.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Thank you, the goddess heard Philip reply in his mind, and a coiled tension in her belly relaxed. Gods, she was so grateful to have him back here. It was so rare that she truly had the opportunity to make amends. And she wanted to try. It helped immensely that he was willing.
Perhaps Philip felt that Dehaljadrun was nearing the point of moving on to the next volunteer, or perhaps there was something else pulling his awareness, but Philip turned to look at the man standing next to him, the one with wavy white-blond curls, and the goddess felt a burst of gratitude--white and shimmering as it wavered in his mind like a wind-blown cloth--spill into Philip's body.
A rush of memories then flooded the goddess' awareness. An apple left in a tent. Glances across a crowd. Walking into the forest together. "I killed a man's spirit." "You're a good man, Philip." "Please, don't stop." A hunger to be somewhere in-between holding one's self back and letting go of humanity altogether.
The goddess blinked, and her chest expanded as she reeled back slightly, managing to not take a step or make another outward expression. Her dress clinked together in the wake of her movements, adding to the dream-like quality of what she had just seen, and she felt heady, buoyant.
She knew for a fact that Philip had not had any memories of desire about this man prior to coming to her realm--had all of this happened since she had released him? Dehaljadrun was now staring openly at the newer man, a curiosity plain in her wine-colored eyes. She herself had had difficulty opening Philip up to receive her, but this human had managed it?
Surely, I was the one to open the floodgates, she thought, placating her pride.
But, on another level, she was pleased, pleased they had found each other and--for that or some other reason--had come here together.
Then, as she focused more wholly on this new volunteer--Novelty--she could see that he wanted to be here in his own right. She watched the pulse of excitement and belief in magic swirl his bloodstream with a deep purple and amber light, and she stepped forward to caress one of the flowers blooming prominently on Novelty's left shoulder, a lavender clematis. Dehaljadrun could not blame Philip for so thoroughly appreciating this man--he was beautiful and full of an eager desire to learn and experience, a good counterbalance to Philip's hesitance. As the goddess stroked the smooth, soft petal of the clematis with the barest tip of one finger, taking her time, her eyes flicked to Novelty, and she relished in the ways his breath hitched and his singing abruptly stopped as though she were touching him directly.
The goddess raised an eyebrow, pleased at this man as an offering onto himself, let alone the ways he might help her with Philip. In a moment of gratitude and affection, the goddess put a hand on each of Novelty's shoulders, looking directly at him as she spoke into his mind.
Thank you, she said, feeling his immediate confusion, which reflected in the momentarily tilt of his head. She heard him ask himself, is she thanking me for being here? Or for something else?
You've been kind to and unafraid of Philip, the goddess clarified, sensing at once Novelty's awe at her knowledge of such things. She offered him a small smile in return and added, and unafraid of me. Novelty's eyes widened and filled quickly with tears as he grasped the lowest part of her upper arms gently but emphatically.
Of course, he said in his mind, I'm here, my goddess. The words delighted her, and she brought her forehead to his, stroking the flowers and vines across his back. Feeling inspired, Dehaljadrun closed her eyes and coaxed the flowers to absorb into Novelty's skin, marking and tattooing him exactly where and how they lay. That done, she began to relish more deeply in the sensations of Novelty's body, pressing herself to his skin and kissing the tops of his shoulders. Slowly, she slid herself down him, kissing his chest, stomach, and hipbones as she did so. She then reached for the back of his calf and the sigil located there, coaxing that also into his skin and alighting memories of yet another man--Stephen--who had undressed Novelty during the ceremony. Wryly, the goddess looked up at Novelty, realizing this man sought pleasure from many directions. He was exactly the sort of person who would do well with her, especially with so many others to take pleasure in alongside her.
The goddess indulged herself by kissing and then biting the soft flesh just above and to one side of Novelty's length, drawing a surprised gasp from him as she did so. Dehaljadrun desperately wanted to take more--to draw them all into her enjoyment--and she felt a gravity welling up and pulling all of them toward her momentarily, but she eased up and stood, knowing she had others to receive and welcome first.
Perhaps Philip felt that Dehaljadrun was nearing the point of moving on to the next volunteer, or perhaps there was something else pulling his awareness, but Philip turned to look at the man standing next to him, the one with wavy white-blond curls, and the goddess felt a burst of gratitude--white and shimmering as it wavered in his mind like a wind-blown cloth--spill into Philip's body.
A rush of memories then flooded the goddess' awareness. An apple left in a tent. Glances across a crowd. Walking into the forest together. "I killed a man's spirit." "You're a good man, Philip." "Please, don't stop." A hunger to be somewhere in-between holding one's self back and letting go of humanity altogether.
The goddess blinked, and her chest expanded as she reeled back slightly, managing to not take a step or make another outward expression. Her dress clinked together in the wake of her movements, adding to the dream-like quality of what she had just seen, and she felt heady, buoyant.
She knew for a fact that Philip had not had any memories of desire about this man prior to coming to her realm--had all of this happened since she had released him? Dehaljadrun was now staring openly at the newer man, a curiosity plain in her wine-colored eyes. She herself had had difficulty opening Philip up to receive her, but this human had managed it?
Surely, I was the one to open the floodgates, she thought, placating her pride.
But, on another level, she was pleased, pleased they had found each other and--for that or some other reason--had come here together.
Then, as she focused more wholly on this new volunteer--Novelty--she could see that he wanted to be here in his own right. She watched the pulse of excitement and belief in magic swirl his bloodstream with a deep purple and amber light, and she stepped forward to caress one of the flowers blooming prominently on Novelty's left shoulder, a lavender clematis. Dehaljadrun could not blame Philip for so thoroughly appreciating this man--he was beautiful and full of an eager desire to learn and experience, a good counterbalance to Philip's hesitance. As the goddess stroked the smooth, soft petal of the clematis with the barest tip of one finger, taking her time, her eyes flicked to Novelty, and she relished in the ways his breath hitched and his singing abruptly stopped as though she were touching him directly.
The goddess raised an eyebrow, pleased at this man as an offering onto himself, let alone the ways he might help her with Philip. In a moment of gratitude and affection, the goddess put a hand on each of Novelty's shoulders, looking directly at him as she spoke into his mind.
Thank you, she said, feeling his immediate confusion, which reflected in the momentarily tilt of his head. She heard him ask himself, is she thanking me for being here? Or for something else?
You've been kind to and unafraid of Philip, the goddess clarified, sensing at once Novelty's awe at her knowledge of such things. She offered him a small smile in return and added, and unafraid of me. Novelty's eyes widened and filled quickly with tears as he grasped the lowest part of her upper arms gently but emphatically.
Of course, he said in his mind, I'm here, my goddess. The words delighted her, and she brought her forehead to his, stroking the flowers and vines across his back. Feeling inspired, Dehaljadrun closed her eyes and coaxed the flowers to absorb into Novelty's skin, marking and tattooing him exactly where and how they lay. That done, she began to relish more deeply in the sensations of Novelty's body, pressing herself to his skin and kissing the tops of his shoulders. Slowly, she slid herself down him, kissing his chest, stomach, and hipbones as she did so. She then reached for the back of his calf and the sigil located there, coaxing that also into his skin and alighting memories of yet another man--Stephen--who had undressed Novelty during the ceremony. Wryly, the goddess looked up at Novelty, realizing this man sought pleasure from many directions. He was exactly the sort of person who would do well with her, especially with so many others to take pleasure in alongside her.
The goddess indulged herself by kissing and then biting the soft flesh just above and to one side of Novelty's length, drawing a surprised gasp from him as she did so. Dehaljadrun desperately wanted to take more--to draw them all into her enjoyment--and she felt a gravity welling up and pulling all of them toward her momentarily, but she eased up and stood, knowing she had others to receive and welcome first.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Once Raccoon had let go of him, Gavin paid rapt attention to everything happening around him. As the portal closed, he felt a strong sweeping sensation of all the embarrassment and also relief he had felt at finally, finally being nude in front of all his fellow soldiers. He had no more secrets to keep, and here he was now, with the goddess of desire.
Still holding the leather packer somewhat awkwardly, he watched Evan reunite with the goddess, heard him chant her name like a prayer as he coiled around her, and Gavin felt an ache build within him. He wanted a love like that one day, maybe even with the goddess. Or maybe with one of the other volunteers. Briefly, he looked at Lance, at Novelty, at Nick, at Philip, at Trevor, and blushed. But then Gavin thought Trevor looked a little unsteady on his feet. The goddess had noticed, too, and commanded him down to his knees, but Trevor didn't stop there, falling ungracefully forward onto his face. Gavin wondered if his bindings had been tied too tight and nearly rushed over to help, but the goddess got there first. Gavin watched from where he stood as the goddess told Trevor to sleep, and he wondered if that was a good thing. The goddess, at least, seemed relieved once that was finished.
Trying to gage how everyone else had understood that, Gavin looked around, but it didn't appear that anyone else had much knowledge of the situation either. Chris had also fallen to his knees, but he didn't seem like he would fall further. And, soon, the goddess asked Chris if he would sing. Though Gavin expected Chris to sing something similar to what he had sung for the ceremony--that was his gift for the goddess, was it not?--Chris started singing something else, something Gavin had sung around the campfire many, many times during their retreat from the capital. As others started joining in with Chris, Gavin joined the chorus, and it felt good to have something to do.
That begun, the goddess freshly surveyed all of them, most of them utterly naked in front of her, and she began down the line, welcoming them, it seemed. She started with Lance, wordlessly communicating with him, if Gavin had to guess. And was that so unbelievable? Raccoon had ears now, after all. What else was going to happen to them? But Lance and the goddess both looked happy, and Gavin tried to use that to soothe himself.
She soon moved onto Philip, and Gavin felt fresh trepidation. Philip had seemed resistant through much of this whole process, and Gavin wasn't sure that the goddess would want someone she had previously released, but they also seemed to appreciate each other's company, and Gavin watched with awe as the sigil that Philip wore on his stomach became ink soaking into his skin? Permanently? Gavin wondered, honestly liking the idea of being forever physically marked by this experience, whether or not they actually travelled back to the human realm.
Moving onto Novelty, Gavin realized that he was next in line. Watching Dehaljadrun run her fingers over Novelty's flowers made Gavin's mouth water, and he wondered what she was thinking. Was she happy? She looked happy. She looked really happy, especially when she put her hands on Novelty's shoulders and Novelty grasped her upper arms. Then, Gavin watched in wonder as the vines and flowers around Novelty's body soaked into his skin, marking him even more than the rest of them. Gavin's mouth hung widely open, in awe, and he could not help but explore what the goddess might do to him as she accepted him fully into her realm. His stomach clenched and butterflies erupted in his gut as she finally turned her attention toward him.
--
Still holding the leather packer somewhat awkwardly, he watched Evan reunite with the goddess, heard him chant her name like a prayer as he coiled around her, and Gavin felt an ache build within him. He wanted a love like that one day, maybe even with the goddess. Or maybe with one of the other volunteers. Briefly, he looked at Lance, at Novelty, at Nick, at Philip, at Trevor, and blushed. But then Gavin thought Trevor looked a little unsteady on his feet. The goddess had noticed, too, and commanded him down to his knees, but Trevor didn't stop there, falling ungracefully forward onto his face. Gavin wondered if his bindings had been tied too tight and nearly rushed over to help, but the goddess got there first. Gavin watched from where he stood as the goddess told Trevor to sleep, and he wondered if that was a good thing. The goddess, at least, seemed relieved once that was finished.
Trying to gage how everyone else had understood that, Gavin looked around, but it didn't appear that anyone else had much knowledge of the situation either. Chris had also fallen to his knees, but he didn't seem like he would fall further. And, soon, the goddess asked Chris if he would sing. Though Gavin expected Chris to sing something similar to what he had sung for the ceremony--that was his gift for the goddess, was it not?--Chris started singing something else, something Gavin had sung around the campfire many, many times during their retreat from the capital. As others started joining in with Chris, Gavin joined the chorus, and it felt good to have something to do.
That begun, the goddess freshly surveyed all of them, most of them utterly naked in front of her, and she began down the line, welcoming them, it seemed. She started with Lance, wordlessly communicating with him, if Gavin had to guess. And was that so unbelievable? Raccoon had ears now, after all. What else was going to happen to them? But Lance and the goddess both looked happy, and Gavin tried to use that to soothe himself.
She soon moved onto Philip, and Gavin felt fresh trepidation. Philip had seemed resistant through much of this whole process, and Gavin wasn't sure that the goddess would want someone she had previously released, but they also seemed to appreciate each other's company, and Gavin watched with awe as the sigil that Philip wore on his stomach became ink soaking into his skin? Permanently? Gavin wondered, honestly liking the idea of being forever physically marked by this experience, whether or not they actually travelled back to the human realm.
Moving onto Novelty, Gavin realized that he was next in line. Watching Dehaljadrun run her fingers over Novelty's flowers made Gavin's mouth water, and he wondered what she was thinking. Was she happy? She looked happy. She looked really happy, especially when she put her hands on Novelty's shoulders and Novelty grasped her upper arms. Then, Gavin watched in wonder as the vines and flowers around Novelty's body soaked into his skin, marking him even more than the rest of them. Gavin's mouth hung widely open, in awe, and he could not help but explore what the goddess might do to him as she accepted him fully into her realm. His stomach clenched and butterflies erupted in his gut as she finally turned her attention toward him.
--
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Returning to her feet and looking at Chris as he sang to reground herself, the goddess moved onto the next volunteer. This one, Dehaljadrun thought, may have been a woman by birth, judging by the body, but he exuded a masculine energy, even in his shyness. This was possibly helped along by the fact that he held, gently in both hands, a makeshift leather phallus. The goddess smiled, thinking momentarily of Francesca, though Dehaljadrun's expression fell suddenly as she realized that Francesca, like Ramanujan, had not chosen to come back to her.
All the more reason to seek forgiveness with Philip, the goddess thought, trying to recover her mood. Gently, she reached forward and pressed the heels of her hands both to the volunteer's diaphragm where the clay sigil was located. She closed her eyes, seeking this person's name and finding it amidst the shimmering memories of his reveal to the crowd of soldiers that surrounded him--Gavin. From his memories, it was clear that he had been living as a man among his fellows for years, perhaps for as long as any of them had known him, and Dehaljadrun could understand how. His short, sandy hair; long, narrow nose; and slight build likely made it easy for him to blend in. And yet, he was still uncomfortable in this body, even now, with her. The goddess wanted to show him all the ways he could still enjoy the body he was in, perhaps open up his perspective to some degree, but... no. That was not what Gavin wanted. Gavin wanted the kind of freedom that arose from having a body that matched his inward and outward expression. He wanted to stop hiding, and not just because he was tired of keeping it all a secret. No, the very reason Gavin had come to the goddess was because he thought this was perhaps his only opportunity to truly and wholly become a man.
Easy enough, the goddess thought after the sigil had fully soaked into Gavin's skin. Why wait? Opening her eyes, the goddess directed Gavin's hands, which held the packer, toward his groin. Again, she knelt down, this time in front of Gavin, and pressed her cheek against the leather phallus, willing it toward flesh. Slowly, within both their sets of hands, the phallus changed to the color of Gavin's skin and knit itself into Gavin's nerve endings, truly becoming one with his body. That finished, the goddess kissed from the base of Gavin's shaft toward the tip and used her hand to press the tip against her tongue lightly, though she did not take him fully into her mouth. He would need to earn that. Much to her delight, Gavin squealed--half out of pleasure and half out of terrified confusion--but it was no matter. He would acclimate soon. She was tempted to leave him like that, with a vulva as well as a phallus to match the form the goddess herself typically took, but that also wasn't what Gavin wanted.
With a light sigh and a smirk, the goddess reached between Gavin's legs, eliciting another squeak and a whole-body blush, though Gavin stepped a little more widely to give her access. Lightly, the goddess circled the threshold of Gavin's vaginal entrance, appreciating the fluids that had accumulated there, even if Gavin might not. And then, pressing one finger lightly inside, Dehaljadrun coaxed the inner flesh down, down, and out until the cavern Gavin once held there was closed and sealed, leaving a sensitive perineum and a small pair of testicles. Pleased with her work, the goddess made eye contact with an absolutely stunned and abashed Gavin, his eyes bulging and mouth open in shocked awe, as she licked the last of Gavin's feminine fluids off her finger.
Standing, the goddess briefly closed her eyes and willed Gavin's already small breasts away from their rounded shape and toward a more masculine angling.
Then, as an afterthought, said into Gavin's mind, Welcome. I accept you, before glancing over to Raccoon.
The goddess laughed lightly at Raccoon's ears and tail, realizing that, while they did not give themselves the opportunity to participate in the ceremony or receive a sigil mark, they were already plenty marked by their time in her realm and had given her a great gift. Sending Raccoon an image of the amulet they had cleansed, she said, Thank you, in their mind and ruffled their hair. Then, she moved on to the next volunteer.
((OOC: Would be helpful at this point if you could catch Nick up so Dehaljadrun can better understand his mental state. Thanks!))
All the more reason to seek forgiveness with Philip, the goddess thought, trying to recover her mood. Gently, she reached forward and pressed the heels of her hands both to the volunteer's diaphragm where the clay sigil was located. She closed her eyes, seeking this person's name and finding it amidst the shimmering memories of his reveal to the crowd of soldiers that surrounded him--Gavin. From his memories, it was clear that he had been living as a man among his fellows for years, perhaps for as long as any of them had known him, and Dehaljadrun could understand how. His short, sandy hair; long, narrow nose; and slight build likely made it easy for him to blend in. And yet, he was still uncomfortable in this body, even now, with her. The goddess wanted to show him all the ways he could still enjoy the body he was in, perhaps open up his perspective to some degree, but... no. That was not what Gavin wanted. Gavin wanted the kind of freedom that arose from having a body that matched his inward and outward expression. He wanted to stop hiding, and not just because he was tired of keeping it all a secret. No, the very reason Gavin had come to the goddess was because he thought this was perhaps his only opportunity to truly and wholly become a man.
Easy enough, the goddess thought after the sigil had fully soaked into Gavin's skin. Why wait? Opening her eyes, the goddess directed Gavin's hands, which held the packer, toward his groin. Again, she knelt down, this time in front of Gavin, and pressed her cheek against the leather phallus, willing it toward flesh. Slowly, within both their sets of hands, the phallus changed to the color of Gavin's skin and knit itself into Gavin's nerve endings, truly becoming one with his body. That finished, the goddess kissed from the base of Gavin's shaft toward the tip and used her hand to press the tip against her tongue lightly, though she did not take him fully into her mouth. He would need to earn that. Much to her delight, Gavin squealed--half out of pleasure and half out of terrified confusion--but it was no matter. He would acclimate soon. She was tempted to leave him like that, with a vulva as well as a phallus to match the form the goddess herself typically took, but that also wasn't what Gavin wanted.
With a light sigh and a smirk, the goddess reached between Gavin's legs, eliciting another squeak and a whole-body blush, though Gavin stepped a little more widely to give her access. Lightly, the goddess circled the threshold of Gavin's vaginal entrance, appreciating the fluids that had accumulated there, even if Gavin might not. And then, pressing one finger lightly inside, Dehaljadrun coaxed the inner flesh down, down, and out until the cavern Gavin once held there was closed and sealed, leaving a sensitive perineum and a small pair of testicles. Pleased with her work, the goddess made eye contact with an absolutely stunned and abashed Gavin, his eyes bulging and mouth open in shocked awe, as she licked the last of Gavin's feminine fluids off her finger.
Standing, the goddess briefly closed her eyes and willed Gavin's already small breasts away from their rounded shape and toward a more masculine angling.
Then, as an afterthought, said into Gavin's mind, Welcome. I accept you, before glancing over to Raccoon.
The goddess laughed lightly at Raccoon's ears and tail, realizing that, while they did not give themselves the opportunity to participate in the ceremony or receive a sigil mark, they were already plenty marked by their time in her realm and had given her a great gift. Sending Raccoon an image of the amulet they had cleansed, she said, Thank you, in their mind and ruffled their hair. Then, she moved on to the next volunteer.
((OOC: Would be helpful at this point if you could catch Nick up so Dehaljadrun can better understand his mental state. Thanks!))
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Nick was flowing like water, awe a current that swept his attention through this experience. He had crossed a threshold into a new world, a new life, a new existence. In some ways he could barely see through his ever-flowing tears, but in some ways he didn't feel like he needed to. The sparkle of the goddess' chiming dress still made its way into his awarenes; the grandiosity of the tree palace in the clearing still connected him to the soil on which he now walked; the colorful shimmer of the portal as it closed still filled him with delight and elation; and, although he could not make out the details of the goddess' entwinement with the captain who had led them all here, it still warmed and excited him as he clutched ever-affectionately to the sack of items he'd brought with him, echoes of each individual sensory exchange fluttering through and within him as gentle butterflies.
Then something happened with Trevor that Nick didn't understand. The goddess told him to kneel, and he altogether fell. Worry clouded Nick's vision further, and his own knees began to feel weak. The goddess told Trevor to sleep, then, and a hand gently grasped Nick's shoulder--Nathan beside him, offering comfort, Nick thought. Nick offered his companion a teary smile, and thought he received one in return.
"Will he be all right?" Chloe asked, and Nick returned his attention to the goddess as she made her reply. He tried to make sense of her words in his mind, but he was too jumbled, and finally he closed his eyes and just let her words sink into him, feeling them in his bones. Her words strenghtened him, somehow, helping him to feel more steady, the current around him growing more peaceful and still. He finally shifted his bag in his arms so that one hand could reach up to wipe some of the tears from his eyes.
Then, Chris began to sing. For a moment, Nick was able to focus on the soldier, though he was briefly concerned that Chris was also on his knees. His voice was clear and resonant, though, and the tune he sang was familiar. It made Nick feel happy--reminded him of a sense of belonging--at least, at first. As his recognition of the song sank in, though, nostalgia settled into him, and he began to cry again, sorrow overflowing about the people he had left behind. May they make it through all this in one piece, he thought, hugging his bag again and thinking of his captain and all of the others who had given him sweet goodbyes. He would miss them all. But, he couldn't find it in himself to fear he had made the wrong choice. He just... needed to cry.
Arms wrapped gently around him, Nathan's cheek nuzzling sweetly into his shoulder. Nick let out a bit of a laugh amidst his quiet sobs, and shifted his bag into one arm so that he could drape his other over Nathan's shoulder, and nuzzle his own cheek into Nathan's hair. His crying settled as he did, his feet re-grounding himself on this new soil. Yes, he was sad about what he'd left behind, but he was also still so in awe of what was before him.
He squeezed Nathan before shifting to free his arm again, to once more wipe tears from his eyes. He settled his breathing as he did so, drawing in a big breath to exhale fully before he returned his attention to the goddess. He had to blink a few times when he did, doubting his vision after all these blurry tears. The goddess was kneeling before Gavin, her tongue on his phallus--now fully a part of Gavin's flesh. The soldier squealed, and Nick couldn't help a soft, breathy chuckle of sympathetic delight. Such magic they would behold and experience here. Nick watched in quiet awe as she reached between Gavin's legs, though as understanding of just where she was reaching sank in, his cheeks filled with blush and he averted his gaze, suddenly feeling worried that Gavin might not fully appreciate an audience to what was happening.
Nick's eyes landed somewhat incidentally on Chloe, who was kneeling by Trevor, peacefully wrapping up rope from the sleeping soldier's now unbound arms. Her own eyes were back in the direction of Gavin, sparkling with curiosity as she sang along with Chris and the others. After a couple breaths, Nick returned his own gaze that direction, and then swallowed, his whole body pulsing with weighty anticipation as the goddess met his eyes.
Then something happened with Trevor that Nick didn't understand. The goddess told him to kneel, and he altogether fell. Worry clouded Nick's vision further, and his own knees began to feel weak. The goddess told Trevor to sleep, then, and a hand gently grasped Nick's shoulder--Nathan beside him, offering comfort, Nick thought. Nick offered his companion a teary smile, and thought he received one in return.
"Will he be all right?" Chloe asked, and Nick returned his attention to the goddess as she made her reply. He tried to make sense of her words in his mind, but he was too jumbled, and finally he closed his eyes and just let her words sink into him, feeling them in his bones. Her words strenghtened him, somehow, helping him to feel more steady, the current around him growing more peaceful and still. He finally shifted his bag in his arms so that one hand could reach up to wipe some of the tears from his eyes.
Then, Chris began to sing. For a moment, Nick was able to focus on the soldier, though he was briefly concerned that Chris was also on his knees. His voice was clear and resonant, though, and the tune he sang was familiar. It made Nick feel happy--reminded him of a sense of belonging--at least, at first. As his recognition of the song sank in, though, nostalgia settled into him, and he began to cry again, sorrow overflowing about the people he had left behind. May they make it through all this in one piece, he thought, hugging his bag again and thinking of his captain and all of the others who had given him sweet goodbyes. He would miss them all. But, he couldn't find it in himself to fear he had made the wrong choice. He just... needed to cry.
Arms wrapped gently around him, Nathan's cheek nuzzling sweetly into his shoulder. Nick let out a bit of a laugh amidst his quiet sobs, and shifted his bag into one arm so that he could drape his other over Nathan's shoulder, and nuzzle his own cheek into Nathan's hair. His crying settled as he did, his feet re-grounding himself on this new soil. Yes, he was sad about what he'd left behind, but he was also still so in awe of what was before him.
He squeezed Nathan before shifting to free his arm again, to once more wipe tears from his eyes. He settled his breathing as he did so, drawing in a big breath to exhale fully before he returned his attention to the goddess. He had to blink a few times when he did, doubting his vision after all these blurry tears. The goddess was kneeling before Gavin, her tongue on his phallus--now fully a part of Gavin's flesh. The soldier squealed, and Nick couldn't help a soft, breathy chuckle of sympathetic delight. Such magic they would behold and experience here. Nick watched in quiet awe as she reached between Gavin's legs, though as understanding of just where she was reaching sank in, his cheeks filled with blush and he averted his gaze, suddenly feeling worried that Gavin might not fully appreciate an audience to what was happening.
Nick's eyes landed somewhat incidentally on Chloe, who was kneeling by Trevor, peacefully wrapping up rope from the sleeping soldier's now unbound arms. Her own eyes were back in the direction of Gavin, sparkling with curiosity as she sang along with Chris and the others. After a couple breaths, Nick returned his own gaze that direction, and then swallowed, his whole body pulsing with weighty anticipation as the goddess met his eyes.
Re: Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
On some level, the goddess had registered that this next volunteer--Nick--had been crying continuously since he entered her realm, but she hadn't felt alarmed by it. Now, as she turned her attention more fully on him, she saw the overwhelm of awe in his face, and she smiled sweetly. Her curiosity soon overcame her, though, and she gently tugged the satchel that Nick held from him, peering in. Each of the objects was practically shimmering with memories and sensations from a variety of people, and Dehaljadrun pulled out a feather, holding it up toward her face to inspect it. Nick had offered the objects, it appeared, as sensation play to a number of his fellows around the camp. The goddess inhaled deeply as she lightly passed the feather's soft textures under her jaw, shivering pleasantly with the spill of similar sensations that flooded her awareness. That each of these objects was so loaded with experience deeply pleased the goddess.
Looking at Nick with a mischievous glint in her eye, Dehaljadrun set down the satchel and proceeded to pass the feather over Nick's tear-strewn cheeks, kissing down his jaw on the other side of his face and tasting his body's salt. She then guided the feather down Nick's spine, reaching around him to do so in what was almost an embrace. Whimsically, she then blew air gently just behind his ear, laughing quietly with delight.
Reaching with her idle hand over to Nick's upper arm, the goddess guided his sigil to also become a permanent mark on his flesh, glowing hot for a moment before fading.
Welcome, Nick. I accept you, the goddess said in Nick's mind, looking at him directly now with a nod. Then, she added, If you would be so kind, would you make an altar of these objects somewhere in my palace?
Looking at Nick with a mischievous glint in her eye, Dehaljadrun set down the satchel and proceeded to pass the feather over Nick's tear-strewn cheeks, kissing down his jaw on the other side of his face and tasting his body's salt. She then guided the feather down Nick's spine, reaching around him to do so in what was almost an embrace. Whimsically, she then blew air gently just behind his ear, laughing quietly with delight.
Reaching with her idle hand over to Nick's upper arm, the goddess guided his sigil to also become a permanent mark on his flesh, glowing hot for a moment before fading.
Welcome, Nick. I accept you, the goddess said in Nick's mind, looking at him directly now with a nod. Then, she added, If you would be so kind, would you make an altar of these objects somewhere in my palace?