Evan wanted to counter her accusation. He knew he'd fucked up--obviously--but blackmailing her honestly hadn't been his intention. He wanted to just say he'd acted rashly, but he knew that wouldn't excuse it. Some part of him did want to leave--wasn't it better to just cut his losses and bounce?--but the thought was absolutely devastating. Honestly, he wasn't sure he could move from the spot just then even if he tried.
So he took in a deep breath, and steadied himself before replying.
"No."
He waited a beat after that, watching the goddess carefully before continuing, his expression serious and earnest and scared.
"I fucked up. I fucked up at the start of this when I summoned you thinking I knew everything my compatriots needed despite the fact that I was going behind their backs to do it. I fucked up trying to fix it for them because the gods' honest truth is I probably shouldn't be negotiating for anybody for how much I fucking suck at it. Punish me somehow if you have to, but I'm not leaving until we figure out a new deal, one I won't be tripping all fucking over myself trying to upsell every godsdamned night. I was actually trying to do the right fucking thing here, and I know I still did it all fucking wrong. I'm sorry."
Shame absolutely made its way back into his expression as he spoke, his gaze slowly becoming less and less able to look at the goddess directly and his voice growing less and less steady. By the end of it, he was glaring down towards the bottom of a torch, his fists clenched at his sides and his body nearly trembling with tension and anxiety and regret.
Honestly, he hoped she would punish him somehow--even passing him off to a thrall again sounded like something he deserved right now. Anything would be better than leaving, not knowing if he'd ever get back here again. He was resolved to do everything in his power to stay, though he wasn't sure how much power he really had over it.
Then, he had an idea--one which made his stomach turn, for multiple different reasons--but it seemed like his best chance at convincing her he was serious. Swallowing down a heavy lump of nervousness in his throat, Evan hesitantly reached into his pocket and pulled out the talisman. His eyes regarded it for a moment, before he held it out to the goddess in his open palm, and forced his gaze back up to her, his eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed and the tension in his jaw running straight up through his temples while he waited to see how she'd respond.
Part 1 (Start Reading Here)
Moderator: On Dreams And Desire
Re: Part 1
Dehaljadrun turned and looked at Evan as he took a deep breath, doubting there was anything he could say to remedy the situation. Or, she thought, maybe he wasn't planning on saying anything. Maybe he really was going to listen to her and just go. She knew she would be upset about that later, but she was insistent about staving off that emotion for now.
But then he went and said, no.
A smirk threatened to curl onto her lips, but she didn't allow it. Well, if he wasn't going to leave, where did that leave them? She supposed she could force him out, but she knew she didn't really have the motivation to do that. Odds were, he would appeal to her before she ever got to that point.
And appeal he did.
The goddess listened, appreciative that Evan opened with, I fucked up. In fact, the whole of his explanation was a lot of how he fucked up, in detail. The corner of her mouth twitched when he mentioned the word punish--hadn't that been what she was trying to do when he grew frustrated at her for testing him?--but she appreciated that he sounded genuine. If Uranel had been even half as earnest about an apology, she might have believed him, not that he had ever bothered to try.
Ah, fuck, here was that irritating desire to comfort Evan, back for another round. Gods damn it, she was all over the board with this one.
The goddess didn't move, trying to figure out what a new deal would even look like but at least enjoying the trembling happening within Evan's body. He really didn't want to leave; that much was clear. And then, as though to solidify that point, he pulled out the talisman and held it out to her.
She couldn't help but think of the moment when her dragon had nudged the stone closer to Evan; this had a similar sensation even though the roles were reversed, except perhaps it was even more potent. He was not just saying he didn't want to leave; he was giving away his ability to leave, at least on his own terms. And with their agreement all sorts of up in the air, that was exceedingly dangerous. There was no guarantee that she would send him back.
Then again, she had just told him to get out, and he had outright disobeyed her. Would it look weak of her to go back on what she had said now? But, she reminded herself, she really didn't want him to leave. Not now, not ever.
She didn't like the idea of creating a new agreement--one that most certainly would require her to relinquish yet more of her thralls--and she couldn't think of anything else that Evan could possibly offer her. Her singular focus was on escaping the prison the king had locked her in. Beyond that...
The goddess walked up to Evan and took the talisman from him, her face now unreadable. She turned it over in her hand and finally closed her hand around it. Grateful, even if she no longer had his stone to hold onto, that she had something of his.
She sighed then, prepared to start a new negotiation, one that would surely be less entertaining than the last.
"So, then, what exactly do you need from me?" The goddess said, somewhat exasperated. "How many of the..."
But then she heard someone call her name loudly, brazenly, and it was most assuredly not one of her thralls. Her whole body stiffened at the sound as it echoed through her realm.
Fuck. This was not going to be good.
Sure enough, Samael rounded the corner of the palace and came toward the back where the goddess and Evan stood inside the ceremony circle. While she might have been somewhat relieved to see him if Evan were not here, this was terrible timing. Not to mention that there could really only be one reason why he was here.
The goddess could see Samael's slight scowl even from as far away as he was, the ridiculous center part in his cheek-length brown hair the only part of him even worth poking fun at, his muscular body and commanding saunter making up for whatever the center part did for his appearance. His teeth glistened white against the gray-green of the aura that seemed to surround him as he got closer, and Dehaljadrun turned with her back to Evan to face Samael, taking a somewhat protective stance as she stepped back and closer to Evan.
"There you are. Wait... I thought I told you to stop playing with your food," the newly arrived god said.
But then he went and said, no.
A smirk threatened to curl onto her lips, but she didn't allow it. Well, if he wasn't going to leave, where did that leave them? She supposed she could force him out, but she knew she didn't really have the motivation to do that. Odds were, he would appeal to her before she ever got to that point.
And appeal he did.
The goddess listened, appreciative that Evan opened with, I fucked up. In fact, the whole of his explanation was a lot of how he fucked up, in detail. The corner of her mouth twitched when he mentioned the word punish--hadn't that been what she was trying to do when he grew frustrated at her for testing him?--but she appreciated that he sounded genuine. If Uranel had been even half as earnest about an apology, she might have believed him, not that he had ever bothered to try.
Ah, fuck, here was that irritating desire to comfort Evan, back for another round. Gods damn it, she was all over the board with this one.
The goddess didn't move, trying to figure out what a new deal would even look like but at least enjoying the trembling happening within Evan's body. He really didn't want to leave; that much was clear. And then, as though to solidify that point, he pulled out the talisman and held it out to her.
She couldn't help but think of the moment when her dragon had nudged the stone closer to Evan; this had a similar sensation even though the roles were reversed, except perhaps it was even more potent. He was not just saying he didn't want to leave; he was giving away his ability to leave, at least on his own terms. And with their agreement all sorts of up in the air, that was exceedingly dangerous. There was no guarantee that she would send him back.
Then again, she had just told him to get out, and he had outright disobeyed her. Would it look weak of her to go back on what she had said now? But, she reminded herself, she really didn't want him to leave. Not now, not ever.
She didn't like the idea of creating a new agreement--one that most certainly would require her to relinquish yet more of her thralls--and she couldn't think of anything else that Evan could possibly offer her. Her singular focus was on escaping the prison the king had locked her in. Beyond that...
The goddess walked up to Evan and took the talisman from him, her face now unreadable. She turned it over in her hand and finally closed her hand around it. Grateful, even if she no longer had his stone to hold onto, that she had something of his.
She sighed then, prepared to start a new negotiation, one that would surely be less entertaining than the last.
"So, then, what exactly do you need from me?" The goddess said, somewhat exasperated. "How many of the..."
But then she heard someone call her name loudly, brazenly, and it was most assuredly not one of her thralls. Her whole body stiffened at the sound as it echoed through her realm.
Fuck. This was not going to be good.
Sure enough, Samael rounded the corner of the palace and came toward the back where the goddess and Evan stood inside the ceremony circle. While she might have been somewhat relieved to see him if Evan were not here, this was terrible timing. Not to mention that there could really only be one reason why he was here.
The goddess could see Samael's slight scowl even from as far away as he was, the ridiculous center part in his cheek-length brown hair the only part of him even worth poking fun at, his muscular body and commanding saunter making up for whatever the center part did for his appearance. His teeth glistened white against the gray-green of the aura that seemed to surround him as he got closer, and Dehaljadrun turned with her back to Evan to face Samael, taking a somewhat protective stance as she stepped back and closer to Evan.
"There you are. Wait... I thought I told you to stop playing with your food," the newly arrived god said.
Re: Part 1
The silence after Evan's apology burned sharply at his ears, the talisman growing unreasonably heavy in his hand as he waited for what felt to him like a godsdamned eternity. At some point the captain honestly started forgetting to breathe, he was just so fucking focused on wishing the goddess would do fucking anything in response.
Finally, she accepted the talisman from Evan's hand, and the soldier's stomach lurched straight up into his throat, though outwardly he kept himself steady, albeit mighty tense. He knew full well this was a dangerous call to be making all things considered, but as terrifying as it was, it still felt like the right move--both for his role as Captain in Mizu's army, and for his personal desire to win back the goddess' trust. He still felt real fucking confused about how to manage those two different motivations with the goddess, but at least when an action aligned with both, it was hard to feel conflicted about it.
Course, this particular action didn't exactly align with his even more personal desire to stay, y'know, free and possibly even alive, but... fucking hell, he was already spotty on when and how he actually paid attention to that one. Granted, it was significantly more potent now than usual, what with the dream and the barrier and all the godsdamned ways that the goddess was somehow managing to remind Evan of his old man tonight.
But the goddess had closed her hand around the talisman, and was talking to Evan. Calmly, if with some exasperation, about what he needed. She was starting negotiations again. A weight lifted off his shoulders, and he drew in a deep breath--the first time he'd remembered to breathe since before she took the talisman from him.
The sudden call of her name echoing through the air and cutting off their conversation there felt like a godsdamned sword slicing over Evan's back, shooting a whole different sort of panic up through his heart. It occurred to him to wonder whether he was overreacting--just because he would never fucking dare call her name like that didn't necessarily mean that anyone who would was an enemy. But all it took was a quick glance at the goddess to confirm that she was stiff and also fairly displeased at the call.
His eyes quickly found the figure who rounded the palace and sauntered towards them, and his mind scrambled hastily to try to size this person up. Just who was he, to call a goddess' name like that in her own realm? Evan decided that the man did look otherworldly as he came closer, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why. Maybe his skin was just not quite a humanly color?
His attention was drawn back to the goddess as she stepped decidedly in front of Evan, protective. Parts of Evan were warmed by the gesture, but other parts insulted--and yet other parts, scared. It wasn't difficult to place that the man--whatever he was--had referred to Evan as food. The captain gave the man a scowl that was full of life and defiance, surely an expression a thrall would never muster. It was tempting to quip something like 'and just who the fuck are you?', but that felt out of line. This was the goddess' turf, and his relationship with her was real fucking tenuous right now; much as his pride detested the thought, it was best to just remain in the goddess' shadow for the moment, and accept the protection she was offering him.
Finally, she accepted the talisman from Evan's hand, and the soldier's stomach lurched straight up into his throat, though outwardly he kept himself steady, albeit mighty tense. He knew full well this was a dangerous call to be making all things considered, but as terrifying as it was, it still felt like the right move--both for his role as Captain in Mizu's army, and for his personal desire to win back the goddess' trust. He still felt real fucking confused about how to manage those two different motivations with the goddess, but at least when an action aligned with both, it was hard to feel conflicted about it.
Course, this particular action didn't exactly align with his even more personal desire to stay, y'know, free and possibly even alive, but... fucking hell, he was already spotty on when and how he actually paid attention to that one. Granted, it was significantly more potent now than usual, what with the dream and the barrier and all the godsdamned ways that the goddess was somehow managing to remind Evan of his old man tonight.
But the goddess had closed her hand around the talisman, and was talking to Evan. Calmly, if with some exasperation, about what he needed. She was starting negotiations again. A weight lifted off his shoulders, and he drew in a deep breath--the first time he'd remembered to breathe since before she took the talisman from him.
The sudden call of her name echoing through the air and cutting off their conversation there felt like a godsdamned sword slicing over Evan's back, shooting a whole different sort of panic up through his heart. It occurred to him to wonder whether he was overreacting--just because he would never fucking dare call her name like that didn't necessarily mean that anyone who would was an enemy. But all it took was a quick glance at the goddess to confirm that she was stiff and also fairly displeased at the call.
His eyes quickly found the figure who rounded the palace and sauntered towards them, and his mind scrambled hastily to try to size this person up. Just who was he, to call a goddess' name like that in her own realm? Evan decided that the man did look otherworldly as he came closer, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why. Maybe his skin was just not quite a humanly color?
His attention was drawn back to the goddess as she stepped decidedly in front of Evan, protective. Parts of Evan were warmed by the gesture, but other parts insulted--and yet other parts, scared. It wasn't difficult to place that the man--whatever he was--had referred to Evan as food. The captain gave the man a scowl that was full of life and defiance, surely an expression a thrall would never muster. It was tempting to quip something like 'and just who the fuck are you?', but that felt out of line. This was the goddess' turf, and his relationship with her was real fucking tenuous right now; much as his pride detested the thought, it was best to just remain in the goddess' shadow for the moment, and accept the protection she was offering him.
Re: Part 1
Dehaljadrun somehow felt even more trapped with Samael here. Much as she had wished to get someone's attention, she was not pleased that it had been his. And, with Evan here, there were a limited number of things she wanted to talk about. Plus, now Evan was very likely in danger due to her hasty decision making after Evan and she had been forcibly separated by the portal.
She wanted very much to tell Samael to fuck off, but she knew exactly why he was here, which meant she was already on thin ice with the god, so she decided not to answer him.
"Looks like you don't want me to play with him either. That's a shame," Samael said as he neared the goddess and Evan and stopped. The air around the god was uncomfortable to stand in to say the least, and Dehaljadrun couldn't say she had wanted to be reminded of that after all these years. Simply being in his proximity threatened to curdle her stomach. "But that's not why I'm here, anyway," Samael said, turning his attention back toward Dehaljadrun. "Someone drained the life out of a section of my realm, and the only person I could imagine being able to do that," Samael paused but then finished with, "is you," getting closer to Dehaljadrun's face. To her credit, she retained her composure for the most part, though she couldn't help but back away from the god a little when he moved closer.
The goddess hated the thought of pleading with Samael in front of Evan, but she also didn't want to further anger Samael, especially if there was anything she could learn from him. It had been over a decade since they had seen each other, after all.
"I was trying to get your attention," the goddess said with some calculation. She glanced back over her shoulder at Evan briefly and then finished with, "but I don't need your help anymore."
"Help with what, dare I ask?" Saying this, he looked skeptically at Evan, wondering what he could possibly provide the goddess. The goddess pursed her lips, unwilling to tell Samael the truth. Instead, she tried to change the subject, which was, arguably, equally as vulnerable.
"Have... have you been in contact with the upper gods?" The goddess asked.
Samael looked at her, surprised and took a small step back to Dehaljadrun's relief. "Now why would you want to know about them? They certainly don't want to know about you. Not after, well, you still don't remember, I imagine, do you?" The goddess winced subtly. Samael knew that was a sore spot, and she should have known that he would continue to jab at it as he had done since she fell. He did, however, grow more serious as he answered her question. "No, I haven't heard from them either. Not that I've been trying to get their attention. Which brings me back to my dilemma. What are you going to do for me now that you've ruined a part of my realm?"
The goddess looked straight at Samael for a few moments before answering. "I wanted to make a trade." Dehaljadrun gestured at the air, and a black cord with a glowing red teardrop pendant appeared in the air, hanging just over the goddess' outstretched palm. "This is the power I took from your realm. I planned to give it back in exchange for my freedom. But, I have another way to get what I need now, so I'll give this back to you, and we can call this a misunderstanding," the goddess reasoned. She knew it was a long shot, but she didn't have much else to offer the god at present.
"Your freedom?" Samael asked, ignoring the pendant altogether. The goddess sighed.
"It's a long story, but I have been unable to travel the realms because of a spell in the underworld."
Samael looked again at Evan, sizing him up. "Ah, so you're sending him in your stead? He's a bit short for you, don't you think?" Dehaljadrun scoffed and rolled her eyes but shifted closer to Evan, prepared to hand the talisman back to him if it looked like he might be in danger. When the goddess did not otherwise answer, Samael pressed on. "I don't think simply giving me my power back is enough after the inconvenience of having to come here to fetch it... I want you to make me a cloak."
The goddess started and narrowed her eyes at Samael. Without hesitation, she said, "no," sternly, defiantly. "Leave this place," the goddess commanded as storm clouds began to darken overhead.
Ignoring her and the darkening clouds, Samael said, "I'll let you keep the power from my realm, even. Just make one for me, Dehaljadrun." The goddess winced again at the way her name fell, full of sarcasm, from his mouth. But she rolled the idea over in her mind. The extra potency was not nothing. But, still, she doubted that Samael's desire for the cloak was a good thing, and the gods had differing powers for a reason.
"No, the goddess said, prepared to act now as the storm clouds flickered with electricity. For the first time, Samael started to look wary of the sky overhead and of the expression on Dehaljadrun's face.
"You know, I could just..." Samael made a pass toward Evan, and Dehaljadrun reached forward to intercept him, summoning all the lightning in her body as she did so and shocking him as hard as she dared. He jolted for a few moments and stumbled back, and suddenly the goddess regretted that decision. Surely, she had only now made him more angry and unlikely to leave without getting what he wanted.
"Fine," the goddess said. "Fine. By the end of the next moon, come back, and I will have a cloak ready. Now leave us."
Samael took a few moments to recover his sarcastic tone, but he managed without too much delay, though a frown deepened over his face. "I'll be back, then. Goodbye, short human." With that, Samael opened what looked like a small, black hole and allowed it to expand before he stepped through and was gone. Dehaljadrun exhaled a long breath but was not quite prepared to turn and face Evan.
She wanted very much to tell Samael to fuck off, but she knew exactly why he was here, which meant she was already on thin ice with the god, so she decided not to answer him.
"Looks like you don't want me to play with him either. That's a shame," Samael said as he neared the goddess and Evan and stopped. The air around the god was uncomfortable to stand in to say the least, and Dehaljadrun couldn't say she had wanted to be reminded of that after all these years. Simply being in his proximity threatened to curdle her stomach. "But that's not why I'm here, anyway," Samael said, turning his attention back toward Dehaljadrun. "Someone drained the life out of a section of my realm, and the only person I could imagine being able to do that," Samael paused but then finished with, "is you," getting closer to Dehaljadrun's face. To her credit, she retained her composure for the most part, though she couldn't help but back away from the god a little when he moved closer.
The goddess hated the thought of pleading with Samael in front of Evan, but she also didn't want to further anger Samael, especially if there was anything she could learn from him. It had been over a decade since they had seen each other, after all.
"I was trying to get your attention," the goddess said with some calculation. She glanced back over her shoulder at Evan briefly and then finished with, "but I don't need your help anymore."
"Help with what, dare I ask?" Saying this, he looked skeptically at Evan, wondering what he could possibly provide the goddess. The goddess pursed her lips, unwilling to tell Samael the truth. Instead, she tried to change the subject, which was, arguably, equally as vulnerable.
"Have... have you been in contact with the upper gods?" The goddess asked.
Samael looked at her, surprised and took a small step back to Dehaljadrun's relief. "Now why would you want to know about them? They certainly don't want to know about you. Not after, well, you still don't remember, I imagine, do you?" The goddess winced subtly. Samael knew that was a sore spot, and she should have known that he would continue to jab at it as he had done since she fell. He did, however, grow more serious as he answered her question. "No, I haven't heard from them either. Not that I've been trying to get their attention. Which brings me back to my dilemma. What are you going to do for me now that you've ruined a part of my realm?"
The goddess looked straight at Samael for a few moments before answering. "I wanted to make a trade." Dehaljadrun gestured at the air, and a black cord with a glowing red teardrop pendant appeared in the air, hanging just over the goddess' outstretched palm. "This is the power I took from your realm. I planned to give it back in exchange for my freedom. But, I have another way to get what I need now, so I'll give this back to you, and we can call this a misunderstanding," the goddess reasoned. She knew it was a long shot, but she didn't have much else to offer the god at present.
"Your freedom?" Samael asked, ignoring the pendant altogether. The goddess sighed.
"It's a long story, but I have been unable to travel the realms because of a spell in the underworld."
Samael looked again at Evan, sizing him up. "Ah, so you're sending him in your stead? He's a bit short for you, don't you think?" Dehaljadrun scoffed and rolled her eyes but shifted closer to Evan, prepared to hand the talisman back to him if it looked like he might be in danger. When the goddess did not otherwise answer, Samael pressed on. "I don't think simply giving me my power back is enough after the inconvenience of having to come here to fetch it... I want you to make me a cloak."
The goddess started and narrowed her eyes at Samael. Without hesitation, she said, "no," sternly, defiantly. "Leave this place," the goddess commanded as storm clouds began to darken overhead.
Ignoring her and the darkening clouds, Samael said, "I'll let you keep the power from my realm, even. Just make one for me, Dehaljadrun." The goddess winced again at the way her name fell, full of sarcasm, from his mouth. But she rolled the idea over in her mind. The extra potency was not nothing. But, still, she doubted that Samael's desire for the cloak was a good thing, and the gods had differing powers for a reason.
"No, the goddess said, prepared to act now as the storm clouds flickered with electricity. For the first time, Samael started to look wary of the sky overhead and of the expression on Dehaljadrun's face.
"You know, I could just..." Samael made a pass toward Evan, and Dehaljadrun reached forward to intercept him, summoning all the lightning in her body as she did so and shocking him as hard as she dared. He jolted for a few moments and stumbled back, and suddenly the goddess regretted that decision. Surely, she had only now made him more angry and unlikely to leave without getting what he wanted.
"Fine," the goddess said. "Fine. By the end of the next moon, come back, and I will have a cloak ready. Now leave us."
Samael took a few moments to recover his sarcastic tone, but he managed without too much delay, though a frown deepened over his face. "I'll be back, then. Goodbye, short human." With that, Samael opened what looked like a small, black hole and allowed it to expand before he stepped through and was gone. Dehaljadrun exhaled a long breath but was not quite prepared to turn and face Evan.
Re: Part 1
Evan rolled his eyes at the man's next comment. He hated being talked about, and besides--play with him? Tch. Evan doubted this guy would be as fun as the goddess, but he also doubted he'd put Evan through any worse than the goddess had. Of course, right around when he thought that, the man--the creature? ...fuck, the god?--came close enough that something about his presence reminded Evan just how unsettled his stomach was. He wasn't usually one for nausea, but fuck if tonight didn't have him wondering if he might just lose his supper at some point. Sure as fuck wasn't gonna happen in front of this prick, though.
Evan watched with a cautious, attentive scowl as the goddess and this newcomer talked. He mentioned something about his realm, and Evan figured that probably did make 'god' the most likely guess.
He was surprised when the goddess glanced back at him, and he couldn't help raising an eyebrow curiously. Though, the expression quickly shifted from curiosity to something a bit more irate as he connected the dots of what she must be talking about. She'd already been seeking other options, then? Just because Evan gave in to an exhaustion-fueled nap? Or was this even before that? Evan was certainly glad she was indicating she'd rely on him again now, but fuck, he couldn't deny that that stung pretty harshly. Maybe not as much as her threat of going to the king, but now that seemed thoroughly idle since she didn't even mention this other possibility, whoever the fuck he was.
At least there were some other bits to be curious about in the gods' continued exchange--something the goddess didn't remember; that this god hadn't heard from the upper realms either--but then the putrid god turned his attention back to Evan again, and even before he spoke Evan knew he was going to hate what came out. Sure enough, a comment about Evan's height of all things, adding onto the list of old sore spots getting fucking jabbed into this evening. He couldn't help letting his expression flinch into a harsher scowl, practically fucking bearing his teeth at the god, albeit still from the at least perceived safety of the goddess' shadow.
To wit, the goddess moved closer to Evan, and her proximity was almost enough to dissipate his nausea in favor of something else entirely. Some part of him was absolutely tempted to avail himself of some touch for a multitude of different reasons, though primarily it'd be just for his own pride and comfort. For the same reason he didn't speak up when this man--this god--first arrived, Evan kept his hands to himself, though it was very nearly painful to do so.
And then the man went and said the goddess' name again, and Evan deeply felt the goddess' wince like it was his own. His scowl sharpened again, loudly advertising his distaste for this man's disrespect of his goddess. He wondered how wise that had been, but it had been pure fucking instinct so the wisdom of it really didn't much matter. It wasn't like his expressions had much of a bearing on the man's attitude, anyway, which was its own sot of irritating, although probably for the better overall.
Evan was honestly glad when the sky began darkening, the goddess taking a more offensive stance. His chest practically hummed with the flicker of electricity in the sky, and he raised his eyebrow at the intruder daringly.
Course, he regretted that particular expression real fucking quickly as the man lurched forward, sparking heightened fear in Evan's chest and a whole new wave of nausea in his gut. Before Evan's reflexes could even respond, the goddess was protecting him, intercepting the intruder and sending him stumbling back with shocks. Evan would have smirked if his adrenalin weren't still holding up a scowl; some part of him was strangely glad that he knew roughly what that might have just felt like, and he enjoyed imagining the pain the goddess had just caused, not to mention watching the process of the man regaining control of his body as the electricity finished running its course. He supposed he could weather one last quip from the man after that before he left, though 'short human' was really fucking pushing it. Evan rolled his eyes, and just like that, the man had summoned a portal and left.
As relieving as it was for him to be gone, it wasn't exactly rejoicing that happened in his wake. The captain and the goddess had only just begun a tender, tentative, likely exhausting conversation, and while it would be crucial to have, starting right back into it would be in terrible taste. But asking about anything from the conversation the goddess had just had with the intruder also seemed wildly inappropriate. The air around them felt fragile, and awkwardness weighed on Evan and churned at his insides, and all at once willpower was simply no longer enough.
"Fuck," Evan whispered without even realizing, his feet already hastily starting to carry him towards the edge of the stone circle away from the goddess. Course, right after he was in motion he realized that the reason he was still in this circle at all was because a powerful fucking shock awaited him if he left it, but whatever part of him was worried about that completely and utterly failed to communicate with the part of him that was transporting his stomach and its contents post-haste away from the possibly-sacred stones and into the hopefully-less-sacred grass. Mercifully, no shock befell him as he sloughed down onto his knees and his body got straight to work pushing out all sorts of things into the grass--not just his last meal, but also the disgust he'd been holding at bay in front of their visitor, to say nothing of the myriad of swirling emotions Evan had forced down into his stomach during the entire conversation preceding that interruption.
By the time that process completed, Evan felt physically much better, but emotionally fucking exhausted. Quite a lot of what he'd been holding in before felt somewhat dissipated, or at least farther away for now, but he was deeply embarrassed of what had just happened, and had no fucking clue how to proceed from here.
Evan watched with a cautious, attentive scowl as the goddess and this newcomer talked. He mentioned something about his realm, and Evan figured that probably did make 'god' the most likely guess.
He was surprised when the goddess glanced back at him, and he couldn't help raising an eyebrow curiously. Though, the expression quickly shifted from curiosity to something a bit more irate as he connected the dots of what she must be talking about. She'd already been seeking other options, then? Just because Evan gave in to an exhaustion-fueled nap? Or was this even before that? Evan was certainly glad she was indicating she'd rely on him again now, but fuck, he couldn't deny that that stung pretty harshly. Maybe not as much as her threat of going to the king, but now that seemed thoroughly idle since she didn't even mention this other possibility, whoever the fuck he was.
At least there were some other bits to be curious about in the gods' continued exchange--something the goddess didn't remember; that this god hadn't heard from the upper realms either--but then the putrid god turned his attention back to Evan again, and even before he spoke Evan knew he was going to hate what came out. Sure enough, a comment about Evan's height of all things, adding onto the list of old sore spots getting fucking jabbed into this evening. He couldn't help letting his expression flinch into a harsher scowl, practically fucking bearing his teeth at the god, albeit still from the at least perceived safety of the goddess' shadow.
To wit, the goddess moved closer to Evan, and her proximity was almost enough to dissipate his nausea in favor of something else entirely. Some part of him was absolutely tempted to avail himself of some touch for a multitude of different reasons, though primarily it'd be just for his own pride and comfort. For the same reason he didn't speak up when this man--this god--first arrived, Evan kept his hands to himself, though it was very nearly painful to do so.
And then the man went and said the goddess' name again, and Evan deeply felt the goddess' wince like it was his own. His scowl sharpened again, loudly advertising his distaste for this man's disrespect of his goddess. He wondered how wise that had been, but it had been pure fucking instinct so the wisdom of it really didn't much matter. It wasn't like his expressions had much of a bearing on the man's attitude, anyway, which was its own sot of irritating, although probably for the better overall.
Evan was honestly glad when the sky began darkening, the goddess taking a more offensive stance. His chest practically hummed with the flicker of electricity in the sky, and he raised his eyebrow at the intruder daringly.
Course, he regretted that particular expression real fucking quickly as the man lurched forward, sparking heightened fear in Evan's chest and a whole new wave of nausea in his gut. Before Evan's reflexes could even respond, the goddess was protecting him, intercepting the intruder and sending him stumbling back with shocks. Evan would have smirked if his adrenalin weren't still holding up a scowl; some part of him was strangely glad that he knew roughly what that might have just felt like, and he enjoyed imagining the pain the goddess had just caused, not to mention watching the process of the man regaining control of his body as the electricity finished running its course. He supposed he could weather one last quip from the man after that before he left, though 'short human' was really fucking pushing it. Evan rolled his eyes, and just like that, the man had summoned a portal and left.
As relieving as it was for him to be gone, it wasn't exactly rejoicing that happened in his wake. The captain and the goddess had only just begun a tender, tentative, likely exhausting conversation, and while it would be crucial to have, starting right back into it would be in terrible taste. But asking about anything from the conversation the goddess had just had with the intruder also seemed wildly inappropriate. The air around them felt fragile, and awkwardness weighed on Evan and churned at his insides, and all at once willpower was simply no longer enough.
"Fuck," Evan whispered without even realizing, his feet already hastily starting to carry him towards the edge of the stone circle away from the goddess. Course, right after he was in motion he realized that the reason he was still in this circle at all was because a powerful fucking shock awaited him if he left it, but whatever part of him was worried about that completely and utterly failed to communicate with the part of him that was transporting his stomach and its contents post-haste away from the possibly-sacred stones and into the hopefully-less-sacred grass. Mercifully, no shock befell him as he sloughed down onto his knees and his body got straight to work pushing out all sorts of things into the grass--not just his last meal, but also the disgust he'd been holding at bay in front of their visitor, to say nothing of the myriad of swirling emotions Evan had forced down into his stomach during the entire conversation preceding that interruption.
By the time that process completed, Evan felt physically much better, but emotionally fucking exhausted. Quite a lot of what he'd been holding in before felt somewhat dissipated, or at least farther away for now, but he was deeply embarrassed of what had just happened, and had no fucking clue how to proceed from here.
Re: Part 1
The goddess took a deep breath, grateful that Samael had left. Good to know that he was still a complete asshole. Granted, some part of her felt incredibly alone again in his absence, but there wasn't time to process that conversation--or the fact that she had agreed to a task that would almost certainly be exceedingly bad news whether or not she actually fulfilled it--she needed to sort things out with Evan. When she was ready to turn around, somewhat embarrassed about how obvious it had been that she was protecting him and very much needed him-- Evan was already moving. At first, she was surprised, unsure what could motivate him into movement so quickly and momentarily worried that he was running from her, but then it became painfully obvious that he could no longer contain the contents of his stomach.
The goddess looked away as Evan purged himself, her knee-jerk reaction to curse the pitiful fragility of the human state, but if even she had felt the nausea from Samael, she could not imagine how affected Evan must have been. And, for the god to have reached out to make a pass at Evan... Samael absolutely deserved the shock she had given him.
Dehaljadrun waited patiently for Evan to finish and an aching in her chest appeared as she wished she could do something for him right then. But, at the very least, she could be gentle with whatever would happen between them next. He probably had questions about what had just happened, and while she didn't want to answer them, Evan deserved some kind of explanation.
When it looked like Evan had finished and steadied himself back into standing, the goddess took a few tentative steps closer to him and said, "Come, you can wash up back in the palace." Her expression was unabashedly full of both sadness and concern over what she had, yet again, put Evan through. Gods, it was thoroughly dangerous how much she could not help but project herself into Evan's experience. She felt it as he did, and if she had been more capable of vomiting, perhaps she would have, her diaphragm as well as her throat aching with phantom sympathy for this man she truly could not deny she cared about.
Swallowing several times, she led the way back toward her palace, perfectly happy to put off conversation until they arrived there but also amenable to whatever Evan would want to say now.
The goddess looked away as Evan purged himself, her knee-jerk reaction to curse the pitiful fragility of the human state, but if even she had felt the nausea from Samael, she could not imagine how affected Evan must have been. And, for the god to have reached out to make a pass at Evan... Samael absolutely deserved the shock she had given him.
Dehaljadrun waited patiently for Evan to finish and an aching in her chest appeared as she wished she could do something for him right then. But, at the very least, she could be gentle with whatever would happen between them next. He probably had questions about what had just happened, and while she didn't want to answer them, Evan deserved some kind of explanation.
When it looked like Evan had finished and steadied himself back into standing, the goddess took a few tentative steps closer to him and said, "Come, you can wash up back in the palace." Her expression was unabashedly full of both sadness and concern over what she had, yet again, put Evan through. Gods, it was thoroughly dangerous how much she could not help but project herself into Evan's experience. She felt it as he did, and if she had been more capable of vomiting, perhaps she would have, her diaphragm as well as her throat aching with phantom sympathy for this man she truly could not deny she cared about.
Swallowing several times, she led the way back toward her palace, perfectly happy to put off conversation until they arrived there but also amenable to whatever Evan would want to say now.
Re: Part 1
Evan knelt there on the grass for a while, catching his breath and spitting out lingering remnants of disgust as he found them. Some part of him wished the goddess would say something, but then again, she was probably giving him privacy until he was done, which he supposed he should be grateful for. Just, the prospect of returning to interaction with her while he could still taste acid in his mouth was overwhelming, if he was being honest. Could she even stand the sight of him? He could feel wetness all over his cheeks from tears that had also escaped while he purged.
Once he felt like he'd gotten everything out he was going to be able to manage with saliva alone, Evan finally wiped an arm over his face to try to get at least most of the tears swept away, and then carefully pushed himself to his feet. Guh, one thing he fucking hated about vomiting was how godsdamned weak he inevitably felt in its wake. He felt drained and tired and very nearly dizzy. Fuck.
He couldn't help flinching when he heard the goddess stepping closer to him, though he tried to catch himself and keep still once he noticed. It wasn't that he didn't want her coming closer--quite the fucking contrary--but he couldn't deny he was terrified about how it'd go.
Then she spoke, and he finally pivoted to look at her, though not quite directly head-on. His expression was certainly tired, and utterly unable to hide that he was scared. But her invitation was kind and gentle and her expression full of sorrow and concern. Evan swallowed and nodded softly, indicating he'd follow where she led.
He lingered behind the goddess a ways as they walked, utterly silent while his mind tried to collect the pieces of the night together into something that made sense. He felt deeply confused about what all had even happened at this point, much less how he should proceed from here. Hadn't their initial meeting tonight been warm? Bumpy, sure, but then hadn't she asked him for reassurance? And then even healed damage from the previous night--shouldn't that have resolved things? But then that godsdamned dream... Evan absently reached up to rub at his scar, which he only just then realized had been aching. Tears were spilling down onto his cheeks again before he knew it, and he hastily wiped his arm over his face once more, not wanting the goddess to see. He felt extremely wary of her right now, though he wasn't entirely sure why. Hadn't she just shown him warmth and protection? Wasn't she even now showing him kindness and concern? Shouldn't that make him feel better?
When he really dug into it, he supposed he felt that even this was a play of some kind, but he didn't actually want to believe that. But how could he believe anything else without being naive? She needed him to go to the underworld, and that was his value to her. If she was being kind, perhaps it was just to avoid breaking him prematurely; that was probably the rational thing to believe. Which, he supposed he could still be grateful for--that he did have at least that value to her, and that she would, at least to some extent, take care with him until it was through. But fuck, it was disappointing--if not devastating--to think about it that way, and even if he was able to set that aside, it all felt so fucking tenuous right now. He'd just have to keep his guard up and see how things fell from here.
Once he felt like he'd gotten everything out he was going to be able to manage with saliva alone, Evan finally wiped an arm over his face to try to get at least most of the tears swept away, and then carefully pushed himself to his feet. Guh, one thing he fucking hated about vomiting was how godsdamned weak he inevitably felt in its wake. He felt drained and tired and very nearly dizzy. Fuck.
He couldn't help flinching when he heard the goddess stepping closer to him, though he tried to catch himself and keep still once he noticed. It wasn't that he didn't want her coming closer--quite the fucking contrary--but he couldn't deny he was terrified about how it'd go.
Then she spoke, and he finally pivoted to look at her, though not quite directly head-on. His expression was certainly tired, and utterly unable to hide that he was scared. But her invitation was kind and gentle and her expression full of sorrow and concern. Evan swallowed and nodded softly, indicating he'd follow where she led.
He lingered behind the goddess a ways as they walked, utterly silent while his mind tried to collect the pieces of the night together into something that made sense. He felt deeply confused about what all had even happened at this point, much less how he should proceed from here. Hadn't their initial meeting tonight been warm? Bumpy, sure, but then hadn't she asked him for reassurance? And then even healed damage from the previous night--shouldn't that have resolved things? But then that godsdamned dream... Evan absently reached up to rub at his scar, which he only just then realized had been aching. Tears were spilling down onto his cheeks again before he knew it, and he hastily wiped his arm over his face once more, not wanting the goddess to see. He felt extremely wary of her right now, though he wasn't entirely sure why. Hadn't she just shown him warmth and protection? Wasn't she even now showing him kindness and concern? Shouldn't that make him feel better?
When he really dug into it, he supposed he felt that even this was a play of some kind, but he didn't actually want to believe that. But how could he believe anything else without being naive? She needed him to go to the underworld, and that was his value to her. If she was being kind, perhaps it was just to avoid breaking him prematurely; that was probably the rational thing to believe. Which, he supposed he could still be grateful for--that he did have at least that value to her, and that she would, at least to some extent, take care with him until it was through. But fuck, it was disappointing--if not devastating--to think about it that way, and even if he was able to set that aside, it all felt so fucking tenuous right now. He'd just have to keep his guard up and see how things fell from here.
Re: Part 1
Dehaljadrun resisted the temptation to look back at Evan as they walked. She still held the talisman in her hand, though she had put the other pendant away inside her dress, and she fingered it lightly now with her arms against her sides. It gave her immense comfort, thinking that, if nothing else, Evan did want this to work. He didn't want to leave. Surely, if that were true, they could come up with a way to make this work?
But, that would require her identifying and even being honest about the full extent of what she wanted from him.
Putting that off, for the moment, the goddess focused on the immediate problem at hand.
Once they reached the open-air hall, she led Evan into a room on the right side of the palace that had a washbasin and towels.
"The water is safe to drink, if you need it," she said, uncertain of exactly what he would want but eager to give it to him. Afterward, she left him there and went back into the main room where she commanded several of her thralls to collect a few ingredients for her. After less than a minute of being gone, the goddess returned, leaning against the opening to the room and watching Evan collect himself.
The sooner they resolved the aching in her chest, the better. She wanted to reach out to him, to touch him, but she had no idea how that would be received at the moment, and she suspected it would be downright impossible to do anything but lay comforting hands on him, which would, if anything, only add to the ache in her chest.
She was grateful that, at least this time they had pushed Evan's body too far, it didn't strictly seem to be her fault. But, she was worried that Evan would blame her for Samael's appearance, and that she wanted to put to rest as quickly as possible.
"After the portal separated us," the goddess began, "I genuinely thought I had lost you. I started looking for other options, not all of them rational." It was a shit defense, but at least it was the beginning of some kind of explanation. She didn't want to spend much time in the washroom, and if Evan started showing signs that he had finished cleaning up, she would lead them elsewhere.
But, that would require her identifying and even being honest about the full extent of what she wanted from him.
Putting that off, for the moment, the goddess focused on the immediate problem at hand.
Once they reached the open-air hall, she led Evan into a room on the right side of the palace that had a washbasin and towels.
"The water is safe to drink, if you need it," she said, uncertain of exactly what he would want but eager to give it to him. Afterward, she left him there and went back into the main room where she commanded several of her thralls to collect a few ingredients for her. After less than a minute of being gone, the goddess returned, leaning against the opening to the room and watching Evan collect himself.
The sooner they resolved the aching in her chest, the better. She wanted to reach out to him, to touch him, but she had no idea how that would be received at the moment, and she suspected it would be downright impossible to do anything but lay comforting hands on him, which would, if anything, only add to the ache in her chest.
She was grateful that, at least this time they had pushed Evan's body too far, it didn't strictly seem to be her fault. But, she was worried that Evan would blame her for Samael's appearance, and that she wanted to put to rest as quickly as possible.
"After the portal separated us," the goddess began, "I genuinely thought I had lost you. I started looking for other options, not all of them rational." It was a shit defense, but at least it was the beginning of some kind of explanation. She didn't want to spend much time in the washroom, and if Evan started showing signs that he had finished cleaning up, she would lead them elsewhere.
Re: Part 1
Evan stepped lightly into the washroom, nodding to the goddess' comment about the water and relieved when she stepped away to give him some privacy. The first thing he did was splash water on his face, eager to mask the evidence of tears on his cheeks. After that he did cup some water in his hand which he then sipped into his mouth and swished around before swallowing.
He was surprised and maybe vaguely irritated that the goddess came back so quickly--really, he'd kind of wanted to just fucking zone out and finish catching his breath for a godsdamned second, which he didn't feel like he could do with the goddess watching. Instead, he repeated the cycle--splashed some more water on his face, and took another drink--and then grabbed a towel to blot at his face while she spoke. He was surprised and, well, relieved, actually, by what she had to say. She was speaking to one of his concerns without him even having to voice it, which felt good. Although, some cynical voice wondered whether she'd just been peeking in his thoughts this whole time, but then again, if she had, he kind of doubted that this was where she'd start.
He finished with the towel quickly, and picked up easily that the goddess wanted to lead him elsewhere, which he obliged. He pondered for a moment how he wanted to respond to the goddess' explanation. He had nodded, at least, his eyes soft and understanding. He did remember now, she'd said something about having thought she'd lost him at the beginning of the night, too. Even if what he heard right now was that she'd only lost her shot at Evan helping her, at least things were matching up as to why she'd have already started looking for other options. It made sense, and he was willing to just let that particular sting go. Question was, then, where the fuck to go next? He did feel like he ought to say something.
"I get it. Who was he?"
He was surprised and maybe vaguely irritated that the goddess came back so quickly--really, he'd kind of wanted to just fucking zone out and finish catching his breath for a godsdamned second, which he didn't feel like he could do with the goddess watching. Instead, he repeated the cycle--splashed some more water on his face, and took another drink--and then grabbed a towel to blot at his face while she spoke. He was surprised and, well, relieved, actually, by what she had to say. She was speaking to one of his concerns without him even having to voice it, which felt good. Although, some cynical voice wondered whether she'd just been peeking in his thoughts this whole time, but then again, if she had, he kind of doubted that this was where she'd start.
He finished with the towel quickly, and picked up easily that the goddess wanted to lead him elsewhere, which he obliged. He pondered for a moment how he wanted to respond to the goddess' explanation. He had nodded, at least, his eyes soft and understanding. He did remember now, she'd said something about having thought she'd lost him at the beginning of the night, too. Even if what he heard right now was that she'd only lost her shot at Evan helping her, at least things were matching up as to why she'd have already started looking for other options. It made sense, and he was willing to just let that particular sting go. Question was, then, where the fuck to go next? He did feel like he ought to say something.
"I get it. Who was he?"
Re: Part 1
The goddess led the two of them back into the main room of the palace and stopped at a corner piled high with cushions. She sat down, tired, frustrated, but made an effort to position herself in a way that looked graceful at least, her two legs bent underneath her while her elbow propped up her head and her hand nested in her long black hair.
She could not help rolling her eyes at Evan's question, only because she really detested talking about Samael, but she supposed it was only fair.
"Another god. Samael, the god of poisons. As far as I can tell, he's been away from the realms of the upper gods longer than I have, by choice rather than force. And, apparently, his realm and mine are adjacent to each other." The goddess paused for a moment, looking at Evan to try to assess his state, but she still continued. "He's not exactly sympathetic to the human plight. He seems to revel in it even more than I do," Dehaljadrun said, her mouth quirking up on one side as she said it, meaning it playfully, but her expression settled back into neutral quickly as a thrall approached with a tray. He set it down in front of the goddess and Evan and then returned obediently to the front opening of the palace.
On the tray were a few plants, a chalice of steaming water, and a pale root vegetable that Evan almost assuredly did not recognize. Dehaljadrun sat properly up, selected a few of the herbs, rubbed them between her fingers until they were nearly powder, and let the mixture fall into the chalice. She repeated this several times and finally gave the chalice to Evan.
"This will help to settle your stomach," she said and turned back to the tray once more to cut a few slices off the vegetable. "And, when you feel like you can eat something, this is easy to digest."
After a moment, the goddess continued. "I suppose, to use a human equivalent, you could say Samael is my brother." She paused again, looking down now. "And he'll assuredly be back to collect what I promised him."
((OOC: the herbal tea will taste sweeter than Evan might expect, though it does have a hint of medicinal flavoring and a light flavor of grass. The vegetable is really bland but tender when chewed and filling.)
She could not help rolling her eyes at Evan's question, only because she really detested talking about Samael, but she supposed it was only fair.
"Another god. Samael, the god of poisons. As far as I can tell, he's been away from the realms of the upper gods longer than I have, by choice rather than force. And, apparently, his realm and mine are adjacent to each other." The goddess paused for a moment, looking at Evan to try to assess his state, but she still continued. "He's not exactly sympathetic to the human plight. He seems to revel in it even more than I do," Dehaljadrun said, her mouth quirking up on one side as she said it, meaning it playfully, but her expression settled back into neutral quickly as a thrall approached with a tray. He set it down in front of the goddess and Evan and then returned obediently to the front opening of the palace.
On the tray were a few plants, a chalice of steaming water, and a pale root vegetable that Evan almost assuredly did not recognize. Dehaljadrun sat properly up, selected a few of the herbs, rubbed them between her fingers until they were nearly powder, and let the mixture fall into the chalice. She repeated this several times and finally gave the chalice to Evan.
"This will help to settle your stomach," she said and turned back to the tray once more to cut a few slices off the vegetable. "And, when you feel like you can eat something, this is easy to digest."
After a moment, the goddess continued. "I suppose, to use a human equivalent, you could say Samael is my brother." She paused again, looking down now. "And he'll assuredly be back to collect what I promised him."
((OOC: the herbal tea will taste sweeter than Evan might expect, though it does have a hint of medicinal flavoring and a light flavor of grass. The vegetable is really bland but tender when chewed and filling.)