Singofus - Tumblr Posts
@singofus from here.
As soon as she settles onto the furs, Pan gets up to get another fur to drape over her and puts some more logs onto the growing fire - hoping it may warm her further. In these moments he felt restless, unable to truly settle. It was the clearer sight of her bruises and scrapes and how thin she was that did it. This beautiful nymph was so ill. When she eats, he looks intently at her - waiting for any sign that the food was not correct or did not agree with her. His shoulders relaxed as soon as she seemed to like it. Again he got up and went to get a filled bowl of the meat, putting it down before her before sitting back down himself. She sits and he feels more relief, though worries still. "My name is Pan." He blurts to her, unable to restrain it. Although she was being so respectful, he wished to hear his name upon her pretty lips. "I am the guardian of this wilderness. I will ensure you are protected and have all you need to be safe and well." "I am trying to find you salt water to bathe in and fish, though we are some way away from that. So it, uh...will take some time... unfortunately..." Would she be alright staying here until then? Was he intruding? She didn't seem scared of him as much anymore. He shuffled a little in himself, hands threading through the curly hair of his legs.
he promises her protection , and she can't find it in herself to be suspicious . why would she ? he has done nothing to harm her , and yet she has done nothing to help him . how should she earn her stay ? dark brows furrow slightly as she looks up at him .
❛ how shall i repay you ? ❜ she asks , finishing the meat in her hand and reaching for a second one , fingers trembling as she does so . not because she is afraid of him , but because she has not eaten in too long . ❛ i am not one to take a god's graces for granted , my lord . ❜
a PROMISE as well as a statement , a testament to her character . she is a guest here ; and she must behave . her shoulders drop a little as she takes in just how much green is around her . she truly is far from her seas . but perhaps that is a good thing — perhaps she will be away from those who seek to use her home to further their own gains .
❛ pan , ❜ she muses , savoring the word . a simple name , with simple sounds , but he does not strike her as a simple god . multifaceted , and protective yet … KIND . nerisei nods and softly ventures , ❛ please , call me nerisei . ❜ after all , she has not yet shared her name with him , and if he is to be her new deity , she should let him know her name .
clawed hands take the flesh in her grasp and tear it , taking another bite , licking the salt and seasonings free . his question makes her smile , and she looks to the sky in thought . ❛ the ocean is ... it is like an embrace , i suppose . warm , and calming . the lower parts are as DARK as the night sky wih a new moon , with even less light — oh , but the creatures can glow , and that is BEAUTIFUL . it's also much quieter , depending on what you listen for . the loudest things i heard were whalesongs , ❜ she says , her smile growing dimmer .
❛ the whales were the first to leave . there was not enough fish to sustain them — not that all eat fish , but the balance of life and death is dependent upon even the littlest of creatures . they couldn't do it anymore . eventually , neither could i . ❜ she frowns , blue eyes shifting to look at him . ❛ mortals do not understand . ❜
@singofus from here.
As soon as she settles onto the furs, Pan gets up to get another fur to drape over her and puts some more logs onto the growing fire - hoping it may warm her further. In these moments he felt restless, unable to truly settle. It was the clearer sight of her bruises and scrapes and how thin she was that did it. This beautiful nymph was so ill. When she eats, he looks intently at her - waiting for any sign that the food was not correct or did not agree with her. His shoulders relaxed as soon as she seemed to like it. Again he got up and went to get a filled bowl of the meat, putting it down before her before sitting back down himself. She sits and he feels more relief, though worries still. "My name is Pan." He blurts to her, unable to restrain it. Although she was being so respectful, he wished to hear his name upon her pretty lips. "I am the guardian of this wilderness. I will ensure you are protected and have all you need to be safe and well." "I am trying to find you salt water to bathe in and fish, though we are some way away from that. So it, uh...will take some time... unfortunately..." Would she be alright staying here until then? Was he intruding? She didn't seem scared of him as much anymore. He shuffled a little in himself, hands threading through the curly hair of his legs.
he promises her protection , and she can't find it in herself to be suspicious . why would she ? he has done nothing to harm her , and yet she has done nothing to help him . how should she earn her stay ? dark brows furrow slightly as she looks up at him .
❛ how shall i repay you ? ❜ she asks , finishing the meat in her hand and reaching for a second one , fingers trembling as she does so . not because she is afraid of him , but because she has not eaten in too long . ❛ i am not one to take a god's graces for granted , my lord . ❜
a PROMISE as well as a statement , a testament to her character . she is a guest here ; and she must behave . her shoulders drop a little as she takes in just how much green is around her . she truly is far from her seas . but perhaps that is a good thing — perhaps she will be away from those who seek to use her home to further their own gains .
@singofus asked: sleepy , domestic morning kisses in the kitchen while making breakfast (pan and neri)
her fingers trace the edge of the stoneware mug , eyes closed as she listens to the sound of life around her . the humble crush of the grass in deer mouths , the trill of the birds coasting through the air , the laughing yips of the hounds as they play with each other in the soft grasses outside . steam from the mug of cinnamon spiced milk and honey curls like ghosts in the sunlit air , her hair loosely tied up in physical curls much the same down her back , eternally dripping .
she wears no clothes — her preferred state of dress , though her linen dresses are folded somewhere around here .
there's produce and foraged goods , fish and flesh salted and dried , as well as available fresh if the butcher knives were done being sharpened . she wonders about that , her tongue tracing over her dulled teeth , not nearly as sharp as they are in the depths of her home . she supposes she does not need them here , as she watches a fat honeybee settle on a flower and rub its body through the petals and pollen , wings buzzing every so often . she glances at the jar of honey , then back to the bee , and nods her head in thanks with a sleepy soft smile . she has other forms of protection .
gentle creaks come to her from behind her , followed by hooves on compact earth , and she reaches for the other mug , filling it with diluted wine , as was more his preferred drink .
a warm , broad hand settles on her shoulder , and she smiles , looking up ( & up & up ) at her husband . she says nothing , her mouth quickly occupied with his own , her hands leaving the mugs so she can wrap them over his shoulders , sighing into the embrace . when they part to breathe , she softly wishes him a good morning , her eyes lit a shimmering iridescent by the sunlight .
❛ how did you sleep , my love ? ❜ she asks , voice a soft whisper so as not to disturb the various paces of morning around them .
@singofus asked: lay all your burdens to rest . (Dys being cute to Mel)
she looks up at the dark and winged creature above her , bloody and fanged . heaving breath does not come from the multitude of mouths , but rather from between exposed ribs , breathing from the body directly . hooked claws , designed for sinking into the pelt of prey and yanking them to a sudden stop , sink into the earth , cutting roots and worms with their length . there is some amount of appendages . she cannot count them ; they keep changing .
overwhelming black shattered with spiky white and pulsating red ; rolling yellow and hypnotic purple and dripping pink and heaven-sent pearlescent , in dashes and smears across irises , pads , and exposed organs . even the BONES are black . something slithers in the grass — a broken limb ? a tail ? a snake taking this opportunity to flee ? as if something as banal as a snake exists in this space .
here she stands before a MONSTER , whose ask resonates somewhere in the soft , ichor soaked entrails of her body , that silken wet warmth that welcomes an undoing .
a pale hand , cold as winter’s moonlight , reaches up and settles between an assortment of eyes , a region that may be called the forehead in animals whose bodies obey the wet laws of biology and physics . she is being looked at now , and she gives a crooked smile that does not show her own long teeth , hooked for prey work much the same as the earthen claws . black and white lips part , and the emotion does not match her eyes .
❛ and where shall i lay them ? ❜ she asks , her voice a whisper .
it has been difficult as of late , managing the unwieldy personal desires she now has , in concert with her responsibilities to both realm and throne . tonight is one such night she could throw herself into her work , into guiding her ghouls and poltergeists and phantoms , sending them to every curve of the world until they stirred up enough madness to satisfy the hunger within her .
it is a different hunger that rises now .
the inverted , black iron crown atop her head , jagged points pressing down to her scalp with chains fit to enslave a mouse decorating them , swooping in dangling arcs by her ears and temple , slowly fades away . it is replaced with her traditional diadem , clean and clear and decorated with gemstones this part of the world has never seen . her body , split in black and white , is bare — long limbs shrink back to their proportionate sizes , rendering her much smaller than the monster before her . she keeps her hand between the eyes , letting it slip as she grows smaller , between feather , fur , bone , and blood , until all that remains is just a hand upon where a nose should be . she rises to her tiptoes and rests her forehead against the bony plate there . there is the sound of a wet tongue slicking sharp teeth .
❛ tell me where , and my burdens and their bearer shall be yours , ❜ she murmurs , two-toned lips brushing black horn against her mouth .
she smiles , lips curving against their body , as she is bestowed this option . she feels the earth gored open beneath them , feels the little deaths of creatures entering the life cycle of all non-sentient beings . to simply be reborn again . their life essences fly past her , ghosting along her skin , chilling it further , freed from the womb of the earth into the grave of the sky .
❛ you would make a mortsafe for my worries ? ❜ she murmurs . ❛ prevent them from coming back , if only to give me peace … i suppose i cannot find fault in that . ❜ her words are teasing – she presses a kiss where her forehead had previously been , brave and in love all the same .
looking down to the overturned earth , she kneels , bare legs pressing into the fresh , soft piles . her hands fall from dys’ face , pressing into the earth in concert with their claws , heedless of the danger . so what if she bleeds ? ichor would paint their claws a beautiful shade — she’d be happy to be the sacrifice .
❛ build us a grave , ❜ she says softly , white hand disappearing beneath darkened soil . in the distance , a banshee screams , la llorona cries , the mirror breaks and bloody mary is free . ❛ i wish to rest with you . and i wish not to be disturbed . ❜
she is fond of graveyards and cemeteries , fond of the calm they grant the occupant. she would like some calm now . mismatched eyes look up to her MONSTER as she settles into the hastily dug grave , sinking down into the earth , crossing her legs and folding her arms behind her head , leaning back as if she resides in a hot spring .
❛ join me . ❜
Their body lurches, balanced awkwardly as their form contends with its many parts to be still for the princess. To let her reach for them and explore them as sometimes she does. The eyes closest to her hand close in contentment, taking in the chill of her touch against their squirming form. They cannot help it. When so glad to see her, they can't stay static.
There is some sadness as she changes her form, but only because of Dystonia's appreciation for this form. One she crafted herself and made her own. One that generates her own fear and dread - of which they admire. But it is in her smaller form that all eyes can more clearly see the tension in her limbs. The way it causes pressure even in the air and aura around them. It gives the nightmare pride to know that they can change that. Her size continues to shrink and so they lean further and further down to accommodate her size. Shadowing her with their bulk.
More eyes close as she presses her forehead to them, the sounds of bones cracking and skin and sinew shifting. Mouths form back into one, as eyes rotate and form into slits, allowing more to appear. More to observe her and appreciate her. Hands animated from mist form around her waist, holding her.
"In an iron-laden grave, so they may disappear forever. I would dig it. Rip apart the earth." The vibrations from the voice, both a deep bass and garbled treble. Deep gashes in the earth form as their hooks rake through it, as if already building a place for her worries to slip into. All they wanted was to distract her.
mismatched eyes focus on inky pools of night , verdant and vermilion staring into eternity . she gazes into the void and the void gazes back . her body goes easily against theirs , pressing into that cocoon of safety , and she slings her own arms over the topmost set of shoulders , lips curled into a smile .
would she like to be buried ? quite the question indeed .
the princess nods , adjusting her position to be more welcoming of a second , to encourage them to settle down on top of her . ❛ i would be buried under you , ❜ she murmurs , her words just for them to hear .
it has been too long since they’ve been allowed to be this way . since she could set her duties aside , no longer hearing her father’s voice in her head , her mother’s cautious tales — the coldness of autumn has begun to settle in , and just as her parents have their reunification rituals , she begins to make her own .
cold fingers settle into their fur , her lips brushing closer to theirs , now one mouth for her to focus on . even now , as they lay , she can feel her previous worries slipping away , sinking even deeper into the earth , to the promised iron casket . her mind feels lighter now , feels more complete with just her MONSTER here to accompany her .
❛ tell me what ails you , ❜ she asks , not wanting this to be just about her . she trails her fingers up around an ear , finding the soft spot of a temple and softly massaging the thin flesh . ❛ i know i cannot be the only one with such heavy thoughts . ❜
just as it has been long for her , it has been long for them as well — she wants to know what PAIN they carry so she too can massage it away , bury it , drown it in the styx and leave them shining in the night where they belong .
It took until Melinoë digging in the ear between their talons for Dystonia to even realise they had already constructed a grave. They hadn't noticed themselves doing it, though their worry for her was quite intense. They wanted those worries gone quickly. She asks of them and they work to even out the edges of this new hole ,make it large enough for her to rest comfortably in.
"We will not be disturbed." Their auras were divinely off-putting when put together, but any stupid lifeform close enough to them to disturb her would visit a death deity soon enough.
Claws halt in their digging when she steps into the earth, lifting away to let her have all of the newly provided space. The air around them felt heavy with the scent of fresh soil, of its death and decay. It clung to their bone and fur as they watched her settle and spent time, even after her request, just simply gazing at her. Her beauty only grew when she was in her element like this.
The air was filled with cracks and snaps as bones shifted, broke and reformed painlessly as the god shrunk. Shrunk down and shed off excess eyes and arms. Until they had only four of each - their legs normal only so as to not take up too much space in this grave of theirs. Their eyes were still completely black, their skin a sunken grey, but their features were normal enough...perhaps their mind drifted to enjoyment of how true kisses felt on a normal face.
A hand reaches for her face, gently turning it to face theirs. Now it is their turn to rest their forehead against hers. Other arms carefully slip around her waist or beneath her shoulders. Touching her, willing her to be close. It had been too long since they had been spared time like this.
"Do you want to be buried?" They whisper, wondering if it would add to this experience or hinder.
they settle down atop her , cradling her in arms meant for destruction , and she lets her body go completely , absolutely , totally limp . she presses her thighs against their waist , hugging them to her with every limb she can . the all-consuming weight presses her into the earth , and she presses a soft , lazy kiss to their mouth as they admit they missed her .
she missed them too , the easy banter and gentle physical affection , feeling their teeth against her flesh . her hands slide down the limbs wrapped around her back , hands buried into the fur as she kisses them .
crows fly overhead , portending some kind of haunting , and melinoë chuckles into the kiss . somewhere , someone’s car fails , leaving them stranded in a bend in the road long after dark . they too notice the crows — melinoë feeds off their fear , the anxiety piquing with old wives tales and cautionary stories from wrinkled and stained hands .
elsewhere , clawed hands tear through silt and muck , pulling through the bottom of a riverbed . pale limbs surface , long drenched hair , a mouth full of fangs and wide dark eyes as the spirit haunts the place she drowned .
melinoë hums , connecting the two , feels the moment the spirit jettisons off towards the road , eager to seduce and feed . all the while , the murder watches .
all the while , she tastes her own MONSTER , arching her back a little , pressing fully against them . she is painfully aware of how little time they have — she will make the most of it .
❛ i missed my princette , ❜ she mumbles against their lips , the diminutive gender neutral form making it even more affectionate and possessive .
This is not the first time she has requested the nightmare to be a living blanket, and so they shift over her with ease. Limbs bury into the earth to balance as others hold her still. Foreheads still pressed together, as a low purr emanates from the conglomerate of black terror. Her conglomerate.
"And so you are buried."
Then she asks of them and a sigh rattles out of them instead, causing strands of mismatched hair to gently flutter. How had they not realised how tense they were until she asked that? They try to relax, and not let themselves recall that they only have a few hours more with her.
"I missed my princess." They say, since work truly isn't in their realm of stress currently. It has just been how little they've been able to contact her. Still there are so many barriers. Though they have no intention of letting them stop this, they do wear on Dystonia.
she smiles , always relieved to see her nephew in good spirits . it bodes well for the rest of the seas .
❛ well you certainly can , i won’t prevent you from doing so , though i’m afraid it is rather boring . i’m just on my way to see my father , ❜ she says , shrugging a little . it has been a long while since she has sought an audience with nereus , not since she left home to form her own relations elsewhere .
❛ there’s a matter that calls his direct attention — but i’m sure it already has made its way to him , ❜ she adds , scaled cheeks flushing with dark blood . ❛ this is just formalities . but if you’d like to come for the journey , i’d very much appreciate it . ❜
the sea is ever changing , and while she can never truly be forgotten by it , she could be tested by it . to have a powerful escort would be much appreciated .
@faunisms asked: she's already at the far reaches of where the sunlight can reach . she can see it dripping down above her , shimmering on rocks and sand up above . she studies the darkness behind her , listening and watching for any possible sounds of danger . her palms and forearms tingle with external electromagnetic pulses , letting her know she's not alone .
she turns her head slightly , large dark eyes staring to the middle distance as she drifts closer to the cover of the rocks . it's been a while since she'd been back , and she realizes just how ill-suited she is on land , or with fresh water . but then she thinks of her husband to-be , and the effort he gives to her , and the way they love each other, and she knows this is for the best .
and again , she reminds herself ; her father most likely already knows . this is formalities .
the electromagnetic pulse grows stronger and she looks up , a shadow falling over her from above . dark eyes take in the familiar shape , though it has been a long while since she has seen him , and she smiles to herself , inclining her head appropriately as her nephew enters her space .
❛ well met , my lord , ❜ she says , voice richer in the water . ( neri @ triton )
unprompted ask | Always Accepting
He'd heard whispers around that Nerisei had returned, and so he wondered if he might catch up to her on her journey. Though he did enjoy being down here in the dark depths anyway. Once she acknowledged him, the light green patterns across his skin illuminate and fill the space with a gentle light. And a sign to everyone else that the prince was here.
"χαίρε Aunt Nerisei!" He grins at her and bows his head in return. "How exciting to see you again. You look well, considering the circumstances."
Her stretch of sea and its issues were known to him, though it was an area he didn't tend to go to very often. Though with the pollution and harm, he was trying to make connections, see what he or his father could do. What anyone could do. It had worried him a lot when he heard she'd gone to freshwater, so it was good to see her here and looking amazing. Honestly he thought she'd be a shell of her former self by now.
"What brings you here? May I escort you wherever you're going?"
@singofus asked: Ever since waking from his vision, the satyr god had been calling out for his wife. Still disoriented, he had been stumbling around the forest trying to get to her river, until his hounds found him and led him to her. Falling to his knees beside her, he grasps her arms with a wild look in his eyes. "My wife, you mustn't go to the sea soon. A storm there is-" Tears well at the image he had seen of her being battered and tugged by rogue currents, pushed towards rocks. It scared him.
nerisei had been resting in her river , enjoying the sun's warmth and the steady flow and push of the clear water . she was now accustomed to the river's flow at this point , in addition to the push and pull of the sea . she'd had her eyes closed , head resting on the grassy bank with her body mostly submerged , when she heard two hounds nearby .
she'd thought nothing of it ; they often play in this valley , looking over her at their lord and master's bequest . but then one tips their head back and HOWLS , and neri sits up , brows furrowed . the hounds don't seem to be in any physical distress , but she is not very well versed in land animal behavior .
there's an answering HOWL , and shortly thereafter the rest of the pack bursts through the treeline , almost shepherding her husband along . her confusion grows , and she goes to stand , to ask what is wrong , but then he is before her , hands on her arms , pleading for her to not return home .
she had intended to go when the current moon cycle completed , around another week or so . but his pain makes her want to soothe , to calm him .
❛ breathe , my love . breathe . i'm alright , here and now . ❜ it's important , she thinks , to help him recognize when his visions are immediate and when they are farther off in the future . she brings one hand up , able to bend her elbow so she can cup his cheek , gently offering comfort .
❛ a storm , out at sea ? ❜ she's weathered many storms at sea before , for the majority of her life , but his worry is palpable . ❛ i think i would be alright , i've been through many . but i will not go if that would ease your mind . ❜
@singofus asked: "Hmm I wonder where my dear Tali is?" Pan ponders in an exaggeratedly loud tone, ears pricked for any movement or sounds of giggles. (Pan playing hide and seek with his daughter)
thalia bites her lower lip to try to stifle her giggles , small hand on the base of the tree in which she's hiding behind . her father had moved past her , and she slowly moves to cross the desire path . she's a big girl now , having passed six summers — and while she knows she is much faster , stronger , and stealthier in the water , she wants to be just as good on the rest of the island she calls home .
she creeps out from behind the tree , heart pounding as she does so , looking up ( and up , and up ) at her father's back as she begins to try to cross the path ... only to step on crispy and dried plants , succumbing to a root illness .
she gasps , and reverses course , hiding back behind the tree , smile wide on her face as she listens for his response .
@singofus asked: Lyssa heard her queen as if they were both underwater. She lay here bleeding deep blackish-red almost entwined with the assassin attempting to curse her lady. The cursed blade instead sapping her own life energy. Good, her oath to her queen was fulfilled. She died with honour. "You should go to safety...there could be more..." she murmured, hoping Melinoe would heed her concern. (When perhaps they entwine closer?)
she'd felt the curse lingering on the blade , she had known the area was not safe , and yet she wasn't fast enough to step out of the way . lyssa did as she was trained to do , to intercept between her queen and danger .
these mortals are bold now , demanding attendance from her spirits , demanding their insights and gifts . she had come to put a stop to it , to free any caught in ouija boards and pendulums and other such tools . but she'd underestimated them .
and now her closest friend lies dying on the ground .
she extends a pale , skeletal hand to the would-be-assassin , striking them with a MADNESS pulled deep from her fear and panic in this moment . they release the blade , writhing and screaming as their mind sees truths it cannot comprehend . but all of it is background to her .
she pulls lyssa away from the mortal , feeling the sticky yellow curse working through her life force . with skeletal hand to the ground and black hand moving above , she slips into well-practiced motions .
( call forth the shadows and spirits for , at the very least , a few seconds of forewarning and obfuscating the two of them from scrying eyes . )
she reaches out to the caustic and defensive spirits ; those who bear loyalty to either her as their queen or to lyssa as their commander . they stay at a distance but they are present . all ignore the screaming mortal .
( pour forth intention of containment and abjuration into each action . )
she closes her eyes , tears dripping down her face as she centers herself in the way that only centuries upon centuries of training in courts and witchcraft would allow her to do so quickly . she is still , in the center . a dark pond , not a ripple .
she creates a white square in her mind , a purification of holy fire and light , and leans into it .
( remove the cursed item . )
her body flickers , sides changing with skeletal becoming black and black becoming skeletal , then fleshed . white hand grabs the handle of the knife and it hisses and bubbles and she tosses it aside , where it dissolves under the force of her PURIFICATION .
( with blessed hand , wind and wrap and gather the foreign intention of the curse within the body . )
she presses her white hand over lyssa's wound , pale skin marred with dark blood and vile intention . she probes , physically and metaphysically , darkened arm holding lyssa down as she does , until she catches the curse and pulls and winds and pulls and winds and wraps and gathers the unruly yarn of the pain . the more of it that touches her , the brighter it burns white , until her hand is near flaming as she cauterizes with holy dark magic .
( stabilize . )
it is done , but ... she is not coming back . lyssa is not stronger , not bouncing back as mel had hoped . her breath comes short now , and distantly she feels one of her spirits' hackles raise .
she casts a glance over -- a great shaggy black dog stares down the spirit .
it is not barking .
it is not hekate's .
she curses and turns back to lyssa , knowing her time is running thin . she presses both hands over lyssa's chest , feeling as her own dual nature starts to be less and less in touch with lyssa's , for DEATH is the great equalizer of all difference .
another alarmed spirit .
a grey lady .
not hekate's .
she leans down to where lyssa is hardly breathing , and presses their foreheads together . she takes a deep breath , rational and magical minds searching for purpose . magic is all intention . that's all it is .
she presses her hands against lyssa's chest and pours her own resolve for her to live into that intention — the burning white box replaced with the verdant green and red and black of her mother's garden , the most alive space mel intimately knows .
❛ i do not hold your oath fulfilled , ❜ she whispers , forcing her teeth not to be gritted , forcing her love and admiration and respect for the daemon beneath her to outweigh her fear . ❛ i will not hold your oath fulfilled here . you are destined for much greater . i do not release you . STAY . ❜
her magic sinks into lyssa , her very core of her power chipping off and sinking into the daemon below .
distantly , she recognizes the screaming has stopped . she can hear lyssa's breathing picking back up , getting stronger , and she lifts her head to look into the golden eyes of one of her father's most faithful servants .
a single , black butterfly sits on their clawed hand , the body of the assassin now silent and still . they say nothing , watching not the princess , but the daemon .
lyssa makes a noise — mel looks down to her , the budding relief overwhelming — and when she looks back up , THANATOS and their omens are gone .
she did it .
she wraps her arms around lyssa and holds her close , trembling . she says nothing , just holds her , feeling a connection she couldn't before .
tali puts a hand over her mouth , stifling her giggle as her father gets incredibly closer . she follows his movement , step for step , in the opposite direction , so the tree is always between the two of them .
she knows she cannot outrun him , she's made that observation already , but she certainly can hide ! when her body is facing the path again , she steps CAREFULLY over the rotted and crispy plants , feet kicking up a bit of the dust as she darts across the path .
she slips into the undergrowth , sliding down the embankment before she makes it to mossy , muddy , squishy earth . this is the muck that lines the headwaters to her mother's river — she can feel the tug downstream , towards her mother and their home there .
but this is not a time to get distracted !!
she carefully picks her foot up , and is about to move , when she realizes something — she's leaving tracks , perfect little child tracks , for her father to find . so she changes tactics and instead shuffles her feet , one in front of the other , and slides in a meandering fashion , doing her best to mimic the path of a snake , until she gets to proper stone lined water , where she can stand . here she finds another tree to hide behind , the roots drinking from the source of the water , little hands splayed on the bark as she watches her father's horns for his approach .
Pan waits just a second before turning, a delay big enough that she would be able to hide herself again. Although she was growing well now, she was still young and still her instincts were blunt. So teaching her must be adapted, so she would be encouraged to continue. Her curiosity was already serving her well.
"What was that?" He said a loud, wanting to hear more stifled giggles. Then took a great dramatic sniff of the air, as if he could smell her. "Ah, I smell a little mischievous one. My Tali must be close." He hunches over, creeping along back the way he came towards the crunching noise. Then suddenly turns his head -
towards the opposite direction of where she was. "Is she over here? No? Hmm..." He walks around the entire tree, trying to keep his eldest daughter amused as ever before they retire for the evening. His green eyes move around to where he thought she might be.
"What about over here?" And he slowly creeps closer.
his distress shocks her , seeing how violent a hold his fear has on him . she almost lets go of him as he trembles — she can hear the unnatural silence around them , feel the desire in the hounds to bolt . but she holds on , because he needs her , and because she is his wife . if anyone can calm him , make him see reason , it SHOULD be her .
his panicked ramblings end in a sharp sob , and she cups his jaw , cradling his face between her hands . iridescent black eyes look down at her husband , the soft , cooling brush of wind against their skin swirling between them . there's a light spray of water as the river begins to writhe , boiling and freezing at the same time in response to neri's own emotional duress at seeing her husband so afraid .
bubbles freeze , mini waves etched in ice as she steps out of her river , bare as she usually is . she hopes that he will see there is no injury on her , that she is safe and in his arms .
❛ alright , my love , it's alright , ❜ she says softly , forcing him to look at her . ❛ i will not go . i will stay here until the storm passes and the waters are safe again . ❜ her fingers are in his beard , touching as close to his skin as she can , and she holds steady , not letting him move his head from her grasp . she looks at him with concern , searching for what magical combination of words she can utter to calm his anxieties .
"No!" He immediately blurted, voice taking on a fearful edge. So dangerously close to losing its control and forming his famed scream. He couldn't help it when she immediately dismissed his concerns. Immediately his hounds whined and retreated back a little, already scared. The sounds of nature around them stopped.
Again the image of her torn and battered corpse swarmed his mind and his hands immediately went to his hair, gripping it so tight it could rip. Shaking his head visciously to try and get rid of the image before it took his mind with it.
"No, no not this one. No you would not. You would not. You skin would be grated upon the rocks, your flesh torn apart, your-" His sentence dissolved as a sob came out of him instead - leaning heavily into her touch like it was the only thing keeping him up.
"Do not go. You can't go. Please." He begged of her, eyes red from crying.
the princess nods , letting the gesture turn into a bow appropriate for the nature of their stations . then she straightens and says , ❛ i've come to ask for a discussion on previous teachings , not to learn something new . ❜
she steps closer , mismatched hands clasped in front of her as she approaches the fireplace . ❛ when i saved lyssa , my verbal component was calling on a previous oath that i did not hold fulfilled. she swore herself to me , that she would die protecting me if she had to . she is now insisting on a second oath , though i hold the first unfulfilled . if i were to accept the second , would it replace the first , and undo what pledge she had made to me ? and what would her fate be ? i worry i may stumble into paradox magic if i continue ; or worse , riddle spells . ❜
riddle spells , while powerful , are only powerful until solved , at which point it undoes itself . paradox magic is unable to be solved , meaning lyssa may be damned not just to a long life , but an inability to die .
@faunisms requested a starter from HEKATE for MELINOË!
Hekate did not move from her place sitting by the hearth, her hand still gently scratching at the head of her hound as they bathe in the fire's warmth.
An equine eye gazes at her from the side, watching the princess approach before closing.
"What brings you to me, princess? If it's teachings you want, then I'm sorry but I cannot give it."
Lately, Hekate had been striving for Hekate to gain more independence. As such, she had decided to begin things moreso abruptly. Of course, if it was on behalf of her father or in need far beyond her means, she would attend - but sometimes a little fear and panic did the mind good.
@singofus asked: Pan wordlessly snuggles up to his wife and rests his head on her stomach with a big sigh.
neri felt her love approach , but she doesn't move from her spot lounging in the sun . she hears him settle down beside her , the shadow he casts darkening the bright blue she sees when her eyes are closed . then a comforting weight on her stomach , drawing a smile from her , even though his beard and cheek have a bite of cold .
clawed hands deftly work between his horns , offering soft pets through his dark hair , something she cannot often due with their height difference . his hair is slightly damp , and chilled . opening her eyes , she looks down , lightly tapping her free fingers against the curve of his horn .
❛ in the mountains again , hmm ? ❜ she murmurs , knowing how the clouds and thinner air leaves his body chilled . ❛ did you find anything interesting ? ❜
@singofus asked: "I am so proud of you." (Pan to Thalia, mortal verse maybe?)
thalia tears up as her father compliments her , her warm brown eyes wet with overwhelming happiness and gratitude . her sky blue robe with bold black stripes on the arms now hangs open , revealing her black and gold anarkali suit . she is elated at her family's presence all the way from athens , and the thrill of having been awarded the alfred s. forsyth prize for her work in and out of the classroom pertaining to environmental law .
though she's not yet officially graduated , she has currently little to no plans to attend the formal commencement . she completed her class day , got her name read , got her prize , and now she tilts her head back to try to prevent her tears from falling .
she wraps her arms around her father , hearing the general chaos of this much of her immediate family in one place , and every other graduate , and holds close . in her native greek she murmurs , ❛ i couldn't have done it without you , papa . i love you so much , thank you for coming . ❜
@singofus asked: "And what may I do now for you?" (Dys to Mel)
the princess looks up as her consort speaks , for the first time in what feels like a long while . she'd been in whirlwinds of meetings ; gathering information , borrowing lyssa's mind and perspective, reworking , and designing and designating actions . her own spectral retinue lingers throughout the halls , and the busy nature of the season is both due to the excitement of accrued ghosts and spirits , and the general anticipation of increased spiritual activity in the mortal world .
it's incredible planning — she cannot let herself just open the gates and letting them all fly free , there has to be STRUCTURE . but she has to provide said structure . so though it is only midsummer , she is already feeling the pull for the autumn releases .
this , of course , plus the annual , highly anticipated return of her mother , has also drawn her in many directions .
the room had finally emptied , leaving just her and dystonia , but she had forgotten the latter was there . she exhales , hands leaning on her desk as she lets the exhaustion peek through the cracks in her royal presentation . her shoulders drop , her hair in long braids ghosting along the top of her desk .
❛ you needn't do anything , my love , ❜ she says softly . ❛ i would not ask that you join in this fray . it happens every year , and yet ... ❜ she slides her ink black hand down her face , head still facing the desk , letting dys approach if , when , and how they wish .
he holds her close , concerned and alarmed , and she lets him , trusting and knowing he would not hurt her . he makes his plea , and she nods , just wanting to grant him peace .
❛ i swear on my river i will stay , ❜ she murmurs . ❛ for as long as it takes for the storm to pass . you will not lose me , my love . look at me , look . ❜
she guides him to look at her and see how she is now , not how he fears she will become .
❛ i'm here . you're here . we're safe . be here , my love . be present with me . ❜ she's not well versed in these particular powers of his , but she needs him to know she isn't leaving , or trying to deceive him .
By now he is trembling, fingers pulling out his own hair with how tight his fists grip, but then she touches him and is beside him and he looks up and just tries so hard to slow his breaths from their hyperventilating state, feeling her touch on his skin. His hands leave his hair to clutch at her arms, keeping her close as he just sobs.
She says it's alright and he tries to shake his head.
"It's not alright, it's not alright." Is all he can say, though he almost collapses in relief as she says she will stay. "Do you promise? Swear to me on your river that you will stay." He begs of her, needing to feel absolutely certain that she will not sneak off or ignore his warnings.
The image of her dead is now burnt into his eyelids, never to be forgotten.
❛ personal is professional is personal when it comes to you , hermie wormie , ❜ she replies with a wink .
❛ i have a vested interest in a certain ridiculously costumed group completes their next objective flawlessly . i have use for one of them ; he's about to pull out , and then his daughter can take his place . i've been working with her , she's great , and gives good offerings , but if this goes south , he won't leave , and i won't get what i'm after , you know ? good . ❜
she adjusts in her seat so she's now facing him , head tilted , blonde hair over her shoulder and golden curb stomping boots giving her a bit of bite to the generally soft outfit . ❛ i'd love to help them , but i need alone time to do that . and my lovely assigned handler is going to keep me from doing that . where you come in is to keep her sufficiently distracted . i can't do it because that mixes things too much . so , what do you say ? i personally help your little crew , and you keep her busy so i can do so . you get your cut , i get my plant , everyone wins !! ❜
@faunisms asked: she's perched at his kitchen island , sipping her cappuccino made at his coffee bar . she's relaxed , one leg crossed over the other and a strawberry on a toothpick held between her thumb and forefinger as she hands it off to shelley (who is standing on said island) for her consumption . there's a blur of movement and she doesn't bother hiding a smile as one of her favorite young ones backtracks .
❛ surprise !! you need more grounds by the way . y' busy ? no ? great , i have a favor to ask . come come , sit . ❜ she pats the other barstool , inviting hermes to sit in his own kitchen . [ty to herm, modern full gods!]
unprompted ask | Always Accepting
Hermes had been looking forward to a homemade coffee for quite a while. Despite the many good coffee shops, nothing could beat his carefully curated set up at home. After a quick whizz around his house to see if his wife was home and wanted coffee (she wasn't and therefore didn't), he came to the kitchen and saw for himself the coffee dispenser pretty low. He frowns then turns to hear the goddess's voice. Immediately he shakes his head with a soft smile and still makes his espresso puck as he glances over at her.
"Oh you're spoiling my Shelley. She knows her mommy would never let her up there. And a strawberry?" He states pleased that Shelley was enjoying herself and preparing his coffee, turning to lean against the counter and watch her. And watch Shelley slowly consume her treat, standing on the forbidden island as if it was her throne. Tyche really was pulling out stops to convince him.
"I'll stay here until my coffee's done, but a favour? What kind? Personal?" He couldn't help the way his smile widened at that. Her partnership was rarely juicy gossip but hell he could try.
He put the puck into his eccentric espresso machine and got out one of those tiny mugs for the pure coffee and set everything up to brew.
"All right, spill it."
As she spoke her explanation, he would finish his coffee prep and wander over to her offered seat. If it was Tyche, then the reward for the favour may actually be worth the task. Even without negotiation. Maybe.
@singofus asked: Their longing for El hit them all at once as their interests shifted. It was too much to bear. Epiales summoned mirrors to crawl through and take a shortcut through Grand Mother's domain to get to Lady Hekate's. There they were an elongated shadow stretching along the walls until they found them. Then a ghastly shriek is given as they lurch from the wall like a piece of paper and grasped onto their form, wrapping arms around them as the shriek becomes a series of sobs of immediate relief.
eleos had been wandering the heavily decorated halls of their mother's home , their body providing more light than anything built into the structure. they had seen a pinned butterfly somewhere in here , and they longed to find it again , but the decor seemed to infinitely shift and change .
they float higher and lower , their proximity to frames and shapes casting deep shadow from the starlight in their form , though they do not give off more heat or coldness than could be safe for portraits . but where was the butterfly ??
a tingle of a presence causes them to straighten up , looking around with furrowed brows , before a split second later a hollow shriek fills the halls . they look up as darkness descends onto them , rapidly becoming physical . el floats them gently to the ground , here in the hall , their own starry arms wrapping around them as much as they can .
a staticky sigh emanates from no mouth nor nose , but is felt by both nonetheless . a note of relaxation that they both feel , being reunited like this again . the sigh gives way to a mournful echoing coo filled with the crackle of deep space , wordless reassurance even for those who do understand el .
( and epi does . epi always has . )
they hold tight , letting them take comfort , before gently murmuring into their mind , i've missed you too , you're okay . i'm here . what did you see , anything cool ?