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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/ThirdMovement|Third Movement]]
| + | #REDIRECT [[ADanceOfAngels]] |
| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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| − | == Dance of Love and Fear ==
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| − | The halls of the Forge God...
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| − | Inside the Snow Owl Resting’s hill, on a hall large enough to accomodate two warstriders, they stand... surrounded by the fifteen automatons made by Iron Tears out of Iron, Adamant and Jade, White and Black, many times a brown that, in the fashion of a magical material, manages to never be dull. Selina had seen Brass Legionnaires in books, and once in an army in the Hundred Kingdoms, and those were reminiscent of such design... masterworks, each and every one, five of them somewhere between human and warstrider size, those showing their Jade Colors – Red and Black – much more.
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| − | All around them, the weapons Iron Tears had been given, prizes for parties and commemorative moments, each and every one with a story, or those him or his disciples had made out of experiences – the Northern version of Firewands for one, few and illustrious, and a few idisyncratic or simply artistic melee weapons. The most warlike of his treasury, now laid open for them...
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| − | Iron Tears stands in his human form, the Smiling Lover with him, together with the Exalted on the chamber. Kanti hiding behind Selina, who giggles madly, making all in the hall... uneasy. She seems to radiate a predator’s aura, a butcher’s image as she walks with them... Fiona shivers with her presence, and of course... their newest ally, Sublime Opal.
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| − | In the halls of the Forge God, some of the most powerful beings of the Boil and beyond meet... to get ready for war.
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| − | “Excellent. You will see, she will work well with us. Her people are great makers.” He says, waving his arm around then, “And these are our resources. I will be delaying them as much as I can, asking what they give me in exchange for the Dark Angel.” He says, looking at her giggling and trying to... understand.
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| − | <b>Fiona:</b> Fiona approaches Opal, looking at her with sparkling hazel eyes. “Pleased to meet you, Sublime Opal, I am Fiona. Good to know you will aid us in this, the more we can have... the better!” It felt good there, it felt good to be surrounded by power in that moment. This time... it would be different!
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| − | Of course, she kept an eye for the giggling Selina. The time in bed... this hiss... her multilayered voice on the fight with Kanti...
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| − | She was... terifying, at times. And after some time, even the things that were just strange... or insane... begun to be, as well, as one knows...
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| − | *Smiling Lover looks at Selina, at her giggling, and shrugs, coming closer to Iron Tears and warming herself in him.
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> Appearently, trying to make the best of an appearently bad situation on her part, the nearly colorless woman merely waved a slender, graceful hand through the air around the level of her chest. "To my everlasting benefit, I'm sure." She says, just a hint of a sardonic tone in her voice.
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| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti slips out from behind Selina, creeping away from the chill she radiates, and towards the warmth of the Forge God.
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| − | "Greetings, Sublime Opal, I am Kanti." she says softly, and she glances over at Moon and then back at Selina, before she turns to Iron Tears once more.
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| − | <i>I hope this will help ...</i>
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| − | "My lord, if I might talk with you in private for a short time?"
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| − | <b>Seventh Moon:</b> "Yeah?" Moon cocked a brow at Opal. "Well, the shit goin' down thats keepin' ya here is what we're tryin' ta deal with. Be nice ta have an extra pair of hands around anyway..."
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| − | Looking back on the forge god, Moon quirked a humorless half-smile. "This shit's great and all Ru Iron Tears, but the fae bitch screwed us up somethin' bad right now though..." A lot of things screwed them up. Not that he had expected everything to go right, but right now it felt like almost nothing had. "How we gonna get this shit ta the people who need it? Cause they're gonna be needin' it a lot sooner than we thought."
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| − | *Iron Tears looks at Kanti.... surprised. Genuinely surprised. She had spoken up last night, but since then she had been almost... a ghost of a presence among them. he nods to her, "But certainly. If you will all excuse us..." He says, waving to one of the smaller rooms along the hall...
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "You may not, Kanti." Selina says with a razored smile, not yet truly razored though. She was not about to let Kanti try and do what she did.
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> "The lady asked me for it, Dark Angel. Would you not be so kind to let me fulfill her wishes?"
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| − | He looks at her, trying to look relaxed, "Do you wish to let things clear on what I may touch and offer and what I may not? I would cosent to such, she seems to be yours, after all."
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| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti turns back to face Selina "My lady, all I wish to do is talk with him. Nothing more without your leave, of course."
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| − | <i>Please my lady, please.</i>
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| − | <i>I want to help.</i>
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| − | <i>I can help.</i>
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "If, the most glorious and honorable Daughter of Heshiesh desires such a convellesence with our estimed benefactor, perhaps it would be in her best to included Madame..." She looks toward Selina, as though seeking her name.
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| − | <b>Seventh Moon:</b> <i>Eh?</i>
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| − | Peering over his shoulder at Selina, the Lunar frowned slightly. "Let the kid go darlin'. Can't make shit any worse at this point."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "Indeed. And she will do no such thing without my leave." She forces the giggling down, assumes a more serious mien for the moment. "But first, I have a question. For all of you whom were present in the Boil at the time of its first attack."
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| − | She looks to Iron Tears, to Moon, and than the goddess, although she wonders how much time Lover spends in the city. "Something that should be cleared up -- <b>now.</b>"
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> "And about the weapons, Seventh Moon, I think we can call your pack here to..." Iron Tears looks at her quizzically, the rest of the answer to Moon held on his mouth. "Yes, my dear raven?"
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "This armoury," She indicates it with a sweeping gesture, sleeve of her greatcoat covering the gloved arm and leaving only the hand. "Did it take part in the defense of the Boil during that siege? If not, what was the reason?"
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> "The reason that I should not take part. It is against the laws of Heaven."
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| − | "My movement now, for better or worse, will be a giant flashlight for the Immaculate Philosophy and my rivals in Heaven. And because, quite frankly, they had too many Abyssal Exalted able to destroy spirits with them. Now, they are spread, and now, the army is within my territory. There was no chance before. None."
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "And some of them needed complex materials and repairs completed on them. And, as you can see, I have but two pairs of hands."
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| − | <b>Seventh Moon:</b> "Defense didn't last long enough ta matter anyway." Moon answers with a shrug. "Shit crumbled almost as soon as we got it set up."
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> Of course, it had been more of the latter. Gods meddled with the life of those in Whiteshield regularly, and he would have enough problems with the Immaculate Philosophy even without so.
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| − | "Which you used very well, my dear." He nods to Opal, "Without her, the second warstrider and five of my automatons would never be ready on time. She is a blessing.... and this remins me that next time, I have to keep more things ready for battle, in these strange times..."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "Understandable reasons, my lord. Especially concerning the Immaculates." Selina nods, then continues. "Do you think that had it been used, it would have been sufficient to defend the city? Or would there have yet been need of more?"
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> "Much more. They had at least four deathknights with them on their first visit. I have but an arsenal of mementos and pieces made for artistic purposes. They had an army. I had barely the time to know of the defense before it went down."
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> She left unsaid that if he would just stop politicking and attend to his assigned duties in Heaven he won't have had this problem. But then, that would have been rude...
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| − | <b>Seventh Moon:</b> "And there was only two of us at the time..." the Lunar tapped a finger against the silver caste mark on his brow as he said 'us.' "And Shadow Eyes wouldn't move his ass outta the basement."
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> "As you see, if odds are dire now, they would have been crushing then.
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "Well... my lord underestimates the advantages that my peo...First Age craftsmanship can do. I know very little specifically about these Deathknights... but only what their Essence's look like." She flicks a glance over at Selina before continuing. "Perhaps we could make something to exploit a weakness of them or their army."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> Selina doesn't let herself smirk. She listens to them all assent that it was not enough.
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| − | <i>Crack the whip, dear, and they will all fall in line behind you, if once they strayed.</i>
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| − | <i>The Pale Angel does indeed have some wisdom, she merely applies it incorrectly.</i>
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| − | Her eyebrows raise, quizzical, as if she didn't already know the answer to this question. "So then, you would say, from an objective point of view, that my presence and cooperation here...is necessary? Vital, even?"
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> "We possess all of you now. The presence of you Exalted is nessessary, indeed. Of all of you."
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| − | He says, and his eyes look... dulled. Unamused.
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "Indeed." She nods in agreement, not saying anything more. Not smiling. Let the point hang over them all -- over that god who acted like he could stay neutral from the walking dead forever, and from her insolent lover. They needed her. They <b>would not</b> treat her as a plague or a trifle.
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> "That, of course, assuming I do take your side. I could very well bargain with them. I have been given just that option earlier."
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| − | "Well, since you seem to have no other objections now, Kanti, shall we?"
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| − | <b>Seventh Moon:</b> The Lunar does look amused, but a black kind of bemusement. He huffs a brief laugh, but says nothing, shaking his head.
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| − | "A'ite" Turning away from Selina, he tipped his head towards the racks of weapons. "So I get the Pack ta take this shit out. Guessin' ya got someway for them to move it side from the front door?"
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "There is that, yes." She nods again, then looks to Kanti. "You may go now, Kanti."
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| − | <b>Kanti:</b> "Thank you, my lady." She curtsys to her, then turns back to Iron Tears, and lets him lead her from the armoury.
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> "Call them back here. Them and the Relentless Gears. We will arm them. Later... we will see. And about movement... ask our sweet Opal here. Now if you will excuse us..."
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| − | *Iron Tears leads Kanti to a room just parallel to the hall...
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> She felt decidedly out of place for the moment. However, she just put her hands into the opposite sleeves of her immaculately clean, pearl white robe. She gently inclined her head toward Selina. "I regret such... indignaties have been hoisted upon you."
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| − | <b>Fiona:</b> The girl sees Kanti going with tinges of fear and aprehension... then shakes her head. "I wish I was important... I could have known what they are speaking of us now."
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| − | She sees Opal bowing, <i>she looks even prettier than Rain... and so gentle too!</i> "You are a... smith, lady Opal? You don't look like it..."
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "An Artificer or Savant would be a more appropriate term, exalted one." She said, with a sort of odd smile toward her. "I specialize in First Age Artifacts."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "Indignaties?" She asks, tone curious. "Have no regret for me, Opal dear. The dregs we consume are naught but of our own mixing."
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| − | Maybe she'd just mixed more, but damned if she was going to let a middling forge god and her lover treat her as if she was carrion to be ignored or cast aside. No one did that to her -- not anymore! No one.
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| − | "The Pale Angel would doubtless mirror those sensibilities if you asked her the same." She adds dryly, somewhat ironically.
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "I am afraid I am unfamilar with the individual of whom you speak, forgive my ignorance." She said, smoothly. "I hold your opinion, but I am not in the possition to voice such. He might deny me access to his schematic library if I so freely insulted his manner."
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| − | <b>Seventh Moon:</b> Letting out a slow, thoughtful breath, Moon watches as the forge god leads Kanti out of the room, hands thrust back into his pockets. He feels a tinge of hesitation about watching them go, even if the kid only wanted to talk. Fuck knows she was a better talker than he was, but after last night...
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| − | Naw... shit, not his business. Wasn't a negotiation anymore and nothin' she could do would leave him dirty.
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| − | Though, he'd still kill the fucker if she came back bruised.
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| − | Away from the door the two had vanished into, he looks over at the other three women talking. Mostly at Selina then away and whistles sharply at one of the technicians crawling around the automations. "Hey! Gearhead! Go fetch my boys for me, a'ite? Bought time those lazy fucks got outta bed and did somethin'."
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| − | * "Yes, sir." The automaton nods, walking out of the room, each step of his' resounding on the reflexive stone floor, steaming slightly as he warms up to move... its shape iron and white jade, shining and perfect, if clearly mechanical and artificial.
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> The Windian shrugs, darkly-feathered wings shrugging a bit with her. "It is the way with men, unfortunately." Her eyes flicker toward Moon for a moment, then back to Opal. "But enough of that. Of what kind are you, since you know what I am already?"
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| − | <b>Seventh Moon:</b> <i>What the hell... ?</i>
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| − | The Lunar's eyes widened as the automation creeked off the wall and began to stomp out of the hall. "Aw, fuck no! Not you, ya stupid lump of rock!"
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| − | The Pack were about as likely to scatter as they were to follow that damn thing. Muttering curses, Moon took to his heels after the automation.
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> She lifted a brow, and considered the Abyssal. "I am one of of the Mountain Folk, madamme. Do you have a specific issue with my people?"
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "None." She replies neutrally, looking at the woman. "I was merely curious."
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "Well, I agreed to serve you until this city is freed from its current problems. So, my question is this: How can I assist you at the moment?" She removes her hands from her sleeves and gestures toward Selina's weapons. "I am not a skilled warrior, but I have some minor talents, as I have said."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "Wouldn't you be more occupied with all of this?" Selina asks, indicating the array of weapons and war machines gathered in the room.
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> A bit of dryness enters her voice. "I dislike the way his eyes ever stray near my backside. Besides, would you like to spend your days forever servicing a God's armory, just so can devote time away from those duties to politick incompetently?"
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> He looked at her's? Well, at least he wasn't touching it. She decided not to say that, though. It wasn't really something Selina needed to bring up, and doubtless he'd be touching her behind some more tonight. Best leave that for when it comes.
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| − | "No, I confess I would not. So you want me to find you another occupation, then?"
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "I am merely inquiring if you have certain expectations from my temporary service to you and your company."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "What sort of things could you do with my weapons, though? They've already been forged and never lack for sharpness."
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "I could inset a Essence Lens, for example. The Dragon-Blooded use such devices to focus their discharges of Elemental energy. Granted, I do not know if... you possess similar talents, but its a thought."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "Interesting." She muses, then looks at the palms of her gloves, and fingers the collar on her neck, to which her leotard attached. "I'm not quite sure where such a thing would go, but it would be useful. My throat is alas, taken." She taps the great emerald hearthstone sitting there, not actively throwing back facets of light at the moment.
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "I was thinking more, infact, into the hilt of your sword. It would be the easiest place, being that it already is adept at channeling your Essence, and the physical point of the blade would prove an adiquette guide. But, as I said, it was but a thought."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "You can put those on the sword? I thought the energy is channeled directly out of the lens and into a bolt." Selina looks, for once at least, a bit confused.
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| − | <b>Smiling Lover:</b> The goddess sighs, bored with the essence talk, and moves to a corner, watching it all dispassionately...
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "It's more of a mystical amplification device. Essence is already flowing through your blade. Your blade would merely serve as part of the channel." She glanced over at Lover, and frowned at her. She just shrugged, and turned back to Selina. "But, its just an example."
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| − | * Fiona comes closer to them, in turn, her eyes sparkling at the talk of artifice and magic... "Well, she is able to channel energy, yes... but... it is a dark energy, would something elemental work just the same?"
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "I can utilize either kind." She leaves it at that, and looks at her blade, essence sight still activated. It is true that it channeled essence, though usually she didn't use the blade as a focal point either. "In either event, a device such as that would help."
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "Essence, even if its... tinted with a certain overtone, is still Essence." She glanced to Selina and arched an eyebrow, and shrugged a bit. "Very well. I will put it on my list of this to do, madam."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "You don't have to if you don't want to." Selina shrugs, then peers over at the Lover, standing in a corner.
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| − | <b>Smiling Lover:</b> She smiles at the Dark Angel, a halfhearted smile, intending to stay away from the fountain of cold and... that predatory feel Selina emanates.
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "I am sworn to." She merely shrugged her shoulders. "But it might take me some time. Is there anything else you wish to ask me or of me?"
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "Nothing can come to the mind at the moment..." She trails off, then raises an eyebrow at the goddess, the cold whipping around her, then twirling up in a helix pattern about her. "Is something the matter, my lady?"
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| − | <b>Smiling Lover:</b> "Just... waiting." The <i>my dear</i> present before is gone now.
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| − | "And you, Dark Angel? How does it feel, to be so suffused with the void? I will say I would prefer not to feel this... cold, even being a northern divinity. I prefer the natural cold, no offense intended. You are still lovely, but the cold of the void emanating from you is... less so."
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> She glanced toward the Lover, and frowned faintly. Not that she disagreed, of course, but she thought it rude to make mention of it.
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "I can try and get rid of it." She shrugs again. "I've gotten used to the feeling. And to my dear patron laughing at me when I receive it."
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| − | <b>Smiling Lover:</b> "It must be awful.. how do you feel it? The... laughing, you say?" She says, more curious than bored at this moment. At a safe distance from her, but wondering about this new state... one she has not have the pleasure of understanding yet.
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| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> "With madam's permission, I think I shall leave you and my Lady Goddess to... your conversation.. If you require me, I shall be in the labratory planning out your lens." She makes a little cursey, her pearlesent white robes shifting gently with her, and she rose, and began to move from the room. Such talk always made her uncomfortable, though she was lothe to see both the dark and lustful to see it.
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> She raises her eyebrows at the goddess' curiosity, wondering why she would want to know such a thing. It was not so jarring for Selina herself as it used to be, although occasionally the dead god surprised her in a horrifying manner. She never stopped being annoyed at how it interfered with her interactions with others, though.
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| − | "I hear...it. Feel the scorn as it wraps around me like an oath made palpable." She taps her forehead where the accursed mark always appears. Her expression grows no more intense."It feels like hell's gate opening. In my active thought, my body, my mind and my soul. From the deepest darkness it comes: the derision of my ever-dying lord. Like death tearing forever, exposing pain beneath."
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| − | <b>Smiling Lover:</b> The Smiling Lover walked up to her, then... up to Selina. Touching her tentatively, as one would a dangerous animal.... waiting to have her hand hurt by it. "I was wrong about the work, I think - you are certainly too dangerous... and touched by the void for it. Even if some would pay for the thrill, I think things might get even... worse. Than it was last time they pushed you too far." She says, "I will have to ask my brother to be careful. For both of you."
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| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> The Windian shakes her head slowly. "It is. Merely having a lover is dangerous enough, never mind that trade. I think my days in it are done, even were I desire further employment."
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| − | === On Another Room... ===
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| − | * Iron Tears comes with Kanti into the room, which leads to three other paths underground, all forges. The room itself was one for relaxation, with an influx of water to keep it cool, of the fountains from the hill, and very comfortable seats... he seats with her there, slightly covered by the dust of the mines and the ashes of the forge as he always did, ordering a lesser earth elemental to take cups of water for them both. "So, what is it that you wish to talk about, my dear?"
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| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti does seem a little calmer as she gets away from the chill of Selina, walking close to Iron Tears for warmth. She takes her seat quietly in the cool room, somehow feeling warmer here than in the forges next to Selina.
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| − | "Thank you for speaking with me, my lord." She takes a little time before she speaks again.
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| − | "My lord, please forgive me if I am rude but last night and this morning, you have been an irrational god, your tempers and your views on the aid you might give us changing like the wind. I fear someone or something is playing with your mind, and if I may, I would like to cure you of their influence."
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| − | Iron Tears: "That would be the faerie... or the Abyssal Sorceress. After all, if I have been irrational, I have been so to your tune." He looks directly to her, "At least I know you, as a Dragoness, cannot tamper with my mind in such a way... not without the mark of sorcery. You have my permission."
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| − | <b>Kanti:</b> <i>My lord, if I were that way inclined, am I sure I could learn how to plant seeds rather than to tend what is there.</i>
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| − | "Thank you, my lord." She kneels on the bench and looks into his eyes, not the first time she had done this to a God, though it was a slightly unsettling experience she was letting herself in for none the less, as she started to pear into his eyes, into his mind, into his soul.
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| − | And so she sees.... Rain's laugher, the deranged strains of Glamour, swirling about his mind, changing his orderly calm for something much more... volatile.
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| − | <b>Kanti:</b> "It is Rain, my lord." She says quietly, "She was left her glamour twisted about your mind. If I may lift it from you?" with the utmost politeness.
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| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> "I should have covered myself in Iron before meeting one such as her."
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| − | | |
| − | His hand clenches, and Iron around them twists and breaks, breaking masterworks and half-finished pieces... "Yes."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "You may."
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| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti takes a breath, then rises on her knees, and moves as if to kiss him, drawing her hand back.
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| − | | |
| − | Then she touches her lips to his, and as she does, strikes his cheek softy, driving the chaos and the confusion from his mind with a growth of the essence of life.
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| − | | |
| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> He feels it.<br>
| |
| − | The god feels it.<br>
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| − | The glamour, before it is lifted.<br>
| |
| − | He turns his awareness inwards, Kanti can still feel that... and feels it.
| |
| − | | |
| − | As he tunrs to Kanti, with the same eyes as he had the first time... even when he had no eyes, he caresses her hair. "I am in your debt now, Crimson Dragoness. My thanks."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti makes a small content noise as Iron tears carresses her hair, bowing her head.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "I am a healer, my lord, no thanks are needed. But none the less, I would ask that you bear that in mind with what I wish to say with you."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> He keeps so, and a gesture of his makes a small servant of Iron that had been forged before move and get something...
| |
| − | | |
| − | "I am all ears, my dear."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti takes a breath to steady herself, and then she starts to speak, quietly and softly, though none the less with confidence. She had leave to speak, after all.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "My lord, when you talked with Moon, both last night and this morning, you speak of the price Moon has to pay for you aid, but all I see is that you are trading Moon's survival now, for your survival in the future. I know you have a treaty with the Dead now, but my lord, that treaty will not hold. It may hold for a month. It may hold for a year. But sooner or later, they will march on your city with the ghosts and the nessemsaries, and the abyssals that can and will destroy you, and then all your forges will fall cold, and there will be no warmth here." she takes a breath.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "They will do this if we fall in battle with them, as we are almost sure to do without your aid. They may do this even should we succeed, if we fall later, but unless they are stopped, then they will march upon the Boil, and the Boil will fall." she pauses again, taking a little time to prepare herself for what she will say next. When she speaks, there is pain in her voice.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Heaven will not be able to help you my lord." She lifts her neck. "Look closely at the band around my neck, beyond the soul...soulsteel dripped upon it." She slips her sleaves up, to reveal the prayer covered bracers. "Look at my bracers." her voice drops a lot quieter, barely audiable above the running water. "They will dispoil those of heaven as easily as they dispoil those of earth. But that is not the worst part...."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> Iron Tears nods, his hands trailing through her bracers... touching her collar. Seeing what she was, and what she became... his face betraying the sadness one has to feel on a moment like this.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The little servant of Iron comes back, little smoke coming out of it, walking like some sort of toddler - cutely. On its hands is a box, from which Iron Tears takes a pair of earrings.... glinting with ruby and obsidian, "I thought they would look good on you. A gift, not for the assistance so much as because... it looks good on you."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti shrugs out of the long coat, to reveal her robe of screams, then she carries on speaking.
| |
| − | | |
| − | She looks at the earrings with eyes that go a little wide "...They are beautiful my lord, I thank you." She holds her head to allow him to fit them to her, somewhat glad of the pause as it would allow her to gather her thoughts ... and her resolve for the next thing she would say. Because it was going to hurt.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>I hope you can understand my confusion.</i>
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> With a little sting, the beautiful jewelry made of such brute, raw materials is set on Kanti, and he looks at the robe... once again... hearing the screams even from there. "It looks even more beautiful in you. Even with all that... the Vestal has done."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> "Thank you, my lord." Kanti bows her head once more, and then straightens herself and takes a breath. Kanti's voice carries pain.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "And She is part of the reason I wished to talk to you. I..I do not think that you fully understand what they will do to your city and to you my lord, should we fall. You can hear the screams from robes, can you not? You can touch them if you like, to hear the voice better, though it my voiced, my voice woven as She and Her companions and Her servants draw the patterns you have seen on my skin. Under Her instruction ...I...I have seen people tortured my lord, I...I...I have h-hurt people myself." She makes herself speak these words. "I hate Her for that...for what She has done to me, for what She made me do. That is understandable, you say."
| |
| − | | |
| − | She takes another breath, a little ragged. "But part of me wishes you would bargin with the dead, trade the Dark Angel and the rest of us for your safety. Because then I would see Her again. Then I would be Hers again." she lets him see all the pain in her eyes. "I know She will destroy my lord, will slowly twist me further, but I <i>crave</i> that. I crave Her touch on my skin, I crave the way She makes me feel, the way I will defile everything I hold dear, just for Her."
| |
| − | | |
| − | A mere whisper. "Just for Her smile."
| |
| − | | |
| − | She closes her eyes for a moment, taking some time to calm herself.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "That is what I truely fear will happen to your city and to you, my lord, unless together we can stop them. Not that they will destroy it themselves, through force of arms, but that they will twist you and warp you and then you will do it for them. Just to see them smile." she finishes speaking, kneeling on the small couch in the room, head bowed and body showing its scars.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> Iron Tears has no words.<br>
| |
| − | There are none, are there?<br>
| |
| − | None at all...
| |
| − | | |
| − | The god cups her face in his hands... and looks into the Raven's eyes. Sees how broken she is, how... deeply the Vestal's claws have bitten into her soul
| |
| − | | |
| − | And understands the Abyssal Exalted more than he ever has, pehaps.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "I understand."
| |
| − | | |
| − | Is all he says.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "And outside, your mistress... overflowing with the void, she is like them. More and more I see it. The cold of the Void."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Yes, you are right. It is my survival."
| |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | Kanti: Kanti lets him touch her, lets him raise her head, lets him see the pain in them, hears his words.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Thank you, my lord." she pauses "For listening."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>I don't think I can thank you for helping us.</i>
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>That way I won't see Her soon.</i>
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> He helps her up, knowing he has to help her...
| |
| − | All of them.
| |
| − | Himself.
| |
| − | | |
| − | He helps her up, his hands warming hers'. "Come. Let us go out... and prepare to make sure they never touch any of my children. Any of my guests. And not you, ever again."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti lets herself be helped from the couch, clinging to his hands for the warmth, shakily seating her coat around her shoulders again, letting him lead her from the room, not saying anything in response to him.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>I did it!</i>
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>...that makes all the pain worth it, right?</i>
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>...though I wonder ... will She ever forgive me this?</i>
| |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | === Back in the Hall... ===
| |
| − | | |
| − | * Iron Tears walks into the main room, keeping Kanti close, but not too close... as she is everything that will be his people. He looks at Selina... and the Smiling Lover.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The cold is shivering once again, and Selina still looks like a predator.
| |
| − | | |
| − | But now, a determination is too forged. "I am sorry about what happened before, Dark Angel. We shall crush them now. For my people, for all of you, we shall."
| |
| − | | |
| − | He looks around... "Where is Moon? Their embassy is almost here..."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Exceedingly Sublime Opal:</b> She returns, hands in the opposite sleaves of her demure attire, and nods to those present. Noting that Iron Tears is speaking, she did not desire to interupt their discourse.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "He...ran off after an automation that went to tell his gang something." She says, unsure. She hadn't been paying too much attention at that point, though she had heard some things. And then looked quizzically at Kanti.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>What did you do there?</i>
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> He walks towards Selina, holding her hands in turn. "She took the weight off my mind. The trickery of the fae clouded me. Made me irrational. But now, I am free of that weight... and now, I understand more what we fight. Do not worry about her."
| |
| − | | |
| − | He looks at Kanti. She had convinced the god wholly. But he had also made him see her as everything he did not wish the Boil to become. He would shelter her here, he would stop them from touching her... but he also knew she was claimed by Oblivion. In time, he would try to cleanse her of that taint, imaybe. But now, he knew she could very well be a liability...
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Now, you should be eternally grateful for your Dragoness. She has healed me, she has shown me. And I might be for you as well. You were right, each and every one of you is vital, she has shown me. They will have to be purged, for our own survival. I will be grateful for her, as I have no doubt you will. And will you forgive my manners so far, and come with me... to <i>crush</i> those invaders of my city?" His voice dominates the hall. His presence does the same. His voice carries for the first time something strong, a wholeheartedly proclamation.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The city was going to war.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti meets her gaze, looking back for a moment, still looking fragile from the things she had said.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>I did what I said I would.<br>I talked to him, and now he will help us.<br>It was not at a cost I was unwilling to bear.<br>Not for you. Not for Moon. Not for Fiona. Not for all the people of the Boil.<br><br>And so much of me wishes I hadn't.</i>
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Selina de Windia:</b> "I will kill them with you." She says simply, amusement at the fae's betrayal a bit higher now, but suppressed still. "Every nemissary we hack to pieces here is one less that Windia and my companions there have to deal with when they make their inevitable push to free Whiteshield."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Iron Tears:</b> He touches her hands, he looks at her... even with all the darkness overflowing from her, he was still shaken from the night before. She had imprintend herself in him, and she was overflowing with the same darkness then. It just made her... even more alluring. Sinfully so.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "And you gave yourself for it. And I will have to ask for that again, before we are done. As this was too sweet a gift."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "But for now, let us get ready for when they come. They shall see a Dark Angel overpowered my me, if we are to use the Raksha's gesture ourselves."
| |
| − | | |
| − | His face looks amused now, still tinged by the shock, the determination, and the lust, as he whispers to Selina,
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Time to tie you up, my dear.."
| |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | ----
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| − | | |
| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/ThirdMovement|Third Movement]]
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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