OOM: All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness?

[brave_kreyu]

(OOC: Warning for explicit adult content, mention of noncon/rape, slavery)

Is it a dream? A glimpse of a universe that might have been? A story untold?

Something called Skellig out here, to a road scratched in the earth between the desert and the land irrigated by the river. The sun overhead is like a hammer, the heat murderous. His coat...he can't remember WHAT happened to his coat. In this heat the coat would be as strange as his wings to human eyes in any case.

There are two small mud-brick houses up ahead, then more road, and a mud-brick wall encircling a small village of mud-brick houses.

He needs a drink, desperately.

He hears footsteps coming toward him, the heat haze breaks to reveal a woman. (Except she can't be a woman, no one human has that much Light inside them, that much power.)

"Even one touched by the gods should not be walking about this time of day," her voice is all concern, all worry. She's wearing a white linen kilt around her waist, and nothing at all above it except a necklace of blue clay beads. She's lovely. (And she feels familiar? Why?)

She offers a hand to him, seemingly not concerned in the slightest about his wings.

Comments

[brave_kreyu]

The young woman blushes, giggles harder, turns to whisper to the others.

Akatan's smile shifts a little, turns ever so slightly false. "I should help my sister with the water, before she completely loses track of time again." Akatan does not like that his sister was looking at Skellig, not at all. She should not be acting as if a demon is just some other man she might lay with.

"Of course," Kreyu replies, glad of the conversational exit.

Once they're out of earshot, Kreyu leans against the wall. "I don't know why, but being around him was making me feel..." The words catch in her throat. "I kissed him a few moons ago, and we both enjoyed it well enough, but there hasn't been anything between he and I that should make me feel so awful."

[27_53]

Skellig is still 'keeping track' of Akatan, even as he, his sister, and the other young women make their way towards the well to gather water. If this man has set Kreyu on this much of an edge, then he wants to learn exactly what he feels like, smells like, and sounds like.

His jaw shifts slightly at her admission that she had kissed him, but it is not judgement or shame - simply an observation, collecting information.

"I do not like that you feel awful," he says quietly. "I would not know what that could mean, your body giving such signs...but if you would wish, I will ensure you are not alone with him."

Skellig would also offer to get rid of him entirely, but that might be a step too far, this soon. They are alone here, as much as they can be in the village during a time of day when being outside is relatively comfortable. He offers his hand to her.

[brave_kreyu]

She takes his hand. "That, that sounds like a good idea."

"These...echoes, they helped me to trust you. They have brought me so much good that however odd they may be I can't bring myself to ignore them."

[27_53]

"I do not know...what I sound like, to others. Everyone is different. I am glad that you felt as if you could trust me."

Skellig brushes his thumb over her knuckles.

"I do not know why I am called to certain places," he adds softly, looking down at their hands.. "I never have. But perhaps my landing here...was no accident."

[brave_kreyu]

She shivers just a little as his thumb brushes over her knuckles. "Fate, or destiny?" She squeezes his hand gently. "It could be. I am glad of its existence, if it brought me you."

She flushes. "We're not far from Taweret's house now. I should apologize for how little attention I paid to her last night, after she took the trouble to visit."

[27_53]

"I've never claimed to hold much stock in either, but if it has brought us together, then I would do so."

Skellig smiles when squeezes his hand, and nods.

"I do not think she will require an apology, but I would not speak for her." He allows her to lead on, keeping her hand in his, if she would like to do so as they walk through the village.

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu does hold his hand the entire way, even if likely draws some extra stares.

Taweret's house is not much larger than Kreyu's. The main difference is an additional bed and a small shrine containing a Goddess painting that is clearly regularly used and well maintained.

"I'm sorry for not greeting you properly last night, Taweret," Kreyu says as they step through the open doorway.

"That's quite alright dear," Taweret replies. "It seems like your Skellig rather wore you out last night." Her tone is slightly teasing, and Kreyu blushes.

[27_53]

Kreyu is not the only one who blushes at that comment, as Skellig also feels a rush of heat rise to his cheekbones.

He considers his next words carefully. Then decides 'what the hell' and goes for it, given Tawaret's tone. He gives her a knowing glance, before he speaks.

"You could say I did my best to do so," he offers 'helpfully'.

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu blushes further, but Taweret laughs out loud. "Oh, I LIKE you, Skellig," she tells him. "Experience will trump youth every time, I always say."

"His best was very good," Kreyu replies. She's still blushing furiously. "I thank you for the potion, but is there something less...bitter that would serve the purpose?"

"That would depend on if you can remember to drink something every day," Taweret replies, tapping her fingers on the table.

[27_53]

"If it became routine, you would likely remember easily," he offers. "And I could offer to remind you, in the meantime."

Meaning he isn't planning on just 'passing through' their village.

Also:

"And my best was merely...'very good'?" Skellig asks Kreyu, looking almost disappointed - though from his tone, Kreyu should easily be able to tell that he is teasing her. "I will have to do better next time, then."

[brave_kreyu]

"Thank you, Skellig. That would be helpful," Kreyu tells him.

Taweret fishes out a much larger jar than the one she brought them last night. "You'll want to brew a spoonful every morning."

"Thank you, Taweret." Kreyu takes the jar carefully.

Kreyu rolls her eyes at him. "I might not SURVIVE you doing better next time." She's teasing him, a little. "And I will need to take...precautions." So the entire village doesn't want to murder them both for sleep deprivation.

[27_53]

Skellig makes a non-committal sound at that. "I would not harm you," he murmurs, tone a little softer. After all, there are plenty of ways he can improve, without her having to do a thing.

(Unless she wants to, of course.)

"And I would not keep you from your apprenticeship," he adds. "Your skills are valued, as Taweret mentioned last night. It would be wrong of me to keep you from your duties."

He might just have to find things to do around her home (their home?) in the meantime.

[brave_kreyu]

She squeezes his hand gently. "I am sure we will manage," she tells Skellig, though her eyes flick to Taweret too.

"We'll manage, dear. Although you already know children can demand to be born at all hours," Taweret replies. She looks to Skellig. "There's always something that needs a steady set of hands or sharp senses around the village. Yesterday wasn't the first time we've had trouble."

[27_53]

"It did not seem that way," Skellig admits. "I am simply glad that I arrived in time to be of use."

And to Kreyu, to fight for her defense, and the act of healing her shoulder wound - which his eyes fall briefly to her skin which he knows holds no scar, no mark.

"It would be no trouble, whenever the need for either of us arose." He wonders if Taweret has her own suspicions about his abilities as well as Kreyu's, what with the talk of the villagers...

He lowers his voice.

"I am no demon," he adds, his focus shifting to Taweret "I do not feel as if I have to explain to you, but...I would bring no harm to this place, to your people, regardless of what talk may have spread in the overnight."

[brave_kreyu]

"I did not think you were," Taweret replies. "I do not believe in demons, only beings that do evil things, human or not."

"You are both part of the world's wonders, my dears. I am not afraid." She sighs. "Some of the others will be, they will mutter, gossip, spread rumors. I've never found a way to stop people from doing that, I'm afraid. They'll accept you both, eventually. Will just take a while for the idea to work its way through some thick skulls."

[27_53]

"I am used to rumors," he says. "Long since have learned to pay them no heed, unless they are of benefit."

Doesn't mean they still can't hurt. Skellig will work to shelter Kreyu, from that.

"And I have already met some 'thick skulls', unfortunately," he adds, thinking back to their walk on the way over and their interaction with Akatan (and the women, though they are less of a concern to him) and Kreyu's reaction.

[brave_kreyu]

Tawaret raises one eyebrow as far as it will go. "Oh? Do tell."

"It's....nothing concrete," Kreyu says, pondering how to explain the echo.

[27_53]

Skellig tips his head ever-so-slightly, subconsciously 'listening' for anything from Akatan; he finds nothing of note, currently. But he can sense a bit of hesitation, on Kreyu's part. And not wanting to cause her to potentially reveal anything she may not wish to...

"I can hear much sharper than most," he offers in explanation. (Whether Taweret will take that to mean simply 'sound' or something deeper, he will leave that up to her.) "I have already heard what some young men have said about me, about us. And I would work to dispel that, through my actions while I am in this place."

He looks over at Kreyu, meeting her gaze - but he's still speaking to Taweret

"And I will also let no harm come to her, despite the intent that may creep into the minds of others."

[brave_kreyu]

"A fitting skill, for one who wears the symbol of the owl," Taweret replies. "Kreyu has protected herself before, but I am glad she will have you to watch her back."

"You don't have to protect me from everything, Skellig," she adds, voice soft.

[27_53]

"I know I do not have to protect you - you are more than capable."

And he doesn't say that merely because he now knows (but did he already, somehow?) that beneath this form of her soul, there lurks a dragon so powerful, so vicious, that it would cause cities to quake and crumble with merely a thought from her mind and a slash of her talons?

Skellig knows she can defend herself.
But there are just some things that a man does, for his lover.

[brave_kreyu]

She smiles, relieved that he knows she can defend herself. She eyes the position of the sun, frowns. "Thank you, Taweret. I would love to stay, but we have another task to finish before the heat of the day hits."

"You're welcome, dear. We'll need to visit Iset early tomorrow, she should be ready to give birth soon."

Kreyu nods in understanding as they make their goodbyes.

"The house across the road will work, for what I wanted to show you."

[27_53]

Once they step foot again outside, Skellig offers her his hand.

"I would hope that I will be able to learn well enough, from your skills," he says honestly. "Not that I would seek to leave your space, but I would understand if...if you desired privacy."

Or simply 'alone time'.

[brave_kreyu]

"I have trouble imagining not wanting you right here with me," Kreyu admits as she takes his hand. "But I suppose it would be possible that we might desire time apart."

"Karma flows, a little like water or air. A space can be cultivated, like a garden, to have more karma in it than would be there naturally."

[27_53]

"To allow it to be stronger...would you need to replenish it regularly, or would it grow on its own?"

Skellig is trying to figure out just how Karma works, compared to his Light, thinking to himself as they walk. "I typically cannot hold mine in any one place, I just need to be around it, to manage my levels."

[brave_kreyu]

"It will need to be fed karma, while it grows, but once it reaches a certain level, it will stay there indefinitely."

They reach the house across the road from Kreyu's, Like hers, it is a single room, though empty of furnishings. "A single room inside a building or a small glade outdoors is what you'll want to look for."

She touches the newly plastered wall. "Intent is what matters most, working on a space with the intent of cultivating its karma, increasing its harmony. You will give it a little of your energy, while you work on the space, feed it."