OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part 12

[brave_kreyu]

They wind up staying two full cycles of the Moon with Tyr's tribe.

Time enough to learn the various dances, share recipes, race through the Teeth, make friends, share stories, BELONG.

It might even be enough time for Skellig to sort out how he feels about being among other people with wings!

Tyr clasps Skellig's forearm in farewell. "I would call you my brother, if you would permit it?" he says, voice soft.

Comments

[brave_kreyu]

"People can be cruel, especially when the fabric of society has been frayed by famine, by plague, or by war." And, of course, people seeking a home in a new place are often fleeing a famine, a plague, or a war in this time period.

She runs her fingers through his hair, wraps an arm around him to comfort him in the face of those deeply buried memories.

"Absolutely. What use, denying some what they need to survive when you have enough to help them? They will do what they must to survive, or perish, and either way what they could contribute to society will be lost. The world is cruel enough without our adding to it."

"I looked for compassion in those who would become my students, and that continues with those who are my Wise. It is safer to entrust the power of magic to the compassionate, though not foolproof."

[27_53]

"It is less likely to be misused by those who would naturally be drawn to compassion, who would seek to aid others. Not foolproof," he agrees. "But the odds are better stacked."

Skellig is grateful for her fingers in his hair, her arm wrapped around his body, the relative 'quiet' of this little space they have found themselves tucked away into. There is more to face outside the walls of the tower, and he is certain there will be a 'mess' to contend with...but none of that matters here in this moment.

"I am most grateful I stumbled upon a soul with compassion," he whispers softly. "Who chose to use her magic to aid me."

[brave_kreyu]

"So am I," she whispers. "The thought of what might have happened to you if you'd wound up somewhere else..." She shivers, although it isn't cold in here.

[27_53]

"May have ended up like Tyr," he mutters softly. "Locked in a cage, as some plaything for the rich." Or worse...

Her shiver runs through him and he sighs gently, keeping their bodies close together, not just for warmth, but comfort.

[brave_kreyu]

The mere THOUGHT of that happening to Skellig is too horrible to contemplate.

"My vote is for me concealing us with magic and Koschei pulling us through the wall to the outside of the palace. Letting the chaos be a problem for Ajax's brothers instead of us." She says, after a while.

[27_53]

Though his energy is overwhelming full of Light and positivity at the moment, he ALSO does not want to contemplate the idea of himself locked up in a cage, wings tied back, feathers plucked and sold as trinkets, chained to the ground and unable to fly...

"As...strange as that was the first time, I think I would vote the same to make our 'escape', as it were." He nods slightly. "I don't think Ajax will want to encounter his brothers, either."

[brave_kreyu]

Speaking of Ajax and Koschei, they'll hear their footsteps coming down the ramp.

"Ah, there you are," Ajax says, pleased. He's flushed and slightly disheveled, as is Koschei.

"Trouble outside," Koschei rumbles. "Make alternate exit?"

[27_53]

Skellig makes no comment on either of their appearance - and likewise, no comment is made on them either.

"Yes, it seems Gorgon made...quite a mess," Skellig agrees - allowing his hearing to adjust to the sounds below them and outside. There is definitely shouting, and wailing. "It would be easier I think, if we were not seen leaving through the doors he tore off the hinges."

[brave_kreyu]

Ajax grimaces at Skellig's words. "I would rather not deal with that mess, to be frank."

"I can conceal us, if you'll get us through the wall, Koschei," Kreyu offers, standing up from where they have been seated.

"Easy enough," he agrees.

They bid the Procession farewell, for now, and make their way out. Kreyu sighs in relief once they are out of sight of the palace. "It's been quite the day already, and it's not even noon."

[27_53]

"How would you suggest we continue our course for the day?"

The question is mostly posed to Ajax - after all, he is the one who knows the most about this area and the things that there are to do - but anyone is free to offer input.

[brave_kreyu]

"Many of my haunts other than the House of the Setting Sun are shut down at the moment, what with all the...mess, currently." He taps his fingers against one thigh. "A trip to an herbalist acquaintance of mine and then a return to the House to celebrate the rediscovery of such a wonder."

"I admit I haven't dabbled much with herbs for recreational purposes," Kreyu tells Ajax as she takes a hold of Skellig's hand. "Given my....metabolism, I've never had them produce a noticeable effect."

"So long as not red mushrooms with white spots, taste terrible, am game." Koschei rumbles.

"Red with white," Kreyu begins, mind whirring. "Koschei, those are POISONOUS!"

[27_53]

Kreyu says it before Skellig is able to - after all, when they went foraging, that was one of the FIRST things she instilled upon his memory - which mushrooms were deadly and to be avoided!

"Think we'll skip those this time," he offers 'helpfully', softly squeezing Kreyu's hand as they begin to walk and follow Ajax through the streets.

[brave_kreyu]

"Didn't notice," Koschei rumbles, looking a bit sheepish.

"I'm just glad they didn't make you ill," Ajax says, putting a hand briefly on Koschei's shoulder.

The herbalists shop is in a relatively well to do neighborhood, and it's nice to get out of the sun. The inside of the shop smells of an abundance of herbs, many hanging from the ceiling behind the counter.

"Ah, Prince Ajax," the herbalist calls in greeting. "And companions. I'm afraid I'm out of several of your favorites. Demand has been up and my usual suppliers have been...lacking."

Ajax gives her a charming smile. "That's quite alright, Hera. I would like to see what you DO have."

Some of the drugs are quite familiar to Skellig, the marijuana, the magic mushrooms, but there is also a black root that he hasn't seen before. The SMELL is familiar though, it was part of the sacred oils he's smelled on Kreyu before.

[27_53]

The black root is what catches his interest at first - mainly because he senses it is familiar, but he can't quite put his mind on why right away.

(After a moment, he realizes it is the scent of the sacred oils, and his mind wanders to the way it smells when it has been dabbed onto Kreyu's skin...)

"From what Prince Ajax speaks of your products, I am not surprised that demand has been heightened," Skellig comments idly, as he browses a small shelf full of pots of herbal tinctures and ointments.

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu is surprised to see the black root. "You have moly? I only know of it from its use in certain religious rituals on the Ring Islands." The Ring Islands being where the Lair is located.

Hera smiles. "I do indeed, the same kind they use in the rituals for their Great Lady."

Kreyu grins at Skellig, as if at a private joke. "Vivid dreams and recovery of the mind and the body, moly can give."

"An interesting experience," Ajax offers. "Won't muddle your mind or your senses while you're awake."

[27_53]

Skellig returns her grin with a matching one of his own - and hums appreciatively at the description of this 'moly' herb, and what it is able to do for a person.

"That does sound like quite the interesting experience," he agrees. "Especially if it is used in rituals for their Great Lady...we have heard a fair amount of tales of their goddess, and she sounds most powerful..."

And worthy of the finest herbs!

[brave_kreyu]

"Dangerous to take too often," Hera cautions. "But safe enough if only used for no more than three days in a moon cycle."

"Brewed in water with honey and salt, as I recall," Kreyu adds. "The Great Lady is powerful, and hopefully kinder than the goddess they used to worship." She frowns slightly. "There are tales of the high priest dying from time to time when they served THAT goddess and drank the sacred moly."

Hera snorts. "I'd blame the moly for that, not their old goddess. It is harder to come by, off the Ring Islands, and the line between effective and toxic is hair thin in roots from other lands. Lost a former customer that way, the damn fool."

[27_53]

Inwardly, Skellig wonders if this is something he might end up taking...and mentally, he is taking notes of the preparation (and precautions!) of it, just to be on the safe side...

"Moderation is important, as is quality control," he comments.

His focus wanders to the selection of dried mushrooms - now these he senses inwardly that it would be best if he avoided, though he can see why others might find their effects appealing. (The idea of his reality being altered and his senses shifted is a bit unnerving - marijuana is one thing; mushrooms are another entirely.) Plus, they are much more risky, for those with much more of a delicate system - humans.

[brave_kreyu]

Moly is likely in his future, yes. The safer version. "I would purchase a little of the moly, two doses, please," Kreyu asks.

"A bit of the marijuana for me, I think," Ajax asks. "Nothing else striking my fancy at the moment."

[27_53]

Skellig consults with Ajax and Hera for a moment in regards to the marijuana and also gets a small amount for his own consumption - it has a different scent than the type he has tucked away in one of his pouches back in their room, so he is curious if the effect on his system will be any different.

Once they have settled up with the transactions and their purchases have been wrapped and secured away, he glances at Ajax and Koschei as he reaches for Kreyu's hand.

"Where to next, gentlemen?"

[brave_kreyu]

"The House of the Setting Sun, I think," Ajax says after a moment of thought. Koschei rumbles in agreement. "Other distractions are either out of operation at the moment entirely or likely to cause too much trouble for the rest of you if I am present."

He's being more honest than he intends when he speaks of distractions. His carefully crafted reputation as a playboy, a sybarite, a mostly useless dilettante, isn't ENTIRELY false. He can FEEL the knowledge of his eldest brother's almost certain death trying to get it's claws into him. He hated him, with every fiber of his being! (But he loved him, once, was the worshipful younger brother.)

[27_53]

Death can be (and often is) complicated - especially when it comes to those who you know personally and care for. Friends, family, lovers... the lines blur a bit and emotions tangle and weave their way through your soul in the strangest of ways.

"The House it is," Skellig agrees.

(And that also makes the most sense - as if they grow tired of shared company, it will not be any trouble to retire to their own rooms.)

[brave_kreyu]

They settle back into Ajax and Koschei's suite, where they were yesterday, with a celebratory feast.

The drugs won't actually DO anything for Kreyu or Koschei, so neither of them are indulging in those purchases.

The conversation ebbs and flows. At the moment, Koschei and Kreyu are on one side of the room discussing rather technical details about wards. Kreyu is sketching DIAGRAMS on pieces of broken pottery! (Koschei is VERY interested in protecting Ajax in as many ways as he can.)

[27_53]

With the ebb and flow of conversation (and subject matter) mixed with the consumption (and comparison) of herbs, Skellig and Ajax have found themselves on one of the low couches, flipping through one of Ajax's many sketchbooks.

"You can truly see how your skill has grown over your years of practice," Skellig comments idly as he slowly turns through the pages. "Especially with your studies of birds."

After all, a conversation about birds in art was one of their first, so it seems appropriate to discuss it now, relaxed as they both are.

[brave_kreyu]

Ajax is quite relaxed, comfortable in this space, with his friend. "Thank you," he says, smiling softly. "I do not think I will ever be a master, but I continue to make progress."

He turns a page, and a very familiar feather is sketched on the page, life sized and in color! "Couldn't resist trying my hand at the mystery you left me," he quips.