Wouldn't you like to use more than words?

[letsplayamod]

The last thing you recall is likely your own death. Whether it was fast or slow, it's over now. And you're... where are you?

One moment, you were among the living. The next - you may be one of the unfortunate ones who actually died. In which case, you've found yourself flowing in the lazy rivers of the river Styx, unfathomably deep underground. Just for a moment, mind you. It's not long before your consciousness is yanked from the waters by some scary monsters, shoved into a healed body, and pushed through a portal.

Or, maybe you were caught red-handed and sentenced to your doom. But, instead of a proper death, you were whisked down into the Veins of Tartarus. And there's really only one place that could lead to... Or is it?


You've been tossed down here by the will of the Titan, but what you find is A helping hand swooping you up - possibly literally, and potentially out of the grasp of the Titan himself.

Not a moment after, you're whisked through another rift, this one a shimmering gold. Into a realm of slightly more stable platforms and a lot more shit to look through. The area is practically littered with the ill-gotten goods of a thieving God (who is happy to note via pop-up illusion that you are touching his stuff). Here, however, you are safe; assured that Typhon cannot find or hurt you here.

For the moment, you can breathe before the next part comes.

Comments

[tailoredfate]

[Meanwhile, as Fenyx is off getting the new arrivals and Aglaea is very much trying not to think about that for the moment, with Sayo's rules firmly in place in their new parlor, she just. Keeps on watching in the cauldron as the living gather for just one more party. Something about this feels... comfortable. Feels right. That she's seeing beyond what her eyes can see once more.

But now, she isn't seeing plans whispered in the dark, movements of enemies and conspirators who are plotting to undo everything she's worked for over the past thousand years. Now she just... watches. For them.

And as she watches, she spies something. Watching the two of them talk - at first, when Lebkuchen reaffirms her resolve, embracing herself and her power and trying to make it something that's not entirely his, she smiles what's possibly the warmest smile anyone's ever seen on her face.

She was proud of even the smallest steps Lebkuchen took, the smallest affirmations. Progress in any form was fantastic to see in the girl, so seeing such a wholehearted affirmation of who she wants to be...

... It makes that warmth sink into what remains of her heart, at the same time a pang of regret does.

Oh, but she can't linger on that regret, because something else is happening with her and Cerejeira and-]

... Oh my.

[... She sounds. Impressed? And pleased?]

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Omega has also been watching, and…does a bit of a celebratory arm pump. ]

YES! CEREJEIRA IS CERTAIN TO ANSWER IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AFTER SUCH A HEARTFELT PLEA!

[markofnobility]

Oh?

[Ferdinand stops his anxious Quark-based pacing to peer in]

Oh!

[tailoredfate]

[Her embracing the role of Demigod of Romance (... back home, at least) had been more about beauty in general than romance necessarily, but. Even so, there's somewhat of a shine in Aglaea's eyes as she watches that confession. Or, well, Lebkuchen's at least, Cerejeira still hasn't said anything-]

It's something they both deserve. A rock, in the midst of these turbulent waters. [She sounds so fond...] ... I'm happy for them.

[markofnobility]

As am I! I am surprised Lebkuchen is being so bold, but... I feel that may be what was needed here.

[tailoredfate]

I knew she had such resolve in her. It was only a matter of her finding it herself.

[She said she felt weak, she sounded so lost during that seance a few weeks ago. But Aglaea had seen the strength in which she threw the red shoes into the fire, felt that determination with her hand on Lebkuchen's back.

Of course such a fire could burn in other ways as well.]

But I knew you of all people would understand her position.

[markofnobility]

[He laughs brightly]

I suppose I do understand it.

[He watches Jeira respond with a sparkle in his eyes]

It brings me hope, seeing others find love in this place. They deserve it.

[tailoredfate]

It warms a heart I wasn't sure I had anymore.

[She hasn't felt.... happy like this in a while. She wasn't even sure she could still feel happy. It's nice.]

With how terrible things have been since Typhon began his ceaseless tantrums... it's these moments we need to hold onto the most.

[markofnobility]

Was not sure you had?

[That surprises him. Sure, they were never close when alive but-]

Aglaea, you have always seemingly been kind, and clearly care very much for many of the Seekers- how could you think you do not have a heart?!

[tailoredfate]

[The earnest emotion in his words, that face so like a puppy... it's like looking at Phainon, when he would ask such things. Right before he'd get angry and start barking at the Council or those who insulted Aglaea. It's sweet, really.

It's... nice. That the people here care for her so.]

Think of a weapon laid out in the open. Weeks go by, months, years - think of how a sword would rust, the wooden shaft of a spear would warp and flake. Think of how even the stone of a well-tended fortification can be weathered by time, exposed to the elements.

[She taps a finger on her own chest.]

Now think of what a thousand years can do to a soul. Even a thousand years of peace means a thousand years of living. Time wears away at all things, and I'm no exception.

[There's no pain in her voice as she speaks, no bitterness, it's just... matter of fact.]

It's no form of self-deprecation, just merely the truth - that my soul is torn and faded like a long-abandoned battle standard. I haven't felt the way I used to feel before I took Mnestia's Coreflame in a long, long time.

[markofnobility]

...

Well, even the most untended weapon can be restored with some good oil and some patience!

[It's hard to tell if he didn't get the metaphor at all or got it perfectly]

[tailoredfate]

[... Even as good of a read as Aglaea has on most people. She still can't tell if that flew over his head or not.

Either way, it makes her laugh softly.]

Unfortunately, patience was something I couldn't afford to have. That implies I had time on my hands, which was in very short supply when I was killed. [By the way she talks so lightly about it, that certainly can't mean when she was killed in this world.] With the fraying of my soul, I knew death would soon follow. It was inevitable.

But perhaps... coming here helped, in a way.

[markofnobility]

[he nods. he gets it- the days that blur when you always have thankless, bitter work to do. And for him it was only a few years. He can't imagine a goddess' timeframe]

There are plenty here who will restore your shine, if you let them.

[tailoredfate]

Honestly, I never cared much for my own shine. That may seem surprising to some, but... it's much nicer seeing others shine.

[Besides...

"any time I trust anyone you inevitably leave me behind!"

... She's not sure if the one that she found matters so much to her might want her around now. She's already prepared herself for the chance that this might be Cifera all over again.]

... It's like watching the sun rise.

[The light is beautiful. But... at a distance.]

[atu709]

[ it's funny how different it is to be jealous. for so long she had nothing - no hope except oblivion. love was something found in stories, and it is real of course because she is herself a story. but it would be transient. fleeting. and a cruelty to any other snow white less fortunate.

While there are many things that are untrue about all princesses, the fact that they fall easily into the patterns of love is not a falsehood. It is something that is expected, and one of the first illusions to fall away upon learning the truth of the Neverafter.

But she thinks of Rosamund, who kept her faith in love despite the unmaking of everything. Of Rapunzel, bitter and vicious. Of Cinderella, and their nights talking about what they suppose true love must feel like. And she thinks that there are much worse guiding stars than love.

Perhaps that's why she was made the goddess of it, before everything went wrong. That there is a Snow White within her that still yet holds faith in love, in the ability of connection between souls and minds.

Perhaps she will always wish it was her in Cerejira's place. She does not know. But there is no room for jealousy in Snow White's heart, because no matter how she loses her way, Snow White is Good.

And this is probably for the best. Brutal murder aside, partners of all genders tend to desire their bed-mates to not be the temperature of ice. It hurts, and it's not a hurt she is used to, but she is used to hurting, and she will figure it out. ]

... Good for them.

[ She means it. Whatever her feelings for Lebkuchen may be, it's her happiness Snow wants most of all. ]

[tailoredfate]

[It's not as easy to read Snow as it is to read, say, Ferdinand or Alex. It would be, if her powers were not dulled as they are, but... hm. Even without them, she can sense there's something... off. She doesn't want to say something is wrong, but she can feel the weight in the air.

She knows nothing she can say will really help. Empty comforts aren't really her style, and talking more about the pair might have the opposite effect. So instead, just as she did towards the start of all this, for the people she hadn't yet gotten close to...

She doesn't reach out physically. She just... lets her threads extend, briefly curling around Snow before fading. Like a cat rubbing against your legs as it winds through them and walks off.

[raiseyoulikea]

[Leaning over, Fenyx gives a glowing smile of her own.]

Best thing about mortals. Finding the light in even darker moments.