Open Post

[hypomeneo]

Ye ol' general open post. Memes, PSLs, game divergence, Fate AUs... all of it finds a home here. NSFW. PM me or hit me at Kerimeos for more plotting.

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[hypomeneo]

[It takes a few moments more to follow. The coffee is hot - it takes a few swallows and Waver blows futilely in an attempt to cool it down between gulps. His coat, scarf, and boots are scattered in different parts of the cabin thanks to their frantic bout of passion the day before, and there's a scramble to retrieve them - and a stumble thanks to his foot catching his discarded suit jacket - and put them on quickly enough to keep up with Iskandar.

Any complaints are swallowed up by urgency. If they're quick, they might catch the akayashi if it's still lingering around the scene before it goes into hiding and becomes much more of a problem for them. They're not completely helpless without their shinki, but it's better to be able to confront it without it sneaking up and ambushing them.

Which... they should expect sooner or later, regardless. They're the tastiest beings around. Instinctively, Ayakashi will always go after gods, shinki, and any stray soul first.

But.

... that they haven't already been confronted with it since their arrival is... almost suspiciously lucky, Waver realizes, before squinting and scowling as soon as the door opens and the wind and the snow flying on it slaps him in the face. The bite of cold is sharp contrasted to the warm comfort of the cabin.]

Did you catch which direction it came from?

[towards_okeanos]

Yes. [Iskandar replies without hesitation. He stopped not far from their cabin's entrance, his own coat unbuttoned, gaze fixed on one spot in the distance. ] Exactly where we saw it in the dream.

[But there's a difference now. A body on the snow. Bright blue pool of colour, a puffed parka and ski pants, against white of the snow. No blood. Not yet? Or not visible? Too early to tell. Over it a twitching mass of black tangled threads in shape of a man rises from the ground. It looks even more surreal in the daylight. Constantly shifting, moving and changing, doesn't even look solid. Just a mess of impatient black penstrokes scratched over reality.

To their left another figure, a living, breathing human being ploughing through the snow from the far end of the compound. Too far for recognition but already eerily familiar.

All is still until Waver appears. When ayakashi realizes it has not one but two gods to potentially feast on it does something Iskandar has never seen one do before. It collapses on itself folding into a small ball of darkness, then bolts upward screeching like a flock of crows and flies away over the forest.]

That... was unusual.

[He was expecting it to attack, not run away.]

Let's check it's victim. Maybe it's not too late.

[The fast approaching man finally comes close enough that Iskandar recognizes in him a person they already met. It's none other than the waiter from the restaurant. The one that wished them a pleasant meal yesterday and seemed to notice them more than anyone else from the staff.]

[hypomeneo]

[Of course. The sauna by the river. Waver pulls on gloves as he bounds out the door in pursuit of Iskandar, who has pulled out ahead. Even though he's been made to exercise, he's no where as fast as his husband in pushing through snow.

That's the difference between a trained warrior and an academic. Obviously the answer he would get is exercise more. Ugh. No matter if he enjoys the feeling of having a more muscular body... it's still UGH. At least he's not falling over into a panting heap like he would if he were still human.

That and he's beginning to chant as his eyes lock in on the amorphous, shifting mass of darkness scribbled in the air over a motionless form dressed in powder blue sprawled across the snow. There might be another person coming in, and Iskandar's already arrived, but he doesn't know if that's enough to draw the thing away from prey already downed. Or if it is... if two gods are an alluring enough target, and if the thing has any sense of cunning...

...

...]

Unsettling too.

[Though the word he wants to use is suspicious, though his tone conveys this well enough. Even the more intelligent ayakashi they've encountered wouldn't give up their prey without a fight. For the ayakashi to just... bolt at his arrival, leaving behind its helpless victim with no hesitation...

He has never seen an ayakashi like that. Nor one without eyes... nor one that just had manifested the way it had...

Most ayakashi take the form of animals or objects. Defined. Not fluid, barely present, a writhing mass of tendrils of darkness.

... and that the goddess can't truly perceive him even if she senses the pain he's in...]

I see breathing. [It's very shallow, but it's there. Waver's fighting through the last bit of snow before falling to his knees to turn the victim over. To say she doesn't look good is an understatement, but...] If we get her to a doctor fast--

[Oh hi there random stranger----]

Hey, we need some help over here!

[Only then does it register that it's the waiter from last night approaching fast; Waver feels the part of him that is mage immediately sit up and take note. What a coincidence.]

[towards_okeanos]

[There are several things that happen in quick succession there but it feels like forever. The waiter stops the moment he sees what Waver has just seen, then pulls up his phone and spills an entire monologue in what Iskandar guesses must be Finnish - they might have arrived yesterday he'd heard enough of the language as background noise to at least be able to identify it - into it when he finally gets someone to pick up. Then a short, one-word answers to whatever the person on the other side was asking before disconnecting and switching to English.]

The ambulance won't be here for the next 30 minutes or more. We need to move her inside.

[Iskandar is ready to pick the wounded girl but then he hears a suspicious sound from the forest. The very one over which the ayakashi, or whatever the hell that even was, was flying. So he turns around reaching for his sword only to realise he's on vacation he doesn't have any. His luck that what comes out of the forest is not dangerous. At least not to them. It or rather she is, however, very familiar.

Goddess Kiputyttö storms out of the bushes red-faced, heaving, panting and swearing. Iskandar needs no knowledge of Finnish to realize the words she's uttering are definitely not blessings. When finally met in person his first impression is confirmed. She does look like a teenager. Short, round-faced, with big dark eyes, black hair and dressed in a set of completely modern winter clothes. If not for a long, ornamental spear she wields, she could easily pass as one of the tourists.
Then she sees Iskandar and Waver and her shoulders drop. She stops, clearly way out of breath to comment on the scene. The spear in her hand shrinks to a size no larger than a hairpin which is exactly as she uses it, immediately sticking it into her tight bun.

The waiter guy looks at her but she just shakes her head.]

We need to move her inside.

[He repeats, this time getting a reply.]

Give me a fucking moment. [wheeze] I've just run two kilometres straight. [wheeze] You go on. I'll be right behind you.

[The guy nods. He kneels beside Waver. There's something very telling in the way he checks the wounded girl's injuries. Like a man knowing what he's looking for.]

Ok, she can be moved safely. Come, big guy, lend me a hand here.

[Iskandar needs a second to realize the waiter is talking to him so he's a bit slower to react to but when he finally does, he too knows what he's doing. Not his first time transporting severely wounded. Though they usually were fellow soldiers not young girls on vacation. This one barely weighs anything and is terribly pale, he notices as he lifts her from the snow.

The waiter smiles.]

Thanks, I'm Samu by the way, and you've already met Kipo.

[The goddess waves, still trying to catch her breath.]

[hypomeneo]

They're coming from Ivalo, then...?

[It's not really a question. Though, Ivalo is small. If it's that bad, they might end up flying her out. Waver bites his lip. If she lasts that long.

He blinks and waves after watching the rest of this exchange, and being unsubtle in his look of utter sympathy when Kiputyttö says she ran two kilometers. Through the snow. ... oh come on, he'd probably drop from that. (Yes, yes, he needs even more exercise, he knows.) There's a bit of a mild question lingering on his face. He is supposing, for now, that the spear is a shinki and Samu a human follower.

(though, this is different pantheon. He'd be happy to be proven wrong on at least the shinki part and find out the weapon is just a weapon and not a person. That said, everything he's heard suggested things work similarly around the world as it does for the Japanese pantheon. Then again, given the still unexplained matter of the New Gods and shinki arrivals to the Far Shore and all sorts of deities being suddenly worshipped by the Japanese...)]

It's not a problem. He's Iskandar and I'm Waver.

[His lips press together as the girl is lifted and cradled in Iskandar's arms. Already so terribly pale with a creeping tinge of blue setting in. Christ.

He murmurs a few words in Chinese to at least cast a bubble of warm air around her; both his and Zhuge Liang's talents do not lie in healing magecraft, but he can do this little for her to help.]

Is there a specific place you'd like us to take her?

[Please anything but their cabin, though. It's secure, but it's a mess and once everyone walks in, it'll be obvious what they've been up to all last night. The smell alone...]

[towards_okeanos]

[Samu nods as he inspects the ground after Iskandar has lifted the girl. Difficult to say what he's looking for as there is no blood on the snow. Not even footprints. Not a sign someone else other than them was even here. Then he picks up something from the ground, hiding it in his pocket immediately.]

Yes, that's the closest one. Small though, so we'll see how it goes from there.

[He furrows his brows at the last question.]

Infirmary, where else? The doctor should be awake by now. She's old so it's ok. I doubt she'd remember you anyway. I still need to report this, get the security to fence off the scene and whole damned circus. [He shots one quick glance at his obviously more and more stressed out goddess.] But it's fine, I'll handle it. You go eat.

[Well, that's not their first time doing this.

Iskandar remembers seeing a sign with a large cross on it in the main building when they were checking in yesterday. He didn't think about it yesterday, merely registered its presence because of a similar sign he saw in the airport earlier. He meant to ask Waver about it but then completely forgot. He had more important things to concentrate on.]

I know where it is.

[hypomeneo]

Hm? [Samu searching the snow immediately peaks Waver's interest, and he stretches out his senses to see if he can detect any magical energy from the ground (or the man himself). Whatever is found is quickly pocketed, and Waver's eyebrows rise slightly as he meets the other's eyes with an open, curious expression.] Something interesting?

[The tone's not pushy - the Caster doesn't expect an answer right away. Clearly given all the little hints, this isn't their first rodeo, and Waver's interested in the details of that. But he's willing to wait on that. At least for the time to get everyone inside and taken care of, and stress levels to return to something a little less heightened.

Waver breathes a sigh of relief. Iskandar was paying attention then. He had been occupied with other matters.]

Thank all that's holy, I missed it coming in. [It could be a toss up whether or not there was an infirmary present on all his trips; he's in perhaps the bad habit of not expecting one or given certain sensitive matters in life, having to avoid the use of one to avoid compromising the masquerade.]

[towards_okeanos]

[There's a quick exchange of glances after Waver's question between Samu and the goddess. She nods, only then he replies.]

Feathers. Just like the last time. I'll show you later. Maybe you'll be able to make any sense of it.

[Infirmary is a very straightforward affair. Just like Samu predicted the doctor is awake and ready to take over the patient. But it's also a small place, quickly overcrowded when they all gather inside. As soon as Iskandar lowers the wounded girl onto the hospital bed, Samu shoves them all out to the corridor. He stops at the door.]

Go eat.

[This demand is very obviously directed at his goddess who huffs something unintelligible back at him but Samu ignores it turning to Waver instead. Singled him out as the responsible one apparently.]

I know it's totally out of the blue but please, check that she eats some real food and not just two litres of coffee and a piece of chocolate.

Seriously, Samu!

[The goddess is not amused but Samu has already closed the door behind him leaving them on the corridor. Iskandar chuckles.]

You two must really like each other. Alas, your friend is right. Nobody can plan, much less act on an empty stomach. Come, let's find ourselves some proper breakfast.

[hypomeneo]

[Waver nods before they head off to the infirmary, the girl still cradled in Iskandar's arms. Time passes in a rush and before they know it, they're out in the hallway, Samu shooing them out and demanding his goddess eat.

It's not an unfamiliar scene. Kiputyttö is not the only one that has had to be... encouraged to have a meal.]

Two litres of coffee and a piece of chocolate is not a proper meal?

[Rhetorical question and a bit of self depreciating humor, but no, Waver, it is not.]

He's right, though - it's better we fill up. It looks to be a long day ahead and we'll all probably need the energy.

[towards_okeanos]

[The dining hall is already bustling with activity, if a bit of a morbid kind. Iskandar can't help but overhear other guests already gossiping about the accident. A murder maybe. The resort is small and secluded, but news travel fast in such places.

He's as fast in securing them a table then takes it on himself to bring the goddess a proper meal. He wants answers and for her to be able to deliver them she needs to be in a lot better shape than she's now. So no weak porridge or subsiding on leaves or fruit will do.]

I don't eat eggs!

[Kiputyttö exclaims as he sets the plate in front of her, staring in horror at the steaming pile of scrambled eggs, no less than four pieces of dark bread slathered with butter and a generous heap of small sausages. Iskandar huffs. He was trying to be polite here. And modest! That's only half the portion of what he had brought for himself.]

Well shame, girl, now you do! No wonder you're so scrawny.

[The goddess pushes the plate away.]

I am vegan, you dumb oaf!

[At first, the declaration is met with a blank stare. Then Iskandar turns to Waver for help. That means something right? He's sure it does. He even faintly remembers hearing it somewhere. Ehh... for all his good will this is what he gets? Why is she mad at him now!]

[hypomeneo]

[... more... for... them? Waver's stomach rumbles as the plate ends up right in front of him and his hands raise slightly in appeasement.]

She means she can't eat anything that comes from an animal. Which covers meat, dairy, eggs... er, honey? It's a diet a lot of people follow for either health reasons or to avoid harming and exploiting another living creature.

[Waver is quite sure that covers honey. Maybe. Bees make it so it counts, right? But he's not sure how strict she is on that.]

[towards_okeanos]

That's awful! So what can she eat then?

[He does make it sound as if he was concerned that she's starving. In a way, he is. Iskandar's unshaken belief that real food means bread, meat and olive has a tendency of colliding with the reality of modern times in most unexpected ways and a lot more often than he'd like.
The goddess just rolls her eyes at him.]

Clearly, neither of you is a god of the Underworld. Or is it only the Finnish one that's so lovely? If I weren't vegan already I'd sure as hell become one now. This everything?

[She gestures to the steaming pile of food with disgust.]

It all smells rotten to me. All food does, but I'd say a hint of mould on fruit and muesli is incomparably more tolerable than rotten eggs or meat. And I can pretend that the vegetables are just pickles, so technically rotten too.

But you're not here to discuss diet. You want to know more about that inky bastard.

[hypomeneo]

There's... granola... and fruit salad at the buffet? Fried mushrooms and tomatoes...

[Listen, he was grabbing anything that could go in a proper fry and barely glancing at the rest. Sometimes he is insufferably British. Admittedly usually around the subject of what constitutes proper afternoon tea.

Hm.

Their domains encompass war. Iskandar's much more than his, since Zhuge Liang was known his statesmanship as well as his strategy and Guan Yu was revered for his martial prowess instead. But there's no getting away from the fact that legacy of conflict marks his divinity as the scars of the battlefield have marked his soul.

So no. He can't recall any underworld god in the Far Shore having this issue as well, but that may have well just been a feature of the New Gods there. Her explanation gets a thoughtful frown. The Japanese realm of the dead governed by Izanami is said to one of decay as well, but he's never been and never wants to go.]

That's a good question. [In regards to the various pantheons' underworlds and the properties of gods thereof.] But no, we're not.

[Waver's hands cradle his coffee - black, strong.]

When did that thing first appear? I get the impression you've been dealing with it for awhile.

[towards_okeanos]

[The whole explanation makes Iskandar feel guilty as hell. He assumed she's just a spoiled brat and the real reason is something he can't even wrap his head around. To not be able to enjoy good food? What a terrible condition. It takes all the joy of being a god in the first place. He can't even imagine how he'd be able to cope with something like that. He mutters a quick sorry and leaves to bring something more appropriate. The key this time being what would taste least awful when rotten.

Meanwhile, the goddess just finished her first cup of coffee.]

I think it's two months now. You'd have to ask Samu for precise dates, my perception of time is a little wonky. This is his fourth victim but first that's not homeless or a foreigner. And first that managed to survive.