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- A mechanical dirigible bobs up and down on the air currents before jets of steam erupt from several
- of its valves, then putters off.
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "Please pardon my diriglbes, friend! Bizirik is having
- a day off, is still full of shrimpies from the other months!"
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "Ah, that is quite alright, Gurashi, thank you. You are most
- kind, as ever."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "*pale pastel colors bloom slowly upon the aethers, a
- sense of tired delight reaching you from far away* How are you doing, Mister Avaris? What is hale??
- I have heard that, I am assume it is better than bad because of how it is used."
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "[The colours are regarded with a faint numbness, though a
- muted fondness nonetheless can be felt, like the subtle warmth of a vast wall warmed by a weak sun.]
- Ah. It means healthy, Gurashi, typically in body. You are kind to ask. Do you read often?"
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "*a fleeting but rich scent of orange citrus reaches
- you, pastels growing warm in response to your own* I... actually, do. I read sometimes a lots? But,
- I do not remember often, sometimes. Things stay in my mind for only a few days or so, and then I
- sleeps and it is like my heads empties out all over again to make rooms for new thinks the next
- month. Not always, but often."
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "Ah, yes, I well understand that. The mind is as a sponge - It
- can only retain so much before it is glutted to capacity, and excess leaks free."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "*a swell of surprised that withdraws before it
- becomes too loud* Think is realy true? I always assumed it was from years and years and years of
- bonking my heads on things. *a ripple of confusion, then amusement* Am sorry to be bothering you if
- are very busy! Your suggestions to relax got me thinking that I should be doing just thats, yes. Are
- hungry for anything else?? I yam in the moods to be cooking! Yes."
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "It is indeed. Consider it like building muscle, Gurashi,
- since you have been training of late. You cannot build mass all in one day, yes? It takes many
- months of steady, consistent work. Committing knowledge firmly to memory is much the same, else it
- will slip away, like water flowing between grasping fingers. Ah, no, I am quite fine, though I thank
- you for asking. I hope that you enjoy cooking. Cheliyi seems to have inherited your love of it."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "... *there is a very long, long, long thoughtful
- pause at this, great reluctance at answering* ... like reading, every day... *a little huff then,
- colors brighten once more* OH! Did you see Cheliyi? I keep missing her, ships in the harbor, bats in
- the nights are we! Am guessing she already fed you fully! *they laugh*."
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "[A quiet noise of assent, a muted, brief vibration.] She
- was...Most insistent on my company, yes. I began to fear she would seek to batter down the walls of
- my home, in truth, if I did not acquiesce to her kindly demands. Ah, I ate only a small cookie, but
- she was generous enough to teach me how to bake them. Your daughter is a good soul, Gurashi. You
- have done well with her."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "...ah. Yeah! She is determined to be goodly, and I am
- very proud of her. I am glad that you know how to bake! Is most important skills of all! Maybe, next
- to breathing and surviving and stuffs. Am very glad... *another long pause, before warm saffron hues
- suffuse the aethers* Hey - are you O-K? You are quiet. Maybe is my earses. Brain-ears."
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "I would personally place the ability to protect loved ones
- and the innocent beyond all else, but feeding others is a very fine ability indeed. [A lapse of
- silence, and a sense of drawing in on himself, before he makes a tangible effort to sound heartier.]
- Ah, my apologies. I have been given much towards introspection recently, that is all. Do not worry,
- Gurashi."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "That sounds totally possibles, yes. Protecting
- peoples takes lots of practice but totally do-ables! You are very tall, bet you could protect
- many... *another longer, more thoughtful pause, their own colors muting curiously* ....am I
- bothering you? I am sorry if am bothering the introspectings."
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "[A slight pulse of light accompanies a quiet, self-conscious
- laugh.] Ah, yes, that was the intent, at least. The eye is drawn first to the largest figure, and
- the most glaringly noticeable. Gaudy, perhaps, but useful in combat situations, so that I can act as
- a lodestone to draw ire, rather than others. You are not bothering me, Gurashi, do not fret. Your
- presence is ever a welcome one. I am sorry if I am poor company, even across the aethers."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "Mmmm, yeah, I guess that is true. But thankfully you
- also gots bigly swords and many arms. I do not think you are poor company! I just was thinking you
- sounded differently so could not tell if were doing that thing to be po-lite and make sure were O-K,
- yes. *gentle assent, another thrum* I was going to ask if you wanted to hang out withs me's while I
- played fetch with Ham since you were one who suggested I re-lax, but I know you are busy. And I was
- also going to give you a book, but as I read it, now, I realize it could stand to be ... updated!
- Made a-new. An important story but... tidied. My words were even WORSE in year five sixty seven,
- wowee."
- You think to yourself: "I suppose I cannot hide here forever. Little lesson learned in bearing the
- marks of my shame if I do not feel the sting of others' judgement for it."
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "That I do, indeed. I had to acquire blades that would
- typically be used as greatswords, as my old ones are as daggers to me now. [A long moment of
- contemplation, a subtle mixture of shame, anxiety and grim acceptance whispering across the
- aethers.] ...Yes. I could stand to see young Ham gambol about. Ah, truly? I did not realise you were
- an author, Gurashi. That is wonderful. I shall look forward to reading it, once you are satisfied
- with the update."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "*suddenly the aethers bloom with color again, a sense
- of delight* Ah! You wanna come to the parks with me? I can throw the ball and show you how to throw
- the ball for Ham - he is a near expert at fetch, now! It will be a goodly time, yes. If want? I will
- be there, regardless, anyways, yes! Will see you there, near the ducky pond! And NO I am not an
- author! It is not that kind of book, it is... well - I can tell you in persons!"
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "He is a swift learner, then, it seems. I am sure that he will
- flourish under your care, and be a most able companion when he is full grown. I shall make my way
- there presently, if you would not mind waiting a few moments."
- You think to yourself: "I...Do not know where this duck pond is, but surely it cannot be too
- difficult to find."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "*there is a joyful humming in response, a lack of
- verbal affirmation, the smell of grass and sea air*."
- Near the duck pond.
- Pale, watery light floats away from a shield shrine of Carakhan nearby. This location is flooded
- with shallow, crystal clear water. The flat, grassy lawn of the city park slopes gently downwards
- and then drops abruptly to the edge of a shallow pond. Large, tame, white ducks paddle lazily back
- and forth, occasionally bobbing their heads below the surface. On the south end of the pond, water
- lilies create a solid blanket of green which barely breaks the surface of the water. An adolescent
- Nyalian mastiff darts about excitedly, his tail wagging like a brandished sword. Gurashi, The
- Heart's Friend with a Regal face shifts and blurs, their figure cast into uncertainty by the
- enveloping Presence that lingers large, unseen, and heavy about their form. They wield a vibrant
- mandolin of songbirds and stars in their left hand.
- You see exits leading northeast and northwest.
- Standing at a scant four foot ten inches, they are an alluring sileni kindly demigod changeling. The
- slender curves of this creature's form, from their slight shoulders to their dainty, six-fingered
- hands, lend them a youthful, wholesome appearance. Their right hand has been scarred upon the palm,
- as if with a sharp object, and their most prominent three knuckles of the same hand are marred. A
- heart-shaped face houses a sheepish smile and a pair of large, expressive, slate-blue eyes, their
- brilliant white pupils resembling stars framed with dusky auburn lashes. Their long cheeks and thin,
- upturned nose both bear a permanent shade of blush, accentuated by the greatest cluster of freckles.
- A moderately sized crescent-shaped scar mars their right cheek, brightly visible against the deep
- hue of their skin. Their smooth skin is tawny in color, covered in a smattering of auburn freckles.
- A hint of discolored flesh can be seen at the center of their sternum, mostly obscured by their
- clothing. An unruly mane of bright, apricot colored hair is clustered in wavy clumps atop their
- head, parted on either side of their head by a pair of curling, deep sable ram's horns, the left
- horn slightly shorter and stumpier than the right. A shock of bone-white hair stands out along their
- left temple, the tuft tucked delicately around their horn. A pair of velvety soft black ram's ears
- hang down from below their horns, twitching every so often in response to foreign sound. Beginning
- along their midriff is a thin coat of apricot-colored wool, a hint of pure white spots seen poking
- out from the top of their pants. Their backwards-tilted legs are slender and fawn-like, covered in
- downy tufts of orange fur and coming to end with triangular, sable black hooves. A short orange and
- white tail can be seen occasionally wagging behind them. Soothing mists of water and light weave
- about them in a sparkling white veil, marking the truefavour of Lantra, the Empyreal.
- They are wearing:
- a starry wreath of celestial light set atop their head like a halo
- a circlet of crystal thorns resting loosely atop their head
- a vivid red-orange poppy tucked lovingly behind their left ear
- the Mantle of Starlight which flows dreamily about their shoulders and back
- a sleeveless black tunic which clings to their upper body flatteringly
- mercurial Mysraian prayer beads pulled taut against their right wrist
- a Glomdoring friendship bracelet which jingles softly on their left wrist
- minty citrus incense beads pulled taut against their right wrist
- a shifting, living poppy of beige petals worn delicately upon their left wrist
- a driftwood ring of sea breezes fitted tightly to their left middle finger
- simple white linen trousers which swish around their legs freely
- a bright red poppy tucked behind their left ear.
- You think to yourself: "Ah, I have found it. Not so difficult, as I thought."
- Gurashi looks up as you enters just as they hurl a red and blue bouncer ball towards the northeast,
- watching an adolescent Nyalian mastiff race after it. The creature at this point is as high as the
- sileni is tall, though it chases after the ball with all the energy and enthusiasm of a puppy. "Hi!
- Mister Avaris, you found us!"
- Gurashi beams broadly at you.
- Stepping in a manner that is deprived of his usual steady, implacable stride,
- Avaris walks across the lawn at a sedate pace, the wicked curve of his feet's talons sinking into
- the loam with each heavy footfall. His lower left antenna tracks the arc of the ball, while its
- larger mate follows an adolescent Nyalian mastiff's progress as the kephera moves to stand a
- respectful distance from Gurashi, hands hidden beneath the cloak of his wings, tight to the base of
- his spine. "Ah, hello, Gurashi. I did, indeed. I have not visited this place before, so I was not
- certain how long it would take me. Do you come here a great deal?"
- Gurashi smiles as an adolescent Nyalian mastiff makes his way back over, dropping the ball
- wordlessly into the sileni's six-fingered hand. "Really? Aeldra comes here muchly, and I see others
- come here too. I usually," They point with their not-slobbery hand across the pond towards the
- playground visible even from this distance, "hang out over there, but there are more obstacles. Is
- not grass to throw, lots of bushes, for Ham to go seeking! Hh--" They suddenly wheel around and hurl
- the ball with a wicked toss into the bushes towards the northeast again with a loud "YAH!" The
- mastiff lets out a deep, rumbling bark and breaks into a spring after the ball, tail wagging a as it
- chases down the toy.
- An adolescent Nyalian mastiff gambols forward, snatching a red and blue bouncer ball in one fluid
- motion. With a series of feints and growls, he avoids Gurashi's grasp, intent on playing keep-away
- until he loses interest.
- Gurashi beckons for you to step closer. "Come here! It is O-K, the ducks are small and do not bite,"
- They assure, as if this were some sort of valid concern. "I have breads you can feed them, while I
- teach fetchies."
- Avaris dips his pointed chin in a small nod of confirmation. "I was not aware. She
- tends to prefer visiting me, rather than permitting I to go to her." He pauses, considering for a
- beat, then suggests, "Perhaps it is because she likes to move around so much. She was explaining to
- me that faeling, such as herself, are fueled by cake, and cookies, and thus are very energetic." At
- this, a thought seems to strike him, and he leans forward a sliver of a degree, studying Gurashi
- curiously. "Is that also why you are so lively?" At the mention of ducks, his antennae bend into a
- squat 'U' shape, his tone nonplussed as he says, "I...Did not think that they would. Do people often
- fear that they will?"
- Voice resonating with choral harmonics, you say, "Is bread good for them? I believe they mostly
- subsist on plants."
- Gurashi stares blankly into space.
- Gurashi looks at you hopefully.
- You tilt your head curiously at Gurashi.
- Gurashi opens, then closes, then opens and closes their mouth again. Behind them their tail begins
- to wag furiously, and they scrunch their face at the question as it is asked, commenting on their
- liveliness. While still doing their silent calculation, an adolescent Nyalian mastiff returns with a
- red and blue bouncer ball in his mouth, dropping it into the sileni's other hand, still thoughtfully
- outstretched.
- With a gentle, euphonic lilt, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "...yessssss," They look at the ball
- in their one hand, then carefully pull out a warm loaf of bread from a basket hooked to their pack,
- holding it out towards Avaris. "It does not have fanciful things in it like normally but they do
- like it lots."
- Gurashi pets an adolescent Nyalian mastiff ingratiatingly.
- A low rumble shudders throughout a adolescent Nyalian mastiff's chest, a sort of gentle, contented
- sound.
- Avaris makes no motion towards closing the gap, as invited to, instead maintaining
- his post as he watches Gurashi with polite patience. Though his head does not shift at an adolescent
- Nyalian mastiff's approach, several of the glowing eyes within his wings track the large pup
- intently, curious in their regard. "You...Do not seem very certain." He stares at the offered bread
- for a time that grows uncomfortable, his forearms shifting as he adjusts the placement of his hands,
- cloaked by the feathered mass of his wings. Visibly steeling himself, he extends his upper right
- hand to take the bread, deliberately avoiding Gurashi's gaze as the seething, sanguine essence that
- bloodies his palm is exposed in the brief moment before his hand closes about the loaf. He says not
- a word as he retracts his hand, holding the bread in a manner that is almost defensive, turning his
- visored face to stare out at the ducks.
- You think to yourself: A bracing, a raising of a shield to take an unavoidable blow, laced through
- with quiet anxiety and the steady, burning throb of shame.
- Gurashi's tail slows a little in its wagging. They smile, canting their head, their expression
- changing only minutely as they take note of your great hesitance. When the kephera finally takes the
- bread from them, they flash a toothy smile. "Just tear it into tiny pieces, and," They pause, and
- for a moment seem distracted, awkwardly passing off the loaf as they rear back their arm and throw
- the ball again, lobbing it in the same direction as before. Ham bellows happily, barking as they
- gambol after the ball, again vanishing within the bushes.
- Gurashi takes a creamy lavender-scented soap from their pack and wipes clean their slobbery ball
- -tossing hand before they pull out a second loaf of bread, beaming up at the kephera beside them.
- "Just gotta tears it to little pieces otherwise the ducks will choke." They stick their tongue out
- of the corner of their mouth and cross their eyes. "Like this, see?"
- Avaris's vast shoulders contract fractionally as the Sileni pauses, steadying
- himself for an incoming reaction that...Does not manifest. He waits for a time, then shifts the
- angle of his head to glance at Gurashi cautiously, the points of his long, gold-plated fingers
- sinking into the soft load as he squeezes it unintentionally. He nods, the point of his chin dipping
- down, slow as molasses, then proceeds to separate the bread into fastidiously neat portions, his
- careful disassembling meticulous and methodical. Quietly, he murmurs, "Yes. We would not want that."
- Avaris holds the precise cubes of fluffy bread in the bowl of his massive hand,
- staring down at them for a time before speaking, soft and low, "You did not ask about the mark."
- You think to yourself: "You do not think much of your wit, Gurashi, but you are not stupid, and nor
- are you blind. Too kind, then, to focus light upon my wrongdoing. Ah. Too good of a soul for the
- likes of me, dear friend."
- Eventually an adolescent Nyalian mastiff emerges, returning to the sileni and kephera's sides, ball
- in his jaws. He stands there patiently, tail wagging behind him as Gurashi seemingly ignores him,
- tearing at the bread, tossing a few pieces into the nearby pond. A duck that had been resting in the
- nearby reeds suddenly swims towards the food, quacking softly, heralding the arrival of many more
- ducks. Finally, they hold out their hand to an adolescent Nyalian mastiff, and the ball falls into
- their awaiting hand... to which the sileni turns, grinning widely at the massive puppy. "Good BOY,"
- they blurt out suddenly, throwing their arms around the mastiff's neck. The dog stands there and
- accepts the praise and affection, panting benignly, staring up at you until Gurashi releases him and
- sends him off chasing a red and blue bouncer ball with a much gentler toss.
- Gurashi gently returns their attention to you with a much more gentle smile. "Was gonna let you
- tells me, if you wanted." They toss another bit of bread towards the water, then reach out their
- hand, as if awaiting your. "I remember, how scary it was, bearing a disfavor. I thought for sure it
- was gonna cut the peoples around me. Did not know, how it worked." Quieter they ask, "...it does not
- hurt, does it?"
- Avaris watches the mastiff's triumphant return, focusing upon the patient hound,
- rather than Gurashi. His lower left hand shifts slightly towards an adolescent Nyalian mastiff, as
- if tempted to pet him, but hesitates, and draws back. "Yes. Well done, young Ham. You will be a fine
- companion, in time," he says in a kindly voice, sincerity ringing gently with each word. The
- adolescent pup's happily panting face is reflected within the brilliant blue surfaces of the
- kephera's alien eyes, seven tiny Hams staring back at the original before Gurashi sends him
- careening off after the ball once more. The red streak of his antenna flicks towards the
- outstretched hand, as he lets out a quiet, "Ah." of realisation, carefully placing the bread into
- Gurashi's awaiting palm.
- Gurashi stares at a warm buttered loaf of bread, eyes wide.
- Avaris lowers his head to stare at his own, upturned palm, and the sullen, shifting
- essence that soils the gleaming gold. He rubs the thumb of his opposite hand across it, kneading at
- it to no effect - The bloody mark simply persists, unaltered by his touch. He is quiet for some
- time, before he admits, in the manner of one confessing a lesser sin, "It burns. It is like...Fire,
- or...Boiling water, but different." Curling his fingers in and out in a slow, flexing motion, he
- says, a strange, wistful note to the chorus of his voice, "It did not hurt, for a time. But only for
- a little while."
- You think to yourself: The memory of Her touch, cool and numbing, gone far too swift, removed far
- too suddenly.
- Gurashi holds the bread now in either of their hands, leaning forward slightly as they watch you
- examine the disfavor. Their tail slows in its wagging, and they frown, nodding slightly. Setting
- both loafs atop a motley wicker basket and setting that upon the ground between the pair, the sileni
- returns their full attention to the kephera. "Are you O-K?" They ask now. staring up into your many
- eyes, their own starry ones wide and shiny. "I do not know what happened. But Disfavors are...."
- They bunch their shoulders uncomfortably instead of choosing a word to describe it.
- Lost, for a time, in the penitent mark that bloodies his hand, Avaris stirs with
- the air of a man emerging from a deep reverie, giving his head a small shake. He holds Gurashi's
- softer gaze for only a few long breaths, before he turns his head aside, the broad, crimson lines of
- his antennae flowing down and forward in a quiet frown.
- Gurashi smiles sadly at you, sympathy shining in their eyes.
- You think to yourself: "I should not burden you with this. Your kind heart is weighed enough as it
- is. Am I alright? No. No, I am not. I am lost, and do not know who I am supposed to be."
- Quickly, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Don't."
- Avaris turns his visored face back to Gurashi, a few glittering motes of light
- struggling to the surface of his azure eyes, voice firm and confident as he replies, "I will be fi-".
- Avaris pauses, head tilting. "Pardon?"
- Gurashi suddenly blushes, puffing their cheeks and looking down. "...sorry, uhm," They clear their
- throat and look back up at you, huffing softly, starry eyes shiny. "...you WILL be fine, but, right
- now, it is... not, O-K. And," Another pause, "that is O-K..." Slowly their hand reaches up to touch
- their scarred cheek, running over it gently. "...when the Lady of Roses gave me Her disfavors, I
- remember, feeling like the whoooole world had stopped..."
- You think to yourself: A low, thrumming anger, like the faint vibrations felt from an earthquake
- many miles away. "Ah. So that is the origin of the scar. Another reason to purify that wretched
- place."
- Avaris does not reply, instead giving Gurashi space to work through Gurashi's
- thoughts, his hand lowering to rub absently at his thigh. A very slight flicker of red passes
- through the countless eyes that watch from the soft gold of his folded wings, many of them turning
- their attention to watch Gurashi closely.
- Gurashi looks over at an adolescent Nyalian mastiff as the creature has returned, ball within his
- massive jaws, tail wagging behind him. Wordlessly the sileni nods and the dog sits, tail still
- wagging. "...thought, She would understand, what I asked of Her. And lots of peoples, were surprised
- with me - disappointed, with me..." Their gaze dulls. "It was really hard. Got so hungry so often,
- and was tired all the time, and could not hunt, and even though it wasn't..." They twirl their
- fingers in the air. "I had these... blades, that circled me. Even though, they were not real... I
- thought, they would hurt peoples around me. So I stayed homes and cried a whole lot." They quirk
- their mouth to the side.
- Quietly, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "...was peoples, who made it better..."
- Looking up again, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "I do not know what happened - why it
- happened, or if you would like to talks about it? But. I am sorry it happened." They reach out, as
- if to gently pat the kephera upon the arm, would Avaris allow them to. "You are still goodly."
- You think to yourself: "I, at least, was prepared for the consequence of my question. To suffer
- such, when trusting in the understanding and patience of an Elder...That would be a grievous wound,
- I think." A needle of regret slides into him, well-worn, but honed to perfect sharpness. "Ah. I have
- upset them. I should have considered that it would unearth old hurts."
- Avaris nods slowly as Gurashi speaks, folding his hands together to rest atop the
- gleaming plate of his abdomen, antennae curving together at the tips in a gesture of concern. an
- adolescent Nyalian mastiff is spared only a fleeting glance from a few of the smaller eyes that make
- up the greater constellation of constant vigilance, the vast majority of the kephera's attention
- focused upon the Sileni. The many, layered voices that form his own are quiet, hushed and thick with
- compassion as he murmurs, "Oh, Gurashi. I am so sorry. That must have been terrible."
- Avaris draws back from Gurashi's questing hand, almost flinching. "Ah- No. I am
- not. You are kind to think so, Gurashi, but." He offers a brief, mirthless laugh. "I am not that.
- Someday, perhaps."
- Gurashi tilts their head, gaze softening as they frown.
- Gurashi lets their hand slowly fall back to their side. "O-K." They say at last, voice high and
- light. They glance over their shoulder towards an adolescent Nyalian mastiff, giving the creature a
- few consolatory pets. "I did not tell you, so would feel sorry for me. Told you, so," They look up
- at you again. "Sometimes goodly peoples catch the wraths of Divines, and, that is O-K." They stare
- off. "I mean, it is not, but," repeating their earlier sentiment they add, "it is O-K, that it is
- not O-K. I had peoples, who were there for me. To remind me that was still goodly, even though I
- felt /very/ badly." Tail wagging they stand a little taller, as tall as they are able. "Am telling
- you, knows you are still goodly - even if you are feeling badly."
- Gurashi suddenly turns away from you, a red and blue bouncer ball in their hand as they yeet the
- ball with all their might in the directions of the bushes. Ham, who had been distracted by a nearby
- disturbance in the pond, suddenly looks after the ball and lets out a loud bark, turning and chasing
- after the toy excitedly once more.
- Gurashi nods their head emphatically.
- Gurashi returns their gaze to you, swaying as they balance on the edges of their hooves. Off in the
- distance an adolescent Nyalian mastiff can be heard crashing through the underbrush, looking for his
- toy.
- Avaris lifts a placating hand to ward off Gurashi's initial statement, only to
- realise that this causes him to be presenting the mark of the Even Bladed's displeasure towards
- Gurashi, and hastily lowers it once more. Earnestly, he says, "I know that you did not. I am sorry
- if you think that is what I believe - I do not pity you, Gurashi. I simply..." He deflates,
- shoulders sagging. "It does not matter. I am sorry." Rather than respond immediately, he takes a few
- measured, slow steps towards the pond, until the comes to the very edge, whereupon he stares down at
- his gently wavering reflection. "I am glad that you had people to care for you, Gurashi."
- You think to yourself: As he stares at the distorted, muted reflection of himself, he sees a
- younger, much smaller version to his right - White, round-headed, and more moth than angel, with
- huge pools of pure blue for eyes. "Still? Ah. You are wrong, my friend. I have never been good."
- Voice resonating with choral harmonics, you ask, "What will you train young Ham in next, do you
- think?"
- You think to yourself: "Enough of this maudlin nonsense."
- Soft still, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Do not need to apologize to me..."
- Avaris waves a hand aside, dismissing it.
- Gurashi bends down, scooping up the bread they had set down atop the basket, offering it back to you
- so you may return to feeding the ducks, should you choose. "Here."
- Gently, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "So far, Ham knows how to fetch. And sit, and has
- gotten goodly at stay but is still learning, how to wait. Is current practice. Wait and stay. He is
- excited - like me."
- Avaris reflexively accepts the bread, gathering it into the cradle of two of his
- conjoined, lower hands. He stares at it for a beat, as if unsure what to do with it, then lifts his
- gaze to the awaiting ducks. He considers them for a time in silence, measuring.
- You think to yourself: "How best to distribute fairly?"
- You think to yourself: "Ah. A single volley."
- Gurashi too turns towards the pond, reaching down to grab the bread, gently tearing it into little
- bits and tossing it towards the ducks bit by bit. The few lingering waterfowl immediately go for the
- scraps, quacking softly and excitedly as they are fed. Beside you, the sileni glances up, furrowing
- their brow curiously.
- Without ceremony, Avaris tosses the entire load of bread out over the ducks in a
- hail of fluffy, fresh deliciousness, which rains down upon the awaiting waterfowl like cottony
- meteors, causing chaos as they begin to squabble over the food.
- You think to yourself: "...Ah. Hm."
- Gurashi's hands fly to their mouth as they give a short gasp of elation.
- Gurashi throws back their head as they laugh.
- Avaris taps the tips of his fingers upon the armoured curve of his thigh,
- chagrined. "That did not...Go as I had planned."
- Voice resonating with choral harmonics, you ask Gurashi, "Do you think he will calm, when he is
- older?"
- Gurashi throws back their head, covering their mouth. "Oh!" They ducks squabble, then begin to spin
- as they chase down the bobbing bits of bread, plenty to go around. "No! Look at how happy they are!"
- They laugh, clutching their sides. "What a throw! A perfect toss!" They too begin to hurriedly tear
- at the rest of their own loaf of bread, tossing what they have to the ducks.
- With a gentle, euphonic lilt, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Ah! Ham?" They look off towards the
- bushes where the mastiff is still crashing around, looking for the ball. "Most beings do...."
- With a gentle, euphonic lilt, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend sings, "I did not!"
- The light, unrestrained sound of Gurashi's laughter sends a modest wave of rippling
- motes of light across the unblinking, gem-like orbs of Avaris's inhuman eyes, a small iteration of
- his version of a smile. "I think I shall be more measured in my distribution, in the future."
- Glancing at Gurashi with a tiny shift of his head, he dips his chin in a slight nod of agreement.
- "You did not. That is a rare thing, I think."
- Gurashi twirls in their spot, arms still overhead as they watch the ducks eat. At last an adolescent
- Nyalian mastiff returns to them, tail wagging. "Would you like to throw the ball for him?" They ask
- you, glancing up. "Do not worry about your hands and the ball - is just a toy. Unless you do not
- like slobbers?" They smile faintly, tail wagging gently. Beside them Ham stares expectantly at the
- toy, panting excitedly.
- In contrast to Gurashi's effervescent motions, Avaris is, as ever, still and stoic
- as a statue, albeit one that has been placed precariously close to the edge of the pond. "I do not
- mind the slobbers. The carapace washes easily, but..." His antennae curve down in a modest frown,
- studying the ball dubiously. "I would worry that I might throw it too far. I am not in the habit of
- using projectiles, so I do not know how to accurately gauge the necessary force." A tinge of
- embarrassment suffuses his words, as he admits, "I fear that I would send it halfway across the
- city. I do not wish to deprive poor Ham of his fun."
- Insistent, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "You need to stop worrying about what could go
- wrong, and start hoping what might go right." They offer out the ball, lifting and lowering it
- temptingly. "I believe in you! I do not think you will throw it too far. You just aim for a spots,
- and throw it there! Like, that tree over there! Or the bushes. Or the wall way over there! I bet you
- could throw it SUPER far, yeah! Ham NEEDS to run!"
- You think to yourself: "If I do not consider what might go awry, I cannot plan against it. That is
- my purp-" An abrupt halt, flashes of memory, a veil, the water and light of Her Font. "...Was, my
- purpose. Perhaps they are right."
- With much reluctance, Avaris reaches out to accept the ball, plucking it between
- the points of his long, plated fingers. He holds it gingerly, as if afraid of bursting it, and
- shoots Gurashi a skeptical look. "You are certain?"
- Gurashi looks at you hopefully.
- With a gentle, euphonic lilt, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "You do not need to use all
- of your strengths."
- With a gentle, euphonic lilt, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "If are so worried can..."
- They turn to stand alongside the kephera, lobbing their arm underhand, "it will be a much more
- gentle throw, yes! May not go so far, if you are so worried?"
- Gurashi's tail never slows in its wagging as they excitedly move around to face you, watching. "Just
- throw it that-a-ways!" They point northeast excitedly. Beside them an adolescent Nyalian mastiff
- grumbles, bowing at the front, his gentle eyes honed in on the ball in your grasp.
- Avaris utters an unconvinced, vibrating sound, not entirely dissimilar to an
- adolescent Nyalian mastiff's grumbling. Relenting with a quiet sigh, he nods, casting about for a
- prime location to aim at, antennae panning back and forth. Electing for the wall in the distance, he
- straightens, squaring his shoulders and planting his feet, cocking his upper right arm back in a
- manner oddly reminiscent of a catapult being wound back - Then hesitates, and adjusts his stance,
- instead flicking the ball forward with an underhanded throw, sending it hurtling through the air
- towards the wall.
- Gurashi's hands fly to their mouth as they give a short gasp of elation.
- Gurashi cheers wildly!
- Avaris watches the trajectory of the ball, nodding to himself in quiet satisfaction
- as he curls his fingers inwards, hand dipping down in a subtle gesture of triumph.
- You think to yourself: "Finally. Something I have not made a mess of. I wonder if I could make a
- career of this. Hah."
- Gurashi is bouncing up and down joyously in their spot as an adolescent Nyalian mastiff breaks into
- a sprint after the toy, tongue hanging out of his silly mouth as he chases down a red and blue
- bouncer ball. "Wowee! What a throw!!" The sileni cries, turning in a full circle as they joyfully
- hop about. "Went so far! You did great! Lookit him go!"
- Gurashi's shoulders bunch as they let out a short giggle.
- Gurashi beams broadly.
- There is pulse of psionic energy, one that is warm and soothing, there and gone again as the sileni
- prances about joyfully.
- Gurashi bounces up and down.
- Observing the racing hound intently, Avaris asks, "How big will he get, do you think?"
- Stopping in their bouncing, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Well! He was... born! Innnn Dvarsh,
- soooo he is... about six months old, now." They stare off after the dog as it finally reaches the
- ball, tumbling over the toy in his excitement to catch up to it. "But he is already taller than
- sileni-me. So..."
- Gurashi's eyes bug out as they boggle in amazement.
- With a laugh, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "I bets he will be tall enough to be as tall
- as YOU when he is on his back feets! Maybe? They are made to fight gorgogs! They are BIIIIG
- doggies!"
- Gurashi reaches up wide, as if they might hope to achieve your great height themselves, tail wagging
- behind them.
- Avaris shows no concern as the exuberant animal falls over himself in his
- enthusiasm, a brief sparkle of amusement glittering in his eyes. "A sturdy fellow. Will you train
- him for combat?" A mirthful, thrumming pulse vibrates his chest briefly, there and gone in a moment,
- as he watches Gurashi's stretching.
- Gurashi huffs and ceases in their jumping. "I will train him to obey, and I will train him to
- protect," They explain with a smile. "Will be times when I will have to..." They pretend to cut the
- air with an imaginary sword, "and will need someone to protect any peoples with me. Liiiike, Cheli!
- Or, a denizen. Know?"
- Looking up, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says to you, "Did I tell you why named him Ham? I cannot
- remember."
- With barely a sound, a spherical entity enters from the northeast, its legs touch the ground with
- the lightest of motions.
- Ayisdra inclines his head politely to those around him.
- Gurashi nods their head at Ayisdra.
- Avaris nods emphatically, stating with approval, "As any stalwart defender of the
- Light should be taught." He shakes his head in a negative, clarifying, "I do not believe you have,
- no." At Ayisdra's approach, he turns, studying him for a long moment before he inclines his head
- cordially.
- Gurashi looks at Ayisdra, face lighting up as they smile brightly at him.
- Tail wagging, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "I think you would like it, yes. I think it
- would..." Their attention turns and they bob their head side to side. "Ah! Good evening, Mister
- Ayisdra!"
- Gurashi blinks.
- With a gentle, euphonic lilt, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Oh!"
- Gurashi's hands fly to their mouth as they give a short gasp of elation.
- Lord Librarian Ayisdra Ysav'rai, the Fractal Concord says, "Greetings."
- Gurashi looks off, watching an adolescent Nyalian mastiff as the beast come gamboling back, a red
- and blue bouncer ball in his slobbery mouth. "How are you doing, Mister Ayisdra?" They look to
- Celum, the spherical entity and nod. "Uhmmm, I remember your name.... Cceeeeeeeeee..."
- With a gentle, euphonic lilt, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "Ceeeeeellllooooommmm...luuummm..."
- Gurashi ponders Celum, the spherical entity thoughtfully, looking him up and down.
- A marvel of science and engineering, this smooth spherical being is composed of an unidentifiable
- dark cerulean crystal and is approximately twenty inches in diameter. Four equidistant sections of
- the exterior shell extend outward, connected via a series of pistons, creating limbs to allow the
- being to rise and walk. The connecting pistons are marvels of Hallifaxian advancement, metal and
- crystal merged into a support structure that allows for a large range of movement. A secondary
- opaque white shell can be seen between the leg joints as pulses of light brighten and dim behind the
- material in a manner akin to breathing. The exterior shell is smooth and void of any sort of facial
- features, leaving one wondering which way the entity is facing. Despite this, the stance displays a
- level of spatial awareness.
- Celum, the spherical entity has an air of extreme strength.
- Gurashi looks at Ayisdra, face lighting up as they smile brightly at him.
- Celum, the spherical entity looks at the mastiff, trying to figure out the animal. The familiar
- voice as before fills Gurashi's mind, only sileni hearing it. "This isn't Bizirik...is it?"
- Gurashi blinks.
- Gurashi shakes their head in response to Celum, the spherical entity's response with such force
- their ears slap themselves in the face. "Nuh uh, this is Ham."
- Gurashi waves their hands jazzily before the massive pup, who sitting there is easily half a head
- taller than the sileni. "He is a puppy."
- Celum, the spherical entity turns the blank face to Gurashi. "That's not a name. That's a
- food....you aren't planning on eating the animal, are you?"
- Gurashi tilts their head, gaze softening as they frown.
- Gurashi's cheeks puff and their tail begins to wag. "No! I did not name him after food!" They
- insist. "He is named, after Saint Hamos!" They declare suddenly, pointing off towards the sky as
- they declare the name's origins. "The firstly Saint to be Sainted, in modern times! The first male
- kepheran Saint ever! The bravest man in the City of Celest, who faced down a DRAGON despite knowing
- would get eaten!" Their starry eyes glitter, and they huff again, tail a blur of orange and white.
- With a gentle, euphonic lilt, Gurashi, The Heart's Friend says, "And so, to honor bravest mans that
- know," They gesture dramatically to the dog beside them, who pants happily, tail wagging, "is HAM.
- For HAM-os. Not the foods!"
- Listening to Gurashi's explanation intently, Avaris nods in a thoughtful manner.
- "That is a very fine name, indeed. I had thought you had named him for the food, due to your love of
- cooking, in truth. That is more fitting by far." He inclines his head to Ayisdra, and then Gurashi,
- posture straightening. "Enjoy your interaction. I shall let you be." To Gurashi, more warmly, he
- says, "Thank you for the company, Gurashi, and for being kind, as you ever are."
- Celum, the spherical entity is still staring at Gurashi. Without a facial expression, it is hard to
- tell the response. The voice does sound unconvinced. "Ah. just poorly named then I suppose." There
- is a pause "And it is a hard-c. Kelum".
- Gurashi frets over everything that might go wrong.
- Gurashi blushes furiously.
- Gurashi opens, then closes their mouth, staring back at Celum, the spherical entity. They look
- towards you, as if they have more to say, but instead hang their head. "I am sorry for saying your
- names wrong," They apologize to the entity before them, tail no longer wagging. "...p..poorly..."
- Gurashi stares at an adolescent Nyalian mastiff, eyes wide.
- You give the world a smart salute.
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "You left so fast, did not even get a chance to thank
- you...!"
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "Ah, I did not wish to intrude. [A faint sense of puzzlement.]
- Thank me? Whatever for?"
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "For coming to play with me and Ham! You were most
- wonderful of companies!"
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "You need not thank me for such a thing, Gurashi. Your
- companionship is ever a gift. Thank you for inviting me."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "I had a lovely time. The duckies got fed and you
- talked to me about thingies and were honest about feelies, and Ham got to play. I think it was a
- very goodly time. You made lots of peoples happy, on this visits, yes! That is a goodly thing."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "I must sleeps! Stay goodly and kindly, my friend! Do
- not worry - everything will be O-K!"
- You tell Gurashi, The Heart's Friend, "I do not see how, but you are generous to say so. Sleep well,
- Gurashi, and young Ham as well."
- You think to yourself: "In this, my sweet friend, we must disagree. I cannot help but worry, nor am
- I convinced everything will be alright. I hope that you are correct. I dearly hope it."
- Gurashi's melodic voice sings into your mind, "*silent but reassuring, playful tired splashes of
- saffron and gold*."
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