What if They could love me, and be my friend too.

A shadowy cavern.
Roughly hewn walls make up the construction of this oddly out of place cavern. Stalactites of shimmering obsidian grace the area in small groups. Along the brumal floor, a dark smoke drifts in hypnotic swirls, affording this area a sense of dark enchantment. A cracked mirror floats in the air.
You see exits leading north, east, and west.

You sway back and forth.

You have emoted: Gurashi folds his arms over his chest, staring at a cracked mirror with narrowed eyes.

You think to yourself: ...scary.

You think to yourself: *anxious swirls of mauve*.

You pet Bizirik, the leothin ingratiatingly.
Perking up, Bizirik, the leothin begins to chitter and thrum, its tail sweeping back and forth across the ground. It cranes its neck to gently headbutt your side contentedly.

You step into a mirror and briefly pass through a swarm of spiders.
The Fulcrux of Viravain.
A comforting feeling of privacy pervades the area. Thick, lacy filaments of glistening web cling tightly to the surfaces of the walls. Jagged rocks of many sizes cover the ground, these too covered in the same delicate strands as the walls and low hanging ceiling. The faint babbling of a small stream echoes through the chamber as the sweet, hypnotic scent of roses lingers in the air. Settled within the branches of an ancient and skeletal tree roosts a murder of crows, their voices harsh and deafening as their caws peal through the air. A cracked mirror floats in the air. Black roses glitter from the stems of this thorny bush. A painting of Feathers and Roses has been thrown on the ground here.
There are no obvious exits.

You sweat profusely as you wring your hands nervously.

You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

You think to yourself: Collect thoughts...

You think to yourself: It is O-K... it is the Lady, yes...

You think to yourself: ...... She may not like my asking. But. Have to. have to try. Have to - for Beloved Friends Aschwar. Friend Shulamit...

You have emoted: Gurashi stands awkwardly near the entrance to the Fulcrux, his gray eyes wide, expression unreadable. Finally, after a long, awkward minute, he steps forward, lute clutched to his chest. Beside him, his leothin stalks along, head bowed, tail sweeping back and forth. The man looks around the Fulcrux room, inhaling deeply and slowly as he drops to his knees before the master shrine of Viravain. "My dearest Lady of Roses..."

Softly, canting his head, you say, "Lovely Mother of the Glomdoring... Miss Lady Viravain. Hello. It is me - Gurashi." He stares up at the shrine tiredly, offering the best smile he can. "Hi! How are You?"

Running his sweaty hands over his pants, you say, "It has been a little while since have had the honor of seeing, so hope are doing O-K, yes..."

You open your mouth to say something, but speech fails you.

Bizirik, the leothin tilts her head curiously.

You have emoted: Gurashi sits up a little, raising his chin. "Wanted to tell you of exciting things! Have noticed the new faces among the forest lately? A few new peoples, stolen away from the Ironhart Collective, yes..." He brushes his bangs out of his face, tucking a bit of hair behind his ear as he prattles on. "Mister Indrosiril came to us without any coaxing from Magnagora - think... - but, he has been so nice and kind and helpful to the forest! Good in combat, brave and fierce."

You have emoted: "And Miss Olethea! Miss Lady of Roses, she is so very talented and kind!" Gurashi's whole face lights up as he speaks now in earnest. "My Lady I did what You said. I was a very good bee and helped spread an idea and I convinced her my very self that she should leave Gaudiguchs, because, she was so unhappy there - she even went so far as to say goodbye to the -Lady Enchantress- just so she could come live among our trees..." He shakes his head in disbelief. "Amazing. Brave, yes. Think is brave to do that."

Eagerly, you say, "Hope that You will get a chance to meet her! She is very fascinated by the stage and musics and arts, so think she will make a lovely addition, yes. You might like her, think! She likes what have told her about You, all of the best things, yes."

Drumming his hands on his lap and looking about the Fulcrux slowly, you say, "She is very fascinated with Mister Manteekan too, which is nice to see! She is good, My Lady - very good..."

Off-handedly, you say, "There are other transfers, too, yes, but, I haven't had the honor of meeting them myself... Mm... Yes..."
You close your eyes and inhale deeply, absorbing the scent of your surroundings.

You let loose a long breath from your lungs, exhaling slowly.

You stare at the master shrine of Viravain, eyes wide.

You have emoted: Gurashi quickly bows his head again.

You have emoted: Gurashi's demeanor shifts slowly the longer he sits in silence, staring at the master shrine of Viravain now with a furrowed brow. Excitement replaced with reverence. Submission. He hangs his head a bit, speaking softer now. "There.... are other... things that wanted to pray to You about, too." Even softer now, just a whisper. "If You have the time to listen?"

Eerie whispers echo around you from some unknown source, before fading into silence once more.

You have emoted: Gurashi quickly falls silent, listening to the echoes, eyes wide and scanning the cavern....

Weakly, you say, "They are big things."

Voice bright and clear, you whisper, "Scary things. If am honest."

You think to yourself: What if She gets mad...?

Eyes wide, you whisper, "I am afraid to ask You. But also know that need to ask."

Eerie whispers echo around you from some unknown source, before fading into silence once more.

You have emoted: Gurashi takes a deep breath, then lets it out in a loud whistle, pursing his lips. "O-K. So. Know there are BIG rules in place. Big big rules - that the peoples so honored to live in the Glomdorings can ONLY honor one of the Divines that also live here, yes? Yes. You, or Mister Lord Silence, or the Lord Predator. Mister Manteekan." He twiddles his thumbs, then wrings his hands together. "Of course. Makes sense. Right."

Flustered, you say, "But. Uhm. O-K."

Bizirik, the leothin creeps closer to Gurashi, thrumming softly, resting its head against his lap as he speaks. He strokes its head consolingly, staring at the shrine, eyes shiny.

Reality wavers and bucks, the world stopping and starting erratically around you. The sound of chisel upon stone and the felling of trees echoes across Lusternia as a Distant Timequake comes into existence.

You glance askance.

You shake your head.

Voice bright and clear, you say, "A moment..."

You think to yourself: What if She -hates- me.

You have emoted: In a voice barely above a whisper, Gurashi starts again. "The... Beloved of the Shofets. Mysrai? The Thousands-of-folds. The Mister-and-Missus-and-Neither! Their Avatar and Priest and other Avatar approached me a few months ago," He takes a deep, trembling breath, "And. And, get this - They. Wanted to know if -I-. Would also become a Beloved?" He perks up. "Me! Me me. Beloved Gurashi." He says the words cheerfully. "I think it sounds like it could sound nice. The sound makes me happy." He confesses, wringing his hands together.

The wind whistles eerily through the rosebushes.

Voice bright and clear, you say, "It has been hard for me to pick a Divine. Just One. There are -so- many of You, yes. All of the Divines of the Glomdoring serve it so well and deserve offerings and praises and love, yes..."

You think to yourself: What... if could also serve the Shofets...

You have emoted: Gurashi's eyes widen. "...I think about how, the Shofets helped Mister Lord Silence, when He had need of Them. And also, have thought about how -badly- have wanted to repay this kindness, yes...." He shifts on his knees, uncomfortable. "I think that the current Shofets needs help. Like the Lord Silence needed... needs? Needs help."

You think to yourself: I love all of them. My Lady of Roses, the Lord Predator - The Shofets. The Shofets...

Softly, you say, "I have seen the visions of Their journey to this world... My Lady, what a big, big journey it has been for Them... So big and vast. But, They are HERE!" He takes a moment to catch his breath, eyes wide with amazement. "They went through TIME and SPACE! Did You know this?? Can You imagine having Somebody like that - a friend to the Glomdoring for always, because They would be -my- Friend, and the Glomdoring is so important to me."

You have emoted: Gurashi says this last bit with a bit of pride, pink flushing over his cheeks and tinting his ears as he bows his head. "Even if Gaudiguchs and the Glomdoring are not currently getting along... The Shofets told me Themselves that They were not Gaudiguchs. And vista versus." He reaches up, rubbing his nose, eyes wet as he gazes down again. "There are many... among the Beloved that are from Gaudiguchs, yes. But, many of them are my Friends, too. And they like me a lot, and do not raise fingers to me in Timequakes, even."

Eerie whispers echo around you from some unknown source, before fading into silence once more.

You glance askance.

You shiver violently.

You think to yourself: What if They could love me, and be my friend too.

Voice trembling now, you say, "They will listen, if I ask them not to raid us, yes. Many have already promised. M-mean, not all, but, if ask nice enough... It could be..."

You think to yourself: *an anxious, gentle thrumming. feelings akin to moroseness... swirls of mauve, deep, uneasy blues*.

Voice wavering even more, you say, "Hope does not offend that would even bring up such a thing with You. I know in the past it went poorly, someone from the Glomdoring worshiping Someone outside of the forest. I do not.... know the details. I do not know their intentions. Or Whom they wanted to worship..."

You think to yourself: Hope know this doesn't mean that love You any less??

You have emoted: Gurashi furiously shakes his head, a blur of orange about his head as he does so. "B-but. I owe everything that AM to the Glomdoring. And, I do not think that the Shofets would let Their Priest, or Their Avatars ask me such a big, big question... if They..." His voice cracks, and he looks confused at this, wrinkling his nose as his eyes water. "If They did not understand HOW much am loving my home. The Glomdoring."

Hardening his resolve, though his eyes are no less shiny with tears, you say, "They know how much want to see it grow, and be happy. How want to see my friends and my commune mates safe...."

You have emoted: Gurashi gulps. "Maybe being Beloved to the Shofets... could bring us all good things. Because They have many forms. Once they are free of This One..." Suddenly, he realizes he is now crying, and quickly he begins to wipe at his face, not addressing it. "Am sorry for rambling, My Lady."

Voice cracking, you say, "Just as well."

A soft breeze drifts in, creating a shower of black rose petals that dance upon the wind.

You have emoted: Gurashi stares out vacantly across the Fulcrux now, gazing at the many flowers adoringly, marveling their luster even in this dim chamber. "Your words are the ones that matter most, My Lady. If You do not want this for me..." He furrows his brow as more tears come, unwanted, quickly wiped away. "I will not even consider..."

You think to yourself: *a -heavy- feeling. disappointment, already. how could this ever work? but maybe? oh maybe. a roller coaster of feelings, both painful and hopeful*.

Choked, you say, "...will not ever consider bringing up such a thing to You again, no. Never ever. Not ever."

Clearing his throat, you say, "Glomdoring first. All the ways. Yes. Forever."

You have emoted: Gurashi hangs his head, steadying his breathing, calming his swelling emotions, his trembling hands. "Realize now, maybe should have waited until could speak to You in PERSONS, maybe... because it is a lot of prayer to digest. Probably."

Head bowed apologetically, nearly touching the Fulcrux floor, you say, "Please forgive for talking so much. About such a big thing... It is a weird... big thing. And it gives me very big feelings."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "A-anyway..."

The wind whistles eerily through the rosebushes.

Finally sitting up, you say, "Hope You will forgive me for asking."

Trembling all over now, flooded with adrenaline, you say, "The last thing that want is to hurt You, My Lady."

You think to yourself: Want to love Them so much.

Hardly able to speak for a moment, teeth chattering, you say, "Care for You so very much. Love You so very much."

You think to yourself: Love You Both so very much.

You think to yourself: And, Friend Aschwar... ... dearest Aschwar...

Crumpling forward, you whisper, "Thank You..."

You have emoted: Gurashi sits very quiet for a long while, stooped over at the base of the shrine, Bizirik curled loosely behind him. The two are motionless, until at last Gurashi sighs, sitting up, staring at the master shrine of Viravain with a tear-streaked face and a tired, forced smile.

Softly, you say, "Be well, My Lady of Roses. Lovely Lady of Thorns and spiders, and bumblebees, and all things that are so humble and beautiful and wonderful and dear to me, yes..."

Voice bright and clear, you say, "Uhm. And. Have a nice day."

You have emoted: Gurashi rises to his feet, wobbling. "Sincerely... Gurashi, An'Ryshe." He bows. The leothin rises as well, supporting him wordlessly with a snort, pressing its side against his hip as he hobbles sorely towards the exit.

Eerie whispers echo around you from some unknown source, before fading into silence once more.