gloamios

[gloamios]

toni  feels  her  apprehension,  and  she  feels  a  bit  guilty  for  expressing  the  desire  to  bring  erika  home.  but  at  the  same  time,  their  home  is  in  the  woods,  pretty  close  to  this  very  cemetery  –  hence  why  she  and  dys  often  come  here.  she  chews  her  lower  lip,  glancing  back  towards  the  town  entrance. 

“oh,  we  don't  have  to  go  into  town!  if  that's  the  worrisome  part.  my  mom  likes  to  have  her  proximity  to  the  forest,  so…our  house  is  kinda,  like,  removed.”  to  the  point  of  rumors  being  spread  about  the  evil  witch  who  haunts  that  house,  but  the  only  witch  in  the  house  is  toni's  mom,  and  she's  not  evil. 

“we  could  get  there  from  the  woods  only.  it  pops  out  into  the  backyard.  but…we  should  probably  do  it  tomorrow.  my  mom's  going  back  to  her  home  for  a  little  while  and  my  dad  is  gonna  go  with  her  so  he  can  visit  our  aunt.  and  if  i  play  hooky  there  shouldn't  be  any  problem  bringing  you  home!"  she  gets  excited  again  all  over  at  the  prospect. 

“i-if  you  want.  i  don't  want  to  force  you.”  she  needs  to  reign  it  in!!  just  a  little  bit.

Erika's smile faded a little at the offer to go with her, she became nervous. In the town was unsafe, it wasn't a place to go when she couldn't shift. When she couldn't hunt properly. So it was no-go. Mama had taught her to stay away if she felt unsafe. She assumed that was where Toni was. But she couldn't communicate it.

Still holding onto those warm hands, she glances back into the woods beyond the graveyard and turns, letting go of one of her hands but keeping a tight hold of Toni's other - trying to lead her to her den instead. It was hidden by plants and quiet and safe. They could be safe together.

She looked back to Toni with a hopeful glance but then glanced to the graveyard entrance towards the town with nerves again.

Town is a no-go.

[gloamios]

she  can  feel  the  moment  lyssa  begins  to  thaw,  and  she  can't  help  the  way  her  pulse  picks  up  as  she  feels  it.  she  appreciates  every  moment  she  gets  with  lyssa,  always,  but  especially  the  ones  where  she  has  concrete  proof  that  lyssa  is  comfortable,  at  ease,  and  able  to  express  herself.  they  are  more  and  more  frequent  these  days,  but  sal  won't  take  them  for  granted  ever  again.  not  when  she's  seen  how  much  work  lyssa  has  put  in  to  growing  in  this  way. 

she  perks  up  as  lyssa  mentions  that  she  wants  to  help  with  dinner.  she  could  use  her  skills  with  the  knife,  she's  not  all  that  patient  when  it  comes  to  deboning  the  fish,  but  she's  excited  to  have  her  love  sharing  space  with  her.  thoughts  and  dreams  of  what  bonding  in  the  kitchen  could  look  like  begin  to  filter  through  her  mind,  before  lyssa's  next  words  put  a  stop  to  the  daydreaming. 

her  first  sentence  makes  sal's  heart  sink,  a  true  moment  of  fear  that  lyssa  was  walking  away  from  her.  it's  just  a  split  second  overshadowed  quickly  by  the  continued  context.  lyssa  is…wanting  to  leave  her  work.  retire. 

she  wants  to  be  free  of  it. 

sal  can't  help  the  sheer  joy  that  overtakes  her,  the  way  she  perks  up  as  lyssa  finally  shares  her  revelation.  the  consideration  to  her  work  schedule  is  touching,  but  sal  knows  what  she  wants  to  have  happen. 

“i  can  make  anything  work,  we  should-”  she  can't  stop  smiling  long  enough  to  properly  speak,  so  she  gives  up  and  instead  pulls  lyssa  into  kiss,  and  then  a  tight  hug.  “i'm  so  proud  of  you  for  listening  to  yourself.  i  can  make  any  time  work,  love.  i'm  between  projects  right  now,  i  could  just  tell  my  manager  to  hold  off  on  booking  me  for  a  little  bit.  take  some  time  to  be  with  you.  a  vacation,  even!” 

she  assumes  lyssa  will  tell  mel  in  her  own  time,  and  she  assumes  lyssa's  desire  to  stay  working  with  mel  is  different  from  her  work  with  the  family,  but  she'll  let  lyssa  tell  her  when  she's  ready.  she's  not  going  to  jump  in  with  a  bunch  of  questions  and  risk  overwhelming  lyssa.��

“lys,  this is-  this  is  so  exciting!  to  me,  i  mean,  how  do  you  feel  about  it?”  she  doesn't  want  to  label  lyssa's  feelings  for  her,  since  lyssa's  growing  her  vocabulary  about  her  own  feelings.  she  wants  to  have  her  articulate  it  herself,  while  at  the  same  time,  making  it  clear  that  if  lyssa  is  feeling  a  more  delicate  emotion  –  like  nerves  or  excitement  –  it's  a  safe  place  to  express  it. 

The way that Sal knows what she needs is uncanny. The quiet, the touch, the cuddle. It's a reason why Lyssa feels more comfortable nowadays going to Sal and asking for help like this. Humming is so Sal as well. Sometimes she'd come home and Sal would already be in the kitchen cooking dinner and she could tell her girlfriend was happy from the type of song she hummed. Before Sal, she didn't think a person could be this happy or content with stuff so small.

In this peace, Lyssa closes her eyes and places her thumb to Sal's wrist - counting the steady thrum of her pulse and just trying to push the thoughts aside for a bit. It was stupid and suffocating and she just wanted to fucking appreciate time with her girlfriend.

Sal attempts to adjust her but Lyssa is way ahead, knowing what she wants within only a few moves and shifting to straddle her like she asked. Head to her shoulder, face to her neck and arms clutched at Sal's shirt, surrounding herself with the touch and smell of her love. Each word that was spoken now sent a tingle across her face and an interference to her mind. In a little while, she found herself picturing what Sal wanted to make for dinner - and slowly wrapping her arms around her the more that love was talked about.

"You're so soppy." Lyssa murmurs eventually, a very light nip pressed to her neck. Finally, she had words to say. Sal deserved the explanation, especially since it would shift her schedule and shit. "Dinner sounds good, I'll help." Cooking was something she was starting to show more interest in.

Then, with a sigh, she sits up and looks at Sal as she decides to finally tell her.

"I'm done. With the Family shit. I want to retire...whenever works with your work schedule."

She couldn't help the slight bit of assistant in her popping out. It wasn't even sarcastic, she knew Sal stressed out about her work schedule and she didn't want to do it at a weird time.

[gloamios]

“it  doesn't  hurt?  okay…okay  good.  but  you  do  seem  a  little  cold,  so  maybe  you  can  uh.  come  back  to  my  house?”  she  asks,  looking  up  at  her  with  a  soft  smile.  “we  can  get  you  warmed  up  and  maybe  a  little  cleaner,  if  that  would  feel  good?  i  have  a  tub,  so  we  could  fit…most  of  you." 

she  looks  down  at  the  impressive  length  of  tail,  unsure  how  erika  was  even  made.  she  wasn't  like  this  in  life;  she  wouldn't  have  been  buried  so  neatly  if  she  was.  but  perhaps  something  happened  to  her  after  death  that  led  to  this?  she's  not  sure  but  no  matter!  she's  determined  to  help. 

Erika smiled, fangs sticking out from her lips, as she listens to the singsong nature of Toni's voice, ever so enamoured. But the moment she feels those warm hands, she can't help an excited little squeal and lifts them to press her cheek to the warm knuckles. Her eyes closed in content and a soft sigh leaving her. She was happy the bright girl was here too.

But then she did start to shiver a little, now aware of how cold she was.

The question comes and her eyes slide open, thinking for a few moments to see if she remembers what that is and what it feels like. She just shrugs, she doesn't know.

[gloamios]

el  whips  around  as  she  secures  the  door  closed,  then  focusing  on  epi  lounging  in  her  office.  her  face  heats,  heart  picking  up  a  bit  at  the  brazenness.  they  really  did  need  this  from  her,  huh?  well,  who  is  she  to  not  give  it  to  them. 

she  walks  past  them  back  to  her  desk,  and  begins  to  put  away  the  items  she'd  pulled  out  for  this  appointment.  bending  at  the  waist,  straight  legs  in  her  pencil  skirt  and  heels,  so  careful  to  look  at  only  her  tasks  and  not  quite  her  spouse.  when  the  desk  is  cleared  off,  she  hops  up  onto  it,  leaning  back  on  her  hands  as  she  looks  at  them.

“and  what  kind  of  healing  do  you  think  i  can  provide?"  she  asks,  tilting  her  head  as  she  takes  them  in.  “i'm  not  a  miracle  worker.  and  you  seem  rather…pent  up.” 

"Course I did. I'm not called paranoid for nothin'." They point out but still let her go check anyway, best to be sure. Besides, now it let Epiales turn their head and follow her path as she goes. Her path, and her ass. Mmm...

They couldn't help the way desire had taken them over. It'd been a while since they'd both had a spare moment together, and she so often liked to be a tease. Hence their mood and their confidence now. It was a little bit of payback.

"But the view is appreciated, baby."

[gloamios]

lyssa  isn't  ready  to  talk  and  that's  fine  by  sal.  she  can  wait  until  she's  ready,  a  lesson  in  patience  she'd  learned  early  on  in  this  relationship.  so  she  keeps  her  hands  on  her,  gently  rubbing  what  bare  skin  she  can  feel.  she  keeps  her  voice  to  herself  for  a  little  while,  but  eventually  does  give  in  to  fill  the  void  with  some  quiet  humming  of  kal's  new  song.  chances  are  high  he's  working  on  it  right  now,  and  their  weird  twinship  is  activated  again,  but  whatever.  she  loves  it. 

after  a  few  minutes,  sal  adjusts  her  hold  on  lyssa  so  she's  straddling  her  lap,  more  mushed  against  her.  she  kisses  her  neck  softly,  rubbing  her  hands  up  and  down  her  back  and  the  outside  of  her  thighs,  waiting  for  her  to  feel  good  enough  to  chat.  and  she  fills  the  void  too  with  soft  words  now,  talking  about  her  plans  for  dinner  and  how  much  she  loves  her.

While she may not show it, Lyssa is grateful that her girlfriend drops everything to help her. This had been brewing in her for the past while and on her own she just couldn't relax. She didn't get how Sal could do it so easily, but she did know why it was so hard for her. As she was turned to the side, Lyssa leant against her, leaning into the kisses and forcing her eyes closed as the firm grip of those warm hands presses against her skin. That was real nice.

Her eyes do roll beneath their eyelids at the succession of pet names all at once, but she allows it, her head leaning on Sal's shoulder as she just accepts all the affection.

"Stuff." Comes the reply, an indication that Lyssa isn't ready to talk about it yet. She just needs the immediate calm and relaxation first, then she can talk. At least this time she feels like she knows what this is. Not just a black hole of emotion with no thoughts.

She knew that her time with the Family was coming to an end, her time of violence. The end was terrifying and shit, especially since she didn't think she'd be alive to see retirement, but Sal and Mel had been too fucking good at telling her she was a person. That, and now Phea was here and she had a sister to think of too. The more that she thought about it, and then thought about doing years of meetings and being around fuckless people who saw her as a tool, she just got more frustrated and tired.

She was done.

"Not yet. Just...hold me." She added, to explain. Use her words a bit.

[gloamios]

@darkencdcosmos  murmured:  Lyssa  sits  herself  down  in  Sal's  lap  with  her  arms  crossed  and  a  deep  frown.  She  is  tense  and  stressed  and  doesn't  know  how  to  unwind,  so  she  comes  to  her  love  for  help.

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sal  is  surprised  but  immensely  grateful  as  her  love  settles  in  her  lap.  tossing  her  phone  to  the  side,  she  wraps  her  arms  around  her  and  pulls  her  closer,  her  shoulder  against  sal's  shoulder,  lyssa  sideways  in  her  lap.  pressing  a  soft  kiss  to  her  temple,  sal  settles  one  broad  hand  on  the  outside  of  her  thigh,  the  other  on  her  ribs. 

“hey  pretty  baby  gorgeous  love  of  mine,  what's  happened?”  she  asks.  it's  so  very  likely  the  answer  is  nothing,  or  everything,  but  either  way,  sal  will  be  with  her.  for  good  measure  she  presses  a  few  more  kisses  to  her  hair,  something  she  knows  lyssa  is  incredibly  proud  of.

there's  some  chocolate  covered  espresso  beans  on  the  table,  with  a  candy  shell  to  make  them  pretty  colors.  she  knows  lyssa  likes  chocolate,  and  part  of  her  hopes  that  she  enjoys  it,  and  enjoys  the  satisfying  crunch,  to  work  out  some  of  her  over  stimulation.   

[gloamios]

“you don't get to use the medical diagnosis against me! did  you  even  lock  the  door  behind  you?”  she  says  with  a  breathless  laugh,  feeling  epi's  hands  at  her  waist.  she  knows  what  it  is  that  they  want,  and  she  isn't  sure  she  can  give  it  to  them  without  the  knowledge  of  their  security  in  mind.  she  tries  to  get  up  to  go  inspect  said  door,  trying  to  push  their  hands  from  her  body,  her  wiggling  only  causing  additional  friction  between  them. 

Epiales leans their head against the back of the couch and grins at her so proudly even as she approaches with hands on hips and her best attempt at a stern look. Ah, but their smile was there beneath the surface, Epi spotted it. Clear as day.

"And I will find a way around them, doc. And besides, isn't neglect a sign of an unpleasant home life?" They tilt their head in faux innocence before then the words of playing doctor are so quietly said.

"Mmm," With that they move swiftly to grasp their spouse's hips and pull her onto their lap with a grin. "But with your current schedule this place is practically a second home. So why not? Your time is all booked up for the next hour." They murmur right back. "And I'm in dire need of healing."

[gloamios]

@darkencdcosmos  murmured:  Sometimes,  when  their  sweetheart  was  very  busy,  Epiales  had  a  little  plan.  They  would  call  and  book  an  appointment  with  a  fake  voice  under  an  alias  for  a  therapy  session  and  then  just  waltz  right  into  their  office.  Steal  back  some  time.  So  right  now  that's  just  what  they  did,  a  proud  little  smirk  on  their  face  as  they  close  the  door  behind  them  and  hang  their  jacket  and  hat  up.  "I  am  so  in  need  of  some  medicine,  doc.  Wife-style  medicine."  They  plop  down  on  the  couch  happily  (noir  verse  for  Eleos)

⸻   ˗ˏˋ  ꒰   🍓🔪  ꒱  ˎˊ˗  ⸻

eleos  was  preparing  for  the  next  session,  gathering  the  intake  forms  and  blank  note  paper  on  her  desk,  tucking  away  notes  from  the  previous  client,  when  the  door  opens.  they  look  up,  pale  eyes  wide  as  they  prepare  to  gently  steer  this  client  to  take  a  seat.  upon  realizing  who  this  is,  eleos  narrows  their  eyes,  trying  to  fight  the  smile  on  her  face. 

“you  are  incorrigible.  impossible,  even.”  even  as  the  words  flow,  eleos  stands  and  moves  over  to  her  spouse,  hands  on  her  hips.  “you  keep  doing  this.  one  of  these  days  i'm  going  to  have  to  change  my  appointment  procedures." 

now  they  stand  before  epiales,  unable  to  keep  the  smile  from  their  face.  they  are  happy  to  see  their  spouse,  always,  but  they  have  to  tease,  just  a  little  bit.  she  sighs  and  cups  their  face,  leaning  down  to  inspect  them,  assessing  them  for  any  obvious  weight  on  their  mind. 

“and  i  told  you  we  can  only  play  doctor  at  home,”  she  whispers,  just  to  see  their  response.

[gloamios]

@darkencdcosmos  murmured:  Baby  Kal  was  giggling  as  he  ran  around  the  room  to  search  for  something.  He  grabbed  a  glittering  amethyst  crystal  and  ran  to  Toni  and  popped  it  in  her  hands  as  his  own  skin  swirled  with  purple.  A  small  tiny  hand  was  put  on  her  leg  as  he  transmitted  the  purple  down  to  his  hand,  wanting  to  play  and  see  her  change  colour  too!

⸻   ˗ˏˋ  ꒰   🍓🔪   ꒱   ˎˊ˗  ⸻

immediately,  toni  is  replicating  the  purple,  but  in  a  different  way  than  kal.  she  takes  on  the  full  appearance  of  the  gem,  as  if  she  were  to  be  made  out  of  amethyst  itself.  a  living  gem,  that  smiles  down  to  kal  and  gently  boops  him  with  a  newly  crystalized  finger. 

“how's  this,  hmm?  shiny  purple?”  she  asks,  her  wings  fluttering  behind  her,  with  the  gentle  scrape  of  crystal  on  crystal. 

[gloamios]

@darkencdcosmos  murmured:  Dystonia  lifts  their  baby  sister  into  two  of  their  arms  and  uses  the  other  two  to  start  putting  small  braids  into  her  curly  hair  as  they  hold  the  little  one.  Today  they  were  mimicking  their  twins  look  because  they  missed  her,  even  if  she  was  bonding  with  the  other  small  twin.  "Shall  I  teach  you  some  scary  faces,  hmm?"  It  was  best  to  start  them  young.

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dysalyo  looks  up  at  her  oldest  sibling,  her  eyes  blinking  in  asynchronous  curiosity.  she  puts  her  little  hand  on  the  hand  over  her  tummy,  keeping  her  from  falling  out  of  their  grasp.  she  thinks  about  this.  she  doesn't  know  how  to  make  her  body  change  like  her  older  siblings  or  like  kal,  but  she  can  mimic  kal  to  an  extent. 

she  takes  in  their  dark  features,  and  lets  pure  darkness  ripple  over  her  skin,  until  she  has  the  appearance  of  a  marble  cake.  she  looks  down  at  her  arm  and  erupts  into  giggles,  smiling  up  at  them.  her  aura  spills  in  dark  greys  and  rounded  spikes,  a  childish  version  of  what  she  will  become  one  day,  rubbing  against  dys'  own  darkness  in  an  excited  way.  she  was  like  them!  and  she  wanted  more!

[gloamios]

the  shift  in  gravity  makes  her  stomach  flip  flop,  but  the  worst  part  is  the  feeling  and  sensation  of  the  earth  passing  by  her.  for  a  moment,  she  fears  that  they'll  be  caught  between  realms,  that  she'll  be  separated  from  him  and  forced  back  into  the  underworld.  but  the  moment  passes,  and  soon  they  are  in  subliminal. 

this  realm  is  dark,  glowing  faintly  with  crystals  and  mushrooms  in  the  distance,  but  significantly  less  overwhelming  than  the  area  they  just  left.  she  periscopes  up  and  loops  herself  around  his  shoulders,  lifting  her  head  up  to  rub  against  his  cheek in reassurance. 

“go  where  you  would  like  to  settle.  then  i'll  change  back.”  she  wants  to  make  sure  they  won't  be  disturbed  for  a  little  while.  especially  by  the  queen  and  princess  of  this  realm. 

"Sure, alright. Let me just, secure you to me first. Hang on, like literally." He says and tilts his head to press a kiss to her spore-dusted head. With one hand pressed to her body, he sits up and reaches for the shirt again. After a brief dusting of her body with the shirt, he then fashions it into a sling around his neck for her to climb into for the journey.

"I know you can't promise to stay, but I believe you." Alecto's sister was seriously strict on pacts, he'd never promised anything he couldn't keep anyway, but speaking to Meg made that even more clear.

Once he was stood, he brushed off as many spores as he could, and shook his head like a dog might to at least get some of it out of his hair. It almost like he'd been to a festival of colour though which was neat, he took a tiny amount of joy in that in this moment.

"Nearest method...let's see...oh wait, ha." He had been about to check the surrounding vicinity for any 'fairy rings' of mushrooms he could use, but then it did hit him that he literally had made one of his own with these corpses. Hopefully it still did the trick, though it would be a huge portal.

"Right, hold on tight. Breathe." He gave that reminder because it was a weird feeling to use doors like this. You didn't actually move, but it felt like you and the entire world sunk through the floor, flipped upside down and then right way up again in mom's realm. He knew Alecto had done it before but he figured it wouldn't get any less intense.

"You okay, baby?" He asked, peering into the sling. "Want to shift back yet?"

[gloamios]

toni  listens  to  papa's  disclaimer  about  the  motivation  behind  this  little  chat,  and  the  semi-confusing  start  to  it.  she  looks  over  to  kal  as  she,  too,  gets  the  feeling  that  this  is  a  more  serious  moment,  but  just…not  in  the  way  she's  used  to. 

“yeah,  we  do…"  a  beat  and  then,  “why  couldn't  dizzy  or  sal  be  here,  papa?”  that's  what  she's  not  understanding,  what  she  wants  clarity  on.  they  rarely  keep  secrets,  as  a  family;  why  would  separation  be  required  now? 

“did  something  happen?”  he  said  he  was  fine.  was  something  wrong  with  sal  and  dys?  or  mama?  were  they  drifting  apart,  like  papa  and  aunty  had  so  long  ago?  did  sal  or  dys  say  something? 

worry  builds  in  the  sweet  nightmare. 

"Let's wait for your brother first, darling." Hypnos says as Toni asks what's up though Kal is still standing up taking in the view. "Take your time Kal!" He calls, giving a thumbs up as his son turns and smiles at him.

In the meantime, Hypnos offers an arm out to see if Toni might want to cuddle.

When Kal has finished taking in the warmth of the faux sun and enjoyed the warm hue it gives all his skin colours, Kal takes off his shades and climbs amongst the cushions and lays down near to dad with a few extra cushions propping up his head.

"Okay I'm here, what's up daddio?" He says with his natural warm smile.

Hypnos glances between them both with a soft smile then sighs.

"Alright, firstly, if Neb said anything to you both to get you here, ignore it. It's not urgent or anything to do with work and I'm not sad or ill. Neb just gets so weird about our schedules being different and thinks things have to be done so quick. I'm working on it with them." Hypnos states first and Kal shakes his head.

"Oh nah, Neb didn't say anything to me. They were rushed but, like, their usual kind. I just was free." Kal assured him and Hypnos nodded.

"Oh good." Hypnos then deliberately gazes up at the sky he made and then glances between his two whimsical kids either side of him.

"You two take after me a lot, you know that right? Like, yes you also take after your mother, but you two take after me a lot." Hypnos had no idea how to start this, so he was stalling somewhat for time. This was a delicate topic for his children.

"Yeah..." Kal's word is drawn out, he glances at Toni.

[gloamios]

toni's  thought  process  is  a  little  bit  different  than  her  sibling's.  she's  wondering  if  this  is  something  that  she  should  show  up  as  employee  or  daughter.  sure,  she  has  a  feeling  that  she  should  show  up  as  daughter;  the  mention  of  the  twins  from  before  indicated  as  such.  but  she  wanted  to  be  sure. 

her  wings  flutter  subconsciously,  a  low  hum  in  the  elevator,  keeping  her  afloat  so  she's  eye  to  eye  with  kal,  holding  his  hand  at  a  comfortable  height. 

“maybe?  maybe  he's  expanding  part  of  the  realm  and  needs  us  to  weigh  in  on  it,  if  it's  dreams  specific?  oh,  or  maybe  it's  a  surprise  for  mama?  weird  that  sal  and  dizzy  couldn't  join  us  then…”  it's  unclear,  so  far,  what  they  will  be  asked. 

as  soon  as  they  arrive  at  the  top,  she  releases  kal's  hand,  letting  him  find  a  comfortable  spot,  and  her  doing  the  same.  she  flies  up  high  to  view  the  sunset  first,  and  to  surreptitiously  look  for  any  expansions  or  mentions  of  where  their  mother  may  be.  but  she  finds  nothing,  so  she  lets  her  wings  disappear  and  happily  falls,  splatting  into  a  blanket  pile. 

it  feels,  a  little,  like  she's  in  erika's  scales,  curled  up  in  her  tail.  she  wonders  if  this  will  be  something  she  can  talk  to  her  about.  she  wonders  what  all  of  this  is  about. 

“the  sunset  looks  great  papa.  i  like  the  shimmers,”  she  says,  holding  out  one  set  of  arms  as  she  re-solidifies,  looking  at  the  sparkles  across�� her  skin.  then  she  looks  up  to  her  father,  her  second  set  of  eyes  glancing  to  kal,  before  refocusing  on  him. 

“what's,  uh…what's  up?” 

@gloamios plotted a STARTER from KALUCIYO and HYPNOS (guest muse)

Kal held Toni's hand and took the elevator of clouds up to the rooftop terrace that Dad, via Nebulus, had summoned them to. It was weirdly specific too because Neb had summoned them both seperate and said that their other twins couldn't join.

"Do you think this is some kind of hobby club? Ooor is he doing a clothing clear out again and we pick colours?" Kal was trying to think of all the things it could be. Neb had said there was no rush, but he could totally see that Neb was getting stressed that dad had said that. So it wasn't urgent, that was cool.

...

Hypnos laid on a sea of cushions on this rooftop terrace, long enough to practically fill the whole entire roof garden wall. They were all different sizes, colours and shapes and were draped with enough blankets to coat the entire capital in coloured shadow. It was the best view of the capital city and the realm beyond, especially as Hypnos had shifted the weather to mimic a golden hour. Peak colours and vibes, he knew his two colourful children would enjoy.

This time was about them, and he wanted them to relax into it.

The incident of hubris surrounding Kal had gotten Hypnos thinking. Thinking about Kal, but also Toni and her journey and then his own. With that, came the realisation that he hadn't really shared his own past with his kids before. Right now, it seemed like the perfect time to share.

Damn though he wished this wasn't something they'd also have to go through. You'd think people would not make the same mistake with his kids, but hey some people are new and others just never learn.

When he hears them come in, Hypnos sits up from the cushions and beckons them over.

"Hey c'mon. Make yourselves comfy, I think I nailed the sunset."

[gloamios]

“take  us  home,  when  you  are  ready,”  she  says  softly,  figuring  the  transportation  would  just  be  easier  if  she  was  in  her  serpent  form.  easier  for  him  to  clean  off  as  well,  to  prevent  spores  from  spreading. 

she  thinks  about  how  best  to  tell  him  that  gods  have  wiped  out  generations  of  people,  entire  civilizations,  for  grievances  in  line  with  what  happened  to  him.  and  that  kal  still  wants  to  show  his  power  to  those  who  he  thinks  deserve  it,  well…perhaps  he  is  a  better  god  in  that  regard.  alecto  thinks  it's  because  he's  so  mortal-like  in  his  ways. 

but  that  doesn't  matter  now. 

“i  will  not  leave  until  you  ask  it  of  me.”  she  doesn't  swear,  knowing  meg  would  be  pissed  at  her  if  she  did.  but  she  hopes  her  words  comfort  him  enough  to  motivate  him  to  start  moving.  she  has  a  hard  time  moving  to  realms  that  aren't  the  underworld  or  the  surface  world,  after  all. 

so  much  security  and  all  that.  subliminal  is  different  in  that  regard,  but  she'd  like  to  keep  a  low  profile  until  kal  is  ready  for  his  mother  to  know. 

Kal was silent when she asked that question, wanting clarification. He knew she'd be mad at himself and the way he viewed himself. But then she moved on, and he could give her an answer to that. After a few steadying breaths.

"Oh no I won't remove it entirely. I need to eat, but the other partyers and especially sick who're high as a kite to help, they didn't do this. I can't keep them in pain or without happiness over a few people." Despite everything, he couldn't do that. Especially not the sick and dying.

"I need you if you can be there. I dont' want you to go." He tells her, a hand rubbing down her body as she drapes again, his head leaning to press against her out of sheer need of comfort. "I should shower first though. Before I get spores everywhere."

He didn't yet move, but his words suggested that he was finally ready to go with her.

[gloamios]

“oh?  oh,  you  have!”  she  blushes  and  takes  a  hand  out  from  holding  the  ivy  to  fan  her  face,  her  blush  building.  “that's,  i  mean,  i  hope  you  liked,  i  mean  you  seem  like  you  liked  them.  i  -  oh!"

the  offered  hands  take  her  by  surprise.  she  tucks  the  ivy  into  her  arm  against  her  side,  and  then  reaches  out  to  take  the  hands.  they're…very  dirty,  and  very  cold.  and  she  thinks  a  finger  or  two  is  missing.  but  no  worries!  she  can  make  that  better!

she  thinks. 

“i'm  so  happy  you're  here,”  she  says  in  a  soft  whisper,  the  romantic  notions  taking  over  again.  she  could  help  fix  her  up  and  bring  her  to  a  safe  place  and…and  have  a  friend.  it  would  be  nice  to  have  one  that  she's  not  related  to,  at  least. 

“are  you  hurting,  at  all?"  this  close  up  she  can  see  the  scales,  dry  and  flaking,  on  her  forearms  and  shoulders,  the  way  she's  clearly  been  without  care  for  some  time.  maybe  she  will  know  how  to  reply  to  hurt,  or  pain?  and  maybe  toni  can  help.

As soon as Toni understands, her gravestone is let go and neatened from where she shifted it out of place. She approaches again, like a moth to a street light, wanting to be close to the bright girl - her Toni - in these precious moments.

She asks if she heard the ramblings and Erika's hands clutch to her chest as if Toni had given her ivy. Those words were her ivy. She can't remember all of them now, but 'join you' stuck clear in her mind. A squeal left her as it truly sunk in that her bright girl was right here.

And then she nervously offered both hands out, palm up to her, so she could hold Toni's. So Toni could join with her like she wanted. To hold hands.

[gloamios]

“by  beings  like  you?  what  do  you  mean,  beings  like  you?”  she  rises  up  a  little  so  she  may  look  at  him,  her  serpent  head  moving  this  way  and  that  so  she  can  study  his  expression.  “you  are  a  god.  gods  have  punished  more  for  less.  but  as  for  your  second  point…then  don't." 

she  slithers  forward,  re-draping  herself  on  him.  “remove  your  influence  from  the  living  until  you  see  fit  to  give  it  to  them  again.  until they have earned it. return  to  your  realm  and  take  time  to  recover.” 

a  moment  of  silence,  and  then,  “and  i  will  be  with  you,  if  you  wish.”  she  won't  force  herself  on  him,  but  she  won't  leave  him  alone  entirely.  she  thinks  she  knows  how  to  get  ahold  of  his  twin.  she  would  be  the  next  person  alecto  trusts  with  him  in  this  state. 

More deep breaths are had, his free hand digging into the dirt. He feels Alecto slither onto him and Kal works to keep his focus on her and the present even when he is speaking of the past. He doesn't want to put her in any more danger, and he just doesn't have it in him to exert as he'd just done. Though maybe that was easier this time as he felt rather empty.

The arm that was once a ramp now curled to press a hand over her body as he feels his love cuddle into him - something he knows she's doing for him.

"Not any more. Or by beings like me." He felt he was too small to get away with acts like that. "I just...it feels wrong."

Yet she tells him she is proud and he closes his eyes, not brave enough to shake his head in refusal.

"What do I do now? I can't even stand to go to my retreats? How do I trust myself to pick worshippers? I can't even trade capri-suns right."

Self-doubt was creeping into a usually confident god, so shaken by betrayal now. Even close loved ones said he was an air head and maybe that meant he should just...feed and just let that be it.

[gloamios]

she  accepts  the  hand  ramp  and  slithers  up  his  body,  covering  his  swirling  and  agitated  tattoos  with  her  own  serpentine  form,  draping  against  him.  her  own  anger  swirls,  perpetual  and  hungry,  at  the  blatant  disrespect  of  this  young  god.  but  she  knows  he  doesn't  see  it  that  way.  not  yet. 

“they  disrespected  you,”  she  says,  coming  up  to  drape  over  his  shoulder  so  she  may  speak  more  directly  to  him.  “insolent  hubris  is  bound  to  be  punished.  anyone  could  tell  you  that;  god  or  mortal.  they  did  not  remember  who  they  were  dealing  with.  you've  done  nothing  wrong." 

a  big  statement,  she  knows,  for  him  to  accept.  she  has  a  feeling  he  won't,  for  a  long  while.  but  for  now,  she  will  say  it,  and  one  more  thing. 

“i'm  so  proud  of  you,  baby.” 

A hand of his comes to rest over the shirt, and her, as he closes his eyes and just now uses some of his own meditative techniques to calm himself. And to pray to the winds that the spores may be blown away.

Deep breaths in, and out, are taken and after a while soft breezes begin to come with each breath - cleaning him and some of the local area of a lot of the spores that begin to coil and drift away in the breeze. Unseen patterns are formed with each as they curl through the air and through the trees in this now calm valley. Animals and birds now return to their normal lives though calls and songs are more arhythmic and slower than normal - the spores affecting the animals now with hallucination.

The words come eventually and Kal opens his eyes to view her, so that he can see her alive and well and not the image of her dead and rotting corpse that comes to mind at her words.

"Because you acted."

A hand reaches out and brushes along her back as she slinks close, and then it turns, resting palm up on the ground to act as a ramp if she wishes to climb on him. Forgotten tears drip down his cheeks, colours swirling beneath the sunlight.

"I was used, by the humans I thought I had formed a close bond with. My little group o' groupies." A small little smile comes as he remembers that name being born from a night by the campfire - the formation of the worshipper group. "But today, they treated me like a butler and brushed off my advice, just wanting my mushrooms and supplies." He did give them his mushrooms in the end. "They claimed to love and praise me, but only when I gave them stuff. All the moments of disrespect piled up and the moment they tried to dismiss my concerns and lie to me, I just...I cracked."