Maelstrom and Mage, Ashmael/Vaysh, Post 8
Feb. 23rd, 2008 03:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thrihyrneIt's Natalia in Castlegar with a threesome blood-binding. You know who couldn't resist such a spectacle, much less a good party! This is a shorter post, a one scene vignette to get Thiede and Arahal back in the picture as my gap-filler weaves ever closer to original canon. And I couldn't resist making an icon for Parallax. It's a hazard with original characters, falling for them… Continued from post 7, here.
Title: Maelstrom and Mage, Desire Thine Darkling
This post rating: general
Warnings: Thiede. He is a warning!
Word Count: 3,425
Disclaimer: Ashmael, Vaysh, and the harish world all belong to Storm Constantine; I'm merely playing with great abandon in her sandbox.
Pairings: Vaysh/Ashmael
Summary: Genesis. Paradise. Illumination. Exodus. Before they went to Immanion, before Thiede manipulated their destiny, before death and despair, Ashmael and Vaysh knew and loved each other. This is one way their story may have been told.
Rain lashed at the tents, but I was pleased to see that their construction held, and they were pegged solidly into the ground. The protection spells woven around their perimeters didn't hurt, either. An unexpected few days of warmer weather had put everyone on the mountain in an even more festive mood just before our newly named Natalia celebration— the precocious Firethorn and Jaffa had decided the birthday of the new year should have an appropriate name. The day itself woke in a foul mood, overcast and windy. A storm front had scampered up the plateau, now battering the mountain with rain and gusts of wind. Despite the wretched weather, all of the community seemed to be in upbeat spirits. There were tables groaning under burdens of food and drink; small, brightly coloured globes of glass with candles hung from everywhere, filling the three conjoined tents with flickering rainbow lights. Vaysh and then Polaris had pointed out a few darker corners of intrigue where enthusiastic, drunk, or simply libido-driven hara groped at each other or shared breath. I noted the goings-on with bemusement; were my situation different, perhaps I'd be doing the same, though I suspected I'd always be the type who preferred to keep most of my physical exploits away from curious eyes.
"I think we should have the ceremony before it gets much later," I said to Vaysh over a plate of honeyed ham and a helping of steaming escalloped potatoes.
"Wyngarr came to me to say the same thing not long ago," he said, drinking a glass of tangy, sparkling white wine. "He also asked that we keep it simple."
"That's for the best. I'll get some sage to purify the space, and let you be the primary speaker for the ceremony. You're more eloquent than I am."
An incredulous look crossed Vaysh's face, more heavily accented with cosmetics than usual due to the party. "You think I'm eloquent?"
"Yes! Don't look so surprised. I do try to compliment you on your many talents, but maybe I left that one out."
Eyebrows still raised he smiled crookedly. It was an endearing expression, and shockingly innocent; I realised he must be very at ease. I wondered how much he'd had to drink, not that I could chide him, but we did have a solemn duty to perform.
"Vaysh, are you drunk?" I finally asked.
He attempted to sneer, failed, and instead took an asparagus spear off of my plate and began chewing on it. "No. I may be mellow, but I most certainly am not in my cups."
"Mellow?!" The cause hit me like the proverbial tonne of bricks. "Vox and Polaris gave you something, didn't they?" Vaysh had spent much of the afternoon with Polaris, which had seemed like a good idea at the time since I was up to my eyeballs in last-minute issues to do with the weather.
"No, and I suspect they'd take offense to the fact that you always assume they're the ones up to no good."
"Only because it's the truth," I muttered, taking a long quaff of wine.
"I spent a little time with our resident Unneah, and he shared some early Natalia cheer with me."
I couldn't help but stare at him. "Mabast? Fascinating. You didn't ingest or inhale anything hallucinogenic, did you?"
Vaysh rolled his eyes. "For the Aghama's sake. I'm just a bit stoned, but I swear I can perform my required functions with aplomb and grace. I wouldn't dream of embarrassing you, nor would I act like an idiot when my clanshar has asked me to perform such a sacred ritual." With a delicate hand he pulled some stray hair behind his ear and I noticed the dark brick red of his lacquered fingernails.
"You're really something," I said, reaching out to take his hand. He gave me a quick squeeze in return and a soft smile of gratitude.
"I know. You're incredibly fortunate. Let's go and bind these three together for eternity. Good God. As though being a pair isn't challenge enough, dear Opequon has fallen for two hara. Better him than me."
I led the way through the milling, celebratory throng, greeting and granting well wishes to everyone we passed. Jaffa came bounding up to me, sprigs of mistletoe wound into his riotous orange curls. I was stunned to realise he was only a couple of inches shorter than I was now.
"Thorn and I have a ballad to sing. We've made sure it's okay with Wyn, Ondin and Opequon," he said breathlessly, and I noticed he had a wide strap across his chest. He twisted his back slightly so I could see the rest— there was a guitar, neck down, against his back.
"You! What? You're going to sing for their binding ceremony? Since when have you been playing the guitar? Vaysh, you're not telling me things I need to know," I said, but he ignored me.
"He's great!" Firethorn enthused, having suddenly materialised at Jaffa's side, his black hair in two simple braids with a crown of holly on his head.
"That sounds splendid," Vaysh said dreamily.
"Thanks! Is that okay, Ashmael?" Jaffa asked. "We really did write it for them. Well, for them, and for new beginnings, new year, all of that."
"I… well. Yes."
I wasn't at my most fluent, but no one was at his most sober, either. It was a night of rebirth and joy; taking Vaysh's arm, we went to find our novel threesome.
It was a simple ceremony. Jaffa and Firethorn sang a beautiful duet as Jaffa played the guitar. I caught a glimpse of Cloudblaze and Firestorm, at their striking profiles, two parents radiating pride. I spoke words of commitment and devotion, of trial and calm. With the same ceremonial knife he'd used to conduct the inceptions of over a year ago, Vaysh cut a thin line on the right forearm of each of them, above the bright scarabs. His voice was so low I wasn't sure what he incanted as he pressed their arms together in turn, but I trusted him implicitly. Final prayers and blessings were made; I sanctified a small bowl of honey and a plate of crushed herbs.
"Together, through bitter and sweet," I intoned, drizzling a small amount of each of their tongues. Vaysh prayed ancient words, whispering into a chalice of wine before handing it to Opequon. With strong hands he took it, his fingers brushing Vaysh's and his eyes awash in gratitude. He drank, and passed it to Ondin and then from him to Wyngarr before it circled around to me. I shared in the communal cup before raising it in both hands to my chesnari. A bouncing sprig of mistletoe caught my eye— Firethorn was grinning like a maniac, riding piggybacked on Jaffa. The old human symbol swung side to side as he tried to get it to dangle over the threesome without poking any of them with the jostling stick.
The hairs on my neck prickled and I turned away from the re-emerging revelry to scan quickly through our group, instantly on guard. My gaze was drawn inexorably to lurid red and shimmering silver, the two lissotrichous hara as startlingly otherworldly as when I'd seen them several weeks before. They'd come. Even from a distance, Thiede's pleasure at the festivities radiated from him. Arahal was far more inscrutable, though I noticed his face became more animated when Polaris swooped in to offer him a glass of wine.
The celebrations were back into full swing; I'd given congratulations all around one final time and had turned to find Vaysh to go and greet our guests when I heard Firethorn shouting gleefully, "Kiss him! Kiss him!"
Trying to find the source, I jerked my head around until I saw him. He was still on Jaffa's back, his legs held tightly as the mistletoe dangled over Vaysh's and my head. Firethorn's eyes danced with mirth, and I felt the keen weight of yet another's eyes on us. Still in his unusually — for him — carefree, effusive state, Vaysh took two slow, dancelike steps to reach me. His arms wrapped nimbly around my waist, and he made a sensuous, purring sound before exhaling along my jaw to my ear.
"He's watching," he said. "Let's give him a good show."
The raucous cries around me faded to an indistinct noise as we shared breath. Even my tenacious thoughts of setting a good example were smothered in satiny caresses. Embers flared and coiled low in my belly; Vaysh's supple fingers skated up my back to rub gently at the base of my skull.
Eventually my decorum freed itself from its tender bonds. I broke away from the kiss, our lips smacking wetly as we caught our breath. I looked into Vaysh's eyes, luminous and innocent, the grey a thin ring around his dilated pupils. He glanced over my shoulder and a conniving smile quirked his lips.
"That's what happens when you stare, young har," he drawled. "You get an eyeful. One day this will make sense; your body will come to life and you'll crave that kind of contact." Vaysh leaned his chin on my shoulder. I could only imagine the look of curiosity or distaste on Firethorn's expressive face.
"Hey Thorn, I'd like to go and talk with Euclase for a bit," Jaffa said, easing Firethorn from his back. I was under no impression that talking was really what he had in mind.
"Guess I'll go and see Eleu and Ahalenia," Firethorn said sullenly, leaning the branch with the mistletoe against a nearby table. " They won't get all gooey-eyed and—"
"I do not get gooey-eyed!" Jaffa said, indignant.
Vaysh had stepped back from me and with unspoken agreement, we left the arguing pair to receive our guests. We found Thiede in an animated conversation with Kyrgian, Iolethe and Abelard. Arahal was being chatted up by Polaris and Vox. Their fascination for him and his complicated but skimpy leather lacings that decorated his torso was apparent from a mile away. I only hoped that Arahal had a lot of stamina.
"Ah, the Commandant and the Archon," Thiede enthused, and I couldn't sense whether he was sincere or sarcastic; I decided it was the former. "What a dreadful night outside, but all hara here are in high spirits. I assumed you all wouldn't mind that I paid you another visit— you couldn't have known how to send me an invitation," he said graciously, picking up a chocolate-covered strawberry with his long, taloned fingers. He held Vaysh's gaze captive as he slid the fruit past his glossy, crimson lips. I'd never thought that chewing could be an indecent act, but as in so many things, Thiede was simply outside of any set of usual rules.
"Welcome to Castlegar. Again," I said, proud that I was able to see him not as a demigod, but another har like me. An unprecedented, latently threatening har, but still flesh and blood. "On behalf of all of the Regents, please make yourself at home and be at peace. Will you and Arahal be needing a temporary home to spend a few days, or just one night? Or even longer?"
To Vaysh in mind-touch, I said, "Get a hold of yourself! You're practically drooling."
"Am not," he insisted with little conviction.
"Well, let's see," Thiede drawled gamely, glancing over to Arahal. He now was sharing a plate of smoked meats and cheeses with Mabast. Vox and Polaris were nearby, giving Mabast murderous looks that he blithely ignored. Arahal sampled the savouries, but he was absolutely devouring the Unneah. Arahal's attraction was so potent it seemed to crackle in the air.
"My own commandant," Thiede began, smiling slyly as his attentions swung back to me. I braced myself under the onslaught of intensity and mischief that poured from him like perfume. "He would accuse me of not ever allowing him any fun if we were to leave before mid-afternoon tomorrow. I cannot stay longer than that, though I do thank you for your generosity. All of you." He regally inclined his head, acknowledging the rest of the small group.
All at once, it was as though Thiede had caused his inner flame to subside. It was much like seeing an eclipsed sun; all of the energy was there, but pulsing behind a screen. Thiede had become a sleeping wolf; he'd found a way to wear the raiment of an ordinary har, or as close to ordinary as he could possibly become. The effect allowed him to move among the dancing, socialising group without being stared at. He asked Vaysh and myself to follow him to an empty table away from the impromptu music where we could speak without yelling.
Parallax must have felt Thiede's presence, as he hurried over to us, bringing two bottles of wine and a youthful, awestruck attitude. This appeared to please Thiede tremendously. Chagrinned, I felt a near-paternal protective instinct for Parallax bare its teeth.
"Vox thinks you're from across the sea," he said, his hazel eyes turned a shining wheat, set off by his flaxen tunic. "I want you to tell me everything! Us, I mean," he added a bit guiltily. He thrummed with excitement, a swooning fan crouched at the feet of a rock star.
"But then there'd be no mystery!" Thiede said airily, patting Parallax's hand with his rake-like fingers. "And what fun is life if there are no sordid secrets to be uncovered?"
Parallax hung on his words, and Thiede revelled in it. He was calculating, as well; I could see it behind the benevolent persona he currently projected.
"You're a lovely har, Parallax, and I think I shall have use for you in the future." Thiede refocussed his attentions on Vaysh and me. "I'm building a new realm for Wraeththu, where enlightenment and beauty will reign. It has only just begun. Construction is underway even as I speak, which is why I can't stay longer, though I would enjoy that a great deal. I'm impressed with your mountaintop community; you have an exotic collection of inhabitants, all things considered," he mused thoughtfully, taking a sip of wine. "Even a pure-born, already."
From Thiede's commentary, Parallax's imagination appeared to have flown to lands of self-gloried fantasy. If Thiede had suggested they take a side trip to Hell itself, I had no doubt Parallax would have gone without hesitation, asking to lead the way.
"Immanion," Thiede said, eyes vibrant, the word casting its own spell. "It's my Castlegar. And I'd like to speak to these two about it. Alone."
Parallax's face fell. He was like a kicked puppy, his whimpering all but audible.
"It's nothing personal, tigerling," Thiede murmured, but I felt jealously for Parallax, and knew that my body language betrayed me. "I want you to have more experience here before I whisk you away. I'll plant seeds of intrigue where I see fit, just you wait," he said conspiratorially, which appeased the pride-wounded har.
"What are you?" Parallax asked as he stood, pulling his hopelessly tousled hair behind his ears and gathering his dignity.
Thiede's smile was the graceful architecture of tenderness. "I am Wraeththu. Nothing more, nothing less. Now go," he said playfully, those arresting hands fluttering in the air. "You have adventures to pursue while I speak to your creators of the mundane nuts and bolts of crafting a dynasty."
With a sigh, Parallax turned and headed toward Gladwyne and Wycker, who waved encouragingly at him.
"So."
Thiede steepled his fingers, resting his chin on them. He looked back and forth at us, his fathomless eyes like searchlights, blazing into my soul.
"I want you to have positions of high authority in my new world. And what I want, I get. That's not to sound threatening, it just is. I'll have need of a general," he said to me, "and a beautiful monarch," he said to Vaysh. "Any questions?"
I couldn't help but let out a choked laugh before taking a long drink from my cup.
"But—" Vaysh was saying helplessly, obviously flummoxed by such an extravagant and unbelievable mandate. "We don't even know where this Immanion is! We've never been there. I've never ruled anything or anyone in my life!"
"Trifles, Vaysh, mere trifles," Thiede soothed, sitting back to stroke idly at the column of his eerily pale, long neck. "I would take you both with me tomorrow but you must be more advanced spiritually in order to ride the sedu. Therefore, that is my first charge— you and Ashmael need to focus on achieving the caste of Ulani, to become Pyralists. I'll be able to monitor your progress but if it's from afar, don't be dismayed. My attentions are needed in Immanion; I have elite hara engineering the construction of the city."
My tongue finally decided to cooperate and I was able to formulate a sentence. "What is a sedu? Why can't you take us now? And if I'm to be a general, what is Arahal?"
Thiede loosed a melodious chuckle. "I wondered when your torrent of questions would be unleashed. All will become plain, but only in time. Even I cannot build a kingdom in a day. A sedu is the horse — creature — you saw us riding when we emerged from the otherlanes. It's a way to travel inter-dimensionally, to cover great distances without machinery."
He held up his hand to stave off the flurry of other questions that jostled in my mouth. "I'll spend this night with Kyrgian and Iolethe, to guide their spiritual path so they can lead you. As for Arahal, he is…" His ruby lips quirked to the side and I felt Vaysh's hand grab for mine under the table. If he weren't stoned, I suspected that he'd have become catatonic, overwhelmed by the vast changes Thiede had stated were inevitable. "He's many things to me," he said mysteriously. "An officer of the New World. Now I need to go and make the best use of my hours here with your Pyralists. Do forgive me." He stood up elegantly from the table, a swan set to glide to other waters.
"What about the Varrs?" I found myself asking, trying to wrest back control of my own destiny. "What if Vaysh and I want to stay here? This is where we've made our home."
"These things take time, Ashmael. Don't fret," Thiede said, moving away. "You can't even fathom what I'm offering. Trust me." His smile gleamed, and then he'd vanished into the assembly.
Vaysh gazed at me, his fingers clenched in mine, his expression dazed. "Monarch?" he mouthed.
"I don't like being manipulated," I said darkly.
"We don't have a choice."
"We always have a choice."
"I need a drink."
I pushed my glass over to him. He let go of my hand, lifting the cup and taking two deep swallows before he grimaced. He placed the glass on the table, staring off into space.
"Our harling would be a prince," he said after a time, his eyes misty.
"What if Immanion is off somewhere in the frozen steppes?" I said, intentionally provocative.
"It wouldn't be. He wouldn't live in a place like that," Vaysh said with surprising logic.
The noises of our carefree, celebratory harafolk began to reassert themselves into my awareness. Vaysh was similarly brought back to the present and gave me a weak smile, which strengthened as time went on.
"Come on, Ash. We're missing a fabulous party." He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I closed my eyes, centering myself in his familiar light scent of sandalwood, a hint of autumn always around him.
Unexpectedly I felt Cloudblaze send a tentative message to me via mind-touch.
"Ashmael? Firestorm and I have solstice rituals from our original tribe we'd like to share. I can sense your troubled spirit. Let us be with you and Vaysh."
His comforting voice put me more at ease and I nodded, but then Vaysh looked at me, confused. "Cloudblaze and Firestorm want us to join them. I think we could stand to be grounded a bit after what we've been told."
He drew circles on the table with his finger before nodding.
"Thank you," I replied telepathically. "Shall we go to your rooms?"
"Yes."
I took a deep breath and drained the rest of my wine.
"This is certainly an interesting beginning to the new year."
Vaysh looked at me, his face grave. "I'll go with you anywhere, you know."
"I know."
Title: Maelstrom and Mage, Desire Thine Darkling
This post rating: general
Warnings: Thiede. He is a warning!
Word Count: 3,425
Disclaimer: Ashmael, Vaysh, and the harish world all belong to Storm Constantine; I'm merely playing with great abandon in her sandbox.
Pairings: Vaysh/Ashmael
Summary: Genesis. Paradise. Illumination. Exodus. Before they went to Immanion, before Thiede manipulated their destiny, before death and despair, Ashmael and Vaysh knew and loved each other. This is one way their story may have been told.
Rain lashed at the tents, but I was pleased to see that their construction held, and they were pegged solidly into the ground. The protection spells woven around their perimeters didn't hurt, either. An unexpected few days of warmer weather had put everyone on the mountain in an even more festive mood just before our newly named Natalia celebration— the precocious Firethorn and Jaffa had decided the birthday of the new year should have an appropriate name. The day itself woke in a foul mood, overcast and windy. A storm front had scampered up the plateau, now battering the mountain with rain and gusts of wind. Despite the wretched weather, all of the community seemed to be in upbeat spirits. There were tables groaning under burdens of food and drink; small, brightly coloured globes of glass with candles hung from everywhere, filling the three conjoined tents with flickering rainbow lights. Vaysh and then Polaris had pointed out a few darker corners of intrigue where enthusiastic, drunk, or simply libido-driven hara groped at each other or shared breath. I noted the goings-on with bemusement; were my situation different, perhaps I'd be doing the same, though I suspected I'd always be the type who preferred to keep most of my physical exploits away from curious eyes.
"I think we should have the ceremony before it gets much later," I said to Vaysh over a plate of honeyed ham and a helping of steaming escalloped potatoes.
"Wyngarr came to me to say the same thing not long ago," he said, drinking a glass of tangy, sparkling white wine. "He also asked that we keep it simple."
"That's for the best. I'll get some sage to purify the space, and let you be the primary speaker for the ceremony. You're more eloquent than I am."
An incredulous look crossed Vaysh's face, more heavily accented with cosmetics than usual due to the party. "You think I'm eloquent?"
"Yes! Don't look so surprised. I do try to compliment you on your many talents, but maybe I left that one out."
Eyebrows still raised he smiled crookedly. It was an endearing expression, and shockingly innocent; I realised he must be very at ease. I wondered how much he'd had to drink, not that I could chide him, but we did have a solemn duty to perform.
"Vaysh, are you drunk?" I finally asked.
He attempted to sneer, failed, and instead took an asparagus spear off of my plate and began chewing on it. "No. I may be mellow, but I most certainly am not in my cups."
"Mellow?!" The cause hit me like the proverbial tonne of bricks. "Vox and Polaris gave you something, didn't they?" Vaysh had spent much of the afternoon with Polaris, which had seemed like a good idea at the time since I was up to my eyeballs in last-minute issues to do with the weather.
"No, and I suspect they'd take offense to the fact that you always assume they're the ones up to no good."
"Only because it's the truth," I muttered, taking a long quaff of wine.
"I spent a little time with our resident Unneah, and he shared some early Natalia cheer with me."
I couldn't help but stare at him. "Mabast? Fascinating. You didn't ingest or inhale anything hallucinogenic, did you?"
Vaysh rolled his eyes. "For the Aghama's sake. I'm just a bit stoned, but I swear I can perform my required functions with aplomb and grace. I wouldn't dream of embarrassing you, nor would I act like an idiot when my clanshar has asked me to perform such a sacred ritual." With a delicate hand he pulled some stray hair behind his ear and I noticed the dark brick red of his lacquered fingernails.
"You're really something," I said, reaching out to take his hand. He gave me a quick squeeze in return and a soft smile of gratitude.
"I know. You're incredibly fortunate. Let's go and bind these three together for eternity. Good God. As though being a pair isn't challenge enough, dear Opequon has fallen for two hara. Better him than me."
I led the way through the milling, celebratory throng, greeting and granting well wishes to everyone we passed. Jaffa came bounding up to me, sprigs of mistletoe wound into his riotous orange curls. I was stunned to realise he was only a couple of inches shorter than I was now.
"Thorn and I have a ballad to sing. We've made sure it's okay with Wyn, Ondin and Opequon," he said breathlessly, and I noticed he had a wide strap across his chest. He twisted his back slightly so I could see the rest— there was a guitar, neck down, against his back.
"You! What? You're going to sing for their binding ceremony? Since when have you been playing the guitar? Vaysh, you're not telling me things I need to know," I said, but he ignored me.
"He's great!" Firethorn enthused, having suddenly materialised at Jaffa's side, his black hair in two simple braids with a crown of holly on his head.
"That sounds splendid," Vaysh said dreamily.
"Thanks! Is that okay, Ashmael?" Jaffa asked. "We really did write it for them. Well, for them, and for new beginnings, new year, all of that."
"I… well. Yes."
I wasn't at my most fluent, but no one was at his most sober, either. It was a night of rebirth and joy; taking Vaysh's arm, we went to find our novel threesome.
It was a simple ceremony. Jaffa and Firethorn sang a beautiful duet as Jaffa played the guitar. I caught a glimpse of Cloudblaze and Firestorm, at their striking profiles, two parents radiating pride. I spoke words of commitment and devotion, of trial and calm. With the same ceremonial knife he'd used to conduct the inceptions of over a year ago, Vaysh cut a thin line on the right forearm of each of them, above the bright scarabs. His voice was so low I wasn't sure what he incanted as he pressed their arms together in turn, but I trusted him implicitly. Final prayers and blessings were made; I sanctified a small bowl of honey and a plate of crushed herbs.
"Together, through bitter and sweet," I intoned, drizzling a small amount of each of their tongues. Vaysh prayed ancient words, whispering into a chalice of wine before handing it to Opequon. With strong hands he took it, his fingers brushing Vaysh's and his eyes awash in gratitude. He drank, and passed it to Ondin and then from him to Wyngarr before it circled around to me. I shared in the communal cup before raising it in both hands to my chesnari. A bouncing sprig of mistletoe caught my eye— Firethorn was grinning like a maniac, riding piggybacked on Jaffa. The old human symbol swung side to side as he tried to get it to dangle over the threesome without poking any of them with the jostling stick.
The hairs on my neck prickled and I turned away from the re-emerging revelry to scan quickly through our group, instantly on guard. My gaze was drawn inexorably to lurid red and shimmering silver, the two lissotrichous hara as startlingly otherworldly as when I'd seen them several weeks before. They'd come. Even from a distance, Thiede's pleasure at the festivities radiated from him. Arahal was far more inscrutable, though I noticed his face became more animated when Polaris swooped in to offer him a glass of wine.
The celebrations were back into full swing; I'd given congratulations all around one final time and had turned to find Vaysh to go and greet our guests when I heard Firethorn shouting gleefully, "Kiss him! Kiss him!"
Trying to find the source, I jerked my head around until I saw him. He was still on Jaffa's back, his legs held tightly as the mistletoe dangled over Vaysh's and my head. Firethorn's eyes danced with mirth, and I felt the keen weight of yet another's eyes on us. Still in his unusually — for him — carefree, effusive state, Vaysh took two slow, dancelike steps to reach me. His arms wrapped nimbly around my waist, and he made a sensuous, purring sound before exhaling along my jaw to my ear.
"He's watching," he said. "Let's give him a good show."
The raucous cries around me faded to an indistinct noise as we shared breath. Even my tenacious thoughts of setting a good example were smothered in satiny caresses. Embers flared and coiled low in my belly; Vaysh's supple fingers skated up my back to rub gently at the base of my skull.
Eventually my decorum freed itself from its tender bonds. I broke away from the kiss, our lips smacking wetly as we caught our breath. I looked into Vaysh's eyes, luminous and innocent, the grey a thin ring around his dilated pupils. He glanced over my shoulder and a conniving smile quirked his lips.
"That's what happens when you stare, young har," he drawled. "You get an eyeful. One day this will make sense; your body will come to life and you'll crave that kind of contact." Vaysh leaned his chin on my shoulder. I could only imagine the look of curiosity or distaste on Firethorn's expressive face.
"Hey Thorn, I'd like to go and talk with Euclase for a bit," Jaffa said, easing Firethorn from his back. I was under no impression that talking was really what he had in mind.
"Guess I'll go and see Eleu and Ahalenia," Firethorn said sullenly, leaning the branch with the mistletoe against a nearby table. " They won't get all gooey-eyed and—"
"I do not get gooey-eyed!" Jaffa said, indignant.
Vaysh had stepped back from me and with unspoken agreement, we left the arguing pair to receive our guests. We found Thiede in an animated conversation with Kyrgian, Iolethe and Abelard. Arahal was being chatted up by Polaris and Vox. Their fascination for him and his complicated but skimpy leather lacings that decorated his torso was apparent from a mile away. I only hoped that Arahal had a lot of stamina.
"Ah, the Commandant and the Archon," Thiede enthused, and I couldn't sense whether he was sincere or sarcastic; I decided it was the former. "What a dreadful night outside, but all hara here are in high spirits. I assumed you all wouldn't mind that I paid you another visit— you couldn't have known how to send me an invitation," he said graciously, picking up a chocolate-covered strawberry with his long, taloned fingers. He held Vaysh's gaze captive as he slid the fruit past his glossy, crimson lips. I'd never thought that chewing could be an indecent act, but as in so many things, Thiede was simply outside of any set of usual rules.
"Welcome to Castlegar. Again," I said, proud that I was able to see him not as a demigod, but another har like me. An unprecedented, latently threatening har, but still flesh and blood. "On behalf of all of the Regents, please make yourself at home and be at peace. Will you and Arahal be needing a temporary home to spend a few days, or just one night? Or even longer?"
To Vaysh in mind-touch, I said, "Get a hold of yourself! You're practically drooling."
"Am not," he insisted with little conviction.
"Well, let's see," Thiede drawled gamely, glancing over to Arahal. He now was sharing a plate of smoked meats and cheeses with Mabast. Vox and Polaris were nearby, giving Mabast murderous looks that he blithely ignored. Arahal sampled the savouries, but he was absolutely devouring the Unneah. Arahal's attraction was so potent it seemed to crackle in the air.
"My own commandant," Thiede began, smiling slyly as his attentions swung back to me. I braced myself under the onslaught of intensity and mischief that poured from him like perfume. "He would accuse me of not ever allowing him any fun if we were to leave before mid-afternoon tomorrow. I cannot stay longer than that, though I do thank you for your generosity. All of you." He regally inclined his head, acknowledging the rest of the small group.
All at once, it was as though Thiede had caused his inner flame to subside. It was much like seeing an eclipsed sun; all of the energy was there, but pulsing behind a screen. Thiede had become a sleeping wolf; he'd found a way to wear the raiment of an ordinary har, or as close to ordinary as he could possibly become. The effect allowed him to move among the dancing, socialising group without being stared at. He asked Vaysh and myself to follow him to an empty table away from the impromptu music where we could speak without yelling.
Parallax must have felt Thiede's presence, as he hurried over to us, bringing two bottles of wine and a youthful, awestruck attitude. This appeared to please Thiede tremendously. Chagrinned, I felt a near-paternal protective instinct for Parallax bare its teeth.
"Vox thinks you're from across the sea," he said, his hazel eyes turned a shining wheat, set off by his flaxen tunic. "I want you to tell me everything! Us, I mean," he added a bit guiltily. He thrummed with excitement, a swooning fan crouched at the feet of a rock star.
"But then there'd be no mystery!" Thiede said airily, patting Parallax's hand with his rake-like fingers. "And what fun is life if there are no sordid secrets to be uncovered?"
Parallax hung on his words, and Thiede revelled in it. He was calculating, as well; I could see it behind the benevolent persona he currently projected.
"You're a lovely har, Parallax, and I think I shall have use for you in the future." Thiede refocussed his attentions on Vaysh and me. "I'm building a new realm for Wraeththu, where enlightenment and beauty will reign. It has only just begun. Construction is underway even as I speak, which is why I can't stay longer, though I would enjoy that a great deal. I'm impressed with your mountaintop community; you have an exotic collection of inhabitants, all things considered," he mused thoughtfully, taking a sip of wine. "Even a pure-born, already."
From Thiede's commentary, Parallax's imagination appeared to have flown to lands of self-gloried fantasy. If Thiede had suggested they take a side trip to Hell itself, I had no doubt Parallax would have gone without hesitation, asking to lead the way.
"Immanion," Thiede said, eyes vibrant, the word casting its own spell. "It's my Castlegar. And I'd like to speak to these two about it. Alone."
Parallax's face fell. He was like a kicked puppy, his whimpering all but audible.
"It's nothing personal, tigerling," Thiede murmured, but I felt jealously for Parallax, and knew that my body language betrayed me. "I want you to have more experience here before I whisk you away. I'll plant seeds of intrigue where I see fit, just you wait," he said conspiratorially, which appeased the pride-wounded har.
"What are you?" Parallax asked as he stood, pulling his hopelessly tousled hair behind his ears and gathering his dignity.
Thiede's smile was the graceful architecture of tenderness. "I am Wraeththu. Nothing more, nothing less. Now go," he said playfully, those arresting hands fluttering in the air. "You have adventures to pursue while I speak to your creators of the mundane nuts and bolts of crafting a dynasty."
With a sigh, Parallax turned and headed toward Gladwyne and Wycker, who waved encouragingly at him.
"So."
Thiede steepled his fingers, resting his chin on them. He looked back and forth at us, his fathomless eyes like searchlights, blazing into my soul.
"I want you to have positions of high authority in my new world. And what I want, I get. That's not to sound threatening, it just is. I'll have need of a general," he said to me, "and a beautiful monarch," he said to Vaysh. "Any questions?"
I couldn't help but let out a choked laugh before taking a long drink from my cup.
"But—" Vaysh was saying helplessly, obviously flummoxed by such an extravagant and unbelievable mandate. "We don't even know where this Immanion is! We've never been there. I've never ruled anything or anyone in my life!"
"Trifles, Vaysh, mere trifles," Thiede soothed, sitting back to stroke idly at the column of his eerily pale, long neck. "I would take you both with me tomorrow but you must be more advanced spiritually in order to ride the sedu. Therefore, that is my first charge— you and Ashmael need to focus on achieving the caste of Ulani, to become Pyralists. I'll be able to monitor your progress but if it's from afar, don't be dismayed. My attentions are needed in Immanion; I have elite hara engineering the construction of the city."
My tongue finally decided to cooperate and I was able to formulate a sentence. "What is a sedu? Why can't you take us now? And if I'm to be a general, what is Arahal?"
Thiede loosed a melodious chuckle. "I wondered when your torrent of questions would be unleashed. All will become plain, but only in time. Even I cannot build a kingdom in a day. A sedu is the horse — creature — you saw us riding when we emerged from the otherlanes. It's a way to travel inter-dimensionally, to cover great distances without machinery."
He held up his hand to stave off the flurry of other questions that jostled in my mouth. "I'll spend this night with Kyrgian and Iolethe, to guide their spiritual path so they can lead you. As for Arahal, he is…" His ruby lips quirked to the side and I felt Vaysh's hand grab for mine under the table. If he weren't stoned, I suspected that he'd have become catatonic, overwhelmed by the vast changes Thiede had stated were inevitable. "He's many things to me," he said mysteriously. "An officer of the New World. Now I need to go and make the best use of my hours here with your Pyralists. Do forgive me." He stood up elegantly from the table, a swan set to glide to other waters.
"What about the Varrs?" I found myself asking, trying to wrest back control of my own destiny. "What if Vaysh and I want to stay here? This is where we've made our home."
"These things take time, Ashmael. Don't fret," Thiede said, moving away. "You can't even fathom what I'm offering. Trust me." His smile gleamed, and then he'd vanished into the assembly.
Vaysh gazed at me, his fingers clenched in mine, his expression dazed. "Monarch?" he mouthed.
"I don't like being manipulated," I said darkly.
"We don't have a choice."
"We always have a choice."
"I need a drink."
I pushed my glass over to him. He let go of my hand, lifting the cup and taking two deep swallows before he grimaced. He placed the glass on the table, staring off into space.
"Our harling would be a prince," he said after a time, his eyes misty.
"What if Immanion is off somewhere in the frozen steppes?" I said, intentionally provocative.
"It wouldn't be. He wouldn't live in a place like that," Vaysh said with surprising logic.
The noises of our carefree, celebratory harafolk began to reassert themselves into my awareness. Vaysh was similarly brought back to the present and gave me a weak smile, which strengthened as time went on.
"Come on, Ash. We're missing a fabulous party." He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I closed my eyes, centering myself in his familiar light scent of sandalwood, a hint of autumn always around him.
Unexpectedly I felt Cloudblaze send a tentative message to me via mind-touch.
"Ashmael? Firestorm and I have solstice rituals from our original tribe we'd like to share. I can sense your troubled spirit. Let us be with you and Vaysh."
His comforting voice put me more at ease and I nodded, but then Vaysh looked at me, confused. "Cloudblaze and Firestorm want us to join them. I think we could stand to be grounded a bit after what we've been told."
He drew circles on the table with his finger before nodding.
"Thank you," I replied telepathically. "Shall we go to your rooms?"
"Yes."
I took a deep breath and drained the rest of my wine.
"This is certainly an interesting beginning to the new year."
Vaysh looked at me, his face grave. "I'll go with you anywhere, you know."
"I know."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-23 09:31 pm (UTC)LOL! (I'm sure he does, the leather thongs are a dead giveaway ;-)
And I've always thought that Thiede can turn the Big Scarey Glamour on and off at will.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-24 01:06 am (UTC)And I've always thought that Thiede can turn the Big Scarey Glamour on and off at will.
Ah, good. Obviously I do, too, and am glad not to be alone in that. Thanks for reading and commenting!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-24 03:21 am (UTC)Beautiful, beautiful Parallax icon!
I assume that "lissotrichous" was your word for the day! :-D
Would it be very bad of me to point out that in the summary it's Exodus not Exodous! ::meep::
As ever, loving every moment, although the gap-filling nature means that the canon is pressing in on you and adding a real chill to some of your lines, "He held Vaysh's gaze captive" and "And what I want, I get" spring to mind.
Jaffa and Parallax - so sweet - I'm feeling paternal now!
Don't ever stop...
XOXOXO
CJ
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-26 01:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-25 10:09 pm (UTC)How old is Arahal anyways?
Sorry, was to busy^^ I had no time to be in the comunity much the last two days^^;
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-26 01:37 am (UTC)Lovely to see you whenever! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-18 07:58 am (UTC)Liked the binding ceremony. "Together, through bitter and sweet,"
Love the little touches of humor:
Good God. As though being a pair isn't challenge enough, dear Opequon has fallen for two hara. Better him than me."
I only hoped that Arahal had a lot of stamina.
I'd never thought that chewing could be an indecent act, but as in so many things, Thiede was simply outside of any set of usual rules.
And yes, I like Ash's ability to see through Thiede:
"I don't like being manipulated," I said darkly.
It will be interesting to see how you handle the fact that Ash remains working for Thiede, even after what Thiede does to Vaysh.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-19 12:13 am (UTC)So glad that you enjoyed this chapter as well! Me, I'm enjoying your icon. ;)
It will be interesting to see how you handle the fact that Ash remains working for Thiede, even after what Thiede does to Vaysh.
True enough, though if/when I get there, that'd be a third novella, so we'll see. I'll be within Vaysh's POV for the duration of this second one, and unless they have a heart to heart (which I find unlikely), Ashmael's one on one with Thiede (which I do expect he had and I would enjoy writing it) will remain for Ash's knowledge alone.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-19 02:24 am (UTC)