Scion - Petro Campaign - Downtime 16
[Erika's Journal - Afterglow]
So, it's been awhile since I've written, but I'm still enjoying the afterglow of Mikaboshi's defeat. Things feel…different in Takamagahara. A bit more relaxed. The unrest that has plagued the Amatsukami has quieted, and I think the pantheon's confidence in Amaterasu has been restored. They're still not happy with me. My connection to Soku-no-Kumi is now out in the open, and many members of the pantheon aren't happy about it. But they can't deny that I engineered the defeat of our worst enemy and redeemed a fallen goddess, and they all respect me for that even if they disapprove of my methods. Also, Echo helped work things out with Himiko, so she's back in Takamagahara now, so yay! (^_^)
Of course, there are problems. For one thing, Ama-no-Zaku is in love with me, and is having a hard time with the fact that I'm not returning her affections. I think she understands the situation, and yeah, I totally played her in order to redeem her. I think she realizes she's better off now, and she's grateful. There's just a bit of uncomfortable tension between us, and I suspect we're in for a little courtly intrigue as she attempts to win me over and maybe take out Amaterasu or her father in the process. I know, it sounds terrible, right? (>_<) Still, I think it's under control. Marishiten is keeping an eye on things, and I hope Ama-no-Zaku will put aside her covetous, vengeful desires eventually. I'm still her friend, and doing what I can to help her adjust. I'm the only person who understands the Darkness from which she's escaped, so she needs me.
There is one other little catch, though. It seems that a part of me is truly bound to Soku-no-Kumi now, imprisoned there in the Darkness. One of me has to be there pretty much all the time. I can't really escape it. I've tried, but…I just can't. I'm not really upset about it, though. Erebus and Melanthea are important to me, so I wouldn't want to leave them anyway. Don't get me wrong, it's a bitter pill to swallow, having my freedom stifled like that. But I'm a goddess of duality, and no great victory comes without sacrifice. This is how it should be.
Not everything is so gloomy. (^_^) Now that I know my fate is sealed, and that I will never be free of the Darkness and taint, I decided there was no point in keeping Miko at arm's length anymore, waiting for my own triumphant purification. I acquired another Youan ring from Sarasvati (whom I owe a few favors now), so I can be with Miko without corrupting her purity.
So Miko and I had a lovely romantic rendezvous, just the two of us. She was amazing, so beautiful and gentle, radiant and loving. I gave her the ring as a sign of our union. She is a part of me, a part that has been separated from me for too long. Amaterasu, Echo and Yi understand. They know how strongly fate joins Miko and me, and how natural our union is. So we're together now, no more walls between us.
I feel complete. Now that Miko and I can be together, I've felt the orbits of my personal fate shift and settle into a new place. They are in complete harmony. Amaterasu balances Erebus, Yi balances Miko, and Echo is the center. It's all as it should be...like it was always supposed to be this way. My work as a goddess is far from over, but I believe I have found my place in the cosmos of divinity.
[End entry]
[Erika's Journal - BFFs]
It turns out that being bound to Soku-no-Kumi has brought me and Persephone closer together. We've always had a lot in common, but now I really understand her in ways I only thought I did before. It's good to have a friend who really gets it. Her husband still doesn't like me much, but at least he seems to understand the importance of the connection his wife and I share. And of all the gods out there, I think he respects my sacrifice more than anyone.
[End entry]
[Erika's Journal - Welcome Shigeru!]
Keiko and Oda had their baby! (^___^) Oda Shigeru was born yesterday, healthy and strong. He's an adorable little nopperabo boy, and the girls have been fawning over him, especially Quinn. Keiko is so proud and happy that she's positively glowing! Mei and Shanyu are getting old enough that they are kinda fascinated by this new baby, and Shanyu seems excited to have another boy on Red Mountain (Cesar and Sonny have convinced him that he needs guys around if he's going to grow up to be a real man…which may in fact be true).
I sent my private jet to fly Teruko in from Japan to meet her little brother. I'm excited to see her again, and I know Keiko and Oda can't wait for her to arrive. I hope she'll stay awhile if she can. I think Chiaki is coming along too to spend some time with Mercy. Yep, those two are still together! (^_^)
Anyway, we're all happy for Keiko and Oda! I gave Keiko as much time off as she wants. She deserves it.
[End entry]
[Erika's Journal - All Grown Up]
My baby girl is all grown up and leaving the nest! I don't know whether to be super excited and happy, or super sad. A little of both, I guess. I've been trying not to cry about it, but it's tough seeing my little Rose move out. She's ready, though. She has to be. She's an oread, and she's old enough that her soul is calling out for a mountain of her own, so she has to find one.
Fortunately, she's not moving far. She's drawn to Mount Wachusett, which is here in Massachuesetts, not too far from Red Mountain. Yeah, I know that I can basically appear wherever I want any time I want, so distance is practically meaningless, but there's something comforting about having Rose within a couple hours' driving distance. And she likes the mountain. It's not connected to any other mountains; in fact, it's surrounded by relatively flat land, which is pretty interesting, and you can see Boston and Red Mountain from its peak on a clear day. There's a sprawling ski resort with lots of ski slopes on one side, and the other side is covered with protected old-growth forest, giving it an eldritch quality that I think really appeals to Rose. She's super excited about it.
Anyway, we got her all moved into a house there near the ski resort. She's probably going to become some sort of goth ski bunny. (^_^) Echo and I spent the first night there with her, but we've just returned home to Red Mountain. Even with Mei and Shanyu, Yi and everyone else here, if feels a little empty without Rose. I hope she doesn't get too lonely on her own. If she needs me, she'll call, right? I'm sure she will. I can be there in the blink of an eye. Literally. So she'll be okay.
...
I should call to check on her.
[End entry]
So, it's been awhile since I've written, but I'm still enjoying the afterglow of Mikaboshi's defeat. Things feel…different in Takamagahara. A bit more relaxed. The unrest that has plagued the Amatsukami has quieted, and I think the pantheon's confidence in Amaterasu has been restored. They're still not happy with me. My connection to Soku-no-Kumi is now out in the open, and many members of the pantheon aren't happy about it. But they can't deny that I engineered the defeat of our worst enemy and redeemed a fallen goddess, and they all respect me for that even if they disapprove of my methods. Also, Echo helped work things out with Himiko, so she's back in Takamagahara now, so yay! (^_^)
Of course, there are problems. For one thing, Ama-no-Zaku is in love with me, and is having a hard time with the fact that I'm not returning her affections. I think she understands the situation, and yeah, I totally played her in order to redeem her. I think she realizes she's better off now, and she's grateful. There's just a bit of uncomfortable tension between us, and I suspect we're in for a little courtly intrigue as she attempts to win me over and maybe take out Amaterasu or her father in the process. I know, it sounds terrible, right? (>_<) Still, I think it's under control. Marishiten is keeping an eye on things, and I hope Ama-no-Zaku will put aside her covetous, vengeful desires eventually. I'm still her friend, and doing what I can to help her adjust. I'm the only person who understands the Darkness from which she's escaped, so she needs me.
There is one other little catch, though. It seems that a part of me is truly bound to Soku-no-Kumi now, imprisoned there in the Darkness. One of me has to be there pretty much all the time. I can't really escape it. I've tried, but…I just can't. I'm not really upset about it, though. Erebus and Melanthea are important to me, so I wouldn't want to leave them anyway. Don't get me wrong, it's a bitter pill to swallow, having my freedom stifled like that. But I'm a goddess of duality, and no great victory comes without sacrifice. This is how it should be.
Not everything is so gloomy. (^_^) Now that I know my fate is sealed, and that I will never be free of the Darkness and taint, I decided there was no point in keeping Miko at arm's length anymore, waiting for my own triumphant purification. I acquired another Youan ring from Sarasvati (whom I owe a few favors now), so I can be with Miko without corrupting her purity.
So Miko and I had a lovely romantic rendezvous, just the two of us. She was amazing, so beautiful and gentle, radiant and loving. I gave her the ring as a sign of our union. She is a part of me, a part that has been separated from me for too long. Amaterasu, Echo and Yi understand. They know how strongly fate joins Miko and me, and how natural our union is. So we're together now, no more walls between us.
I feel complete. Now that Miko and I can be together, I've felt the orbits of my personal fate shift and settle into a new place. They are in complete harmony. Amaterasu balances Erebus, Yi balances Miko, and Echo is the center. It's all as it should be...like it was always supposed to be this way. My work as a goddess is far from over, but I believe I have found my place in the cosmos of divinity.
[End entry]
[Erika's Journal - BFFs]
It turns out that being bound to Soku-no-Kumi has brought me and Persephone closer together. We've always had a lot in common, but now I really understand her in ways I only thought I did before. It's good to have a friend who really gets it. Her husband still doesn't like me much, but at least he seems to understand the importance of the connection his wife and I share. And of all the gods out there, I think he respects my sacrifice more than anyone.
[End entry]
[Erika's Journal - Welcome Shigeru!]
Keiko and Oda had their baby! (^___^) Oda Shigeru was born yesterday, healthy and strong. He's an adorable little nopperabo boy, and the girls have been fawning over him, especially Quinn. Keiko is so proud and happy that she's positively glowing! Mei and Shanyu are getting old enough that they are kinda fascinated by this new baby, and Shanyu seems excited to have another boy on Red Mountain (Cesar and Sonny have convinced him that he needs guys around if he's going to grow up to be a real man…which may in fact be true).
I sent my private jet to fly Teruko in from Japan to meet her little brother. I'm excited to see her again, and I know Keiko and Oda can't wait for her to arrive. I hope she'll stay awhile if she can. I think Chiaki is coming along too to spend some time with Mercy. Yep, those two are still together! (^_^)
Anyway, we're all happy for Keiko and Oda! I gave Keiko as much time off as she wants. She deserves it.
[End entry]
[Erika's Journal - All Grown Up]
My baby girl is all grown up and leaving the nest! I don't know whether to be super excited and happy, or super sad. A little of both, I guess. I've been trying not to cry about it, but it's tough seeing my little Rose move out. She's ready, though. She has to be. She's an oread, and she's old enough that her soul is calling out for a mountain of her own, so she has to find one.
Fortunately, she's not moving far. She's drawn to Mount Wachusett, which is here in Massachuesetts, not too far from Red Mountain. Yeah, I know that I can basically appear wherever I want any time I want, so distance is practically meaningless, but there's something comforting about having Rose within a couple hours' driving distance. And she likes the mountain. It's not connected to any other mountains; in fact, it's surrounded by relatively flat land, which is pretty interesting, and you can see Boston and Red Mountain from its peak on a clear day. There's a sprawling ski resort with lots of ski slopes on one side, and the other side is covered with protected old-growth forest, giving it an eldritch quality that I think really appeals to Rose. She's super excited about it.
Anyway, we got her all moved into a house there near the ski resort. She's probably going to become some sort of goth ski bunny. (^_^) Echo and I spent the first night there with her, but we've just returned home to Red Mountain. Even with Mei and Shanyu, Yi and everyone else here, if feels a little empty without Rose. I hope she doesn't get too lonely on her own. If she needs me, she'll call, right? I'm sure she will. I can be there in the blink of an eye. Literally. So she'll be okay.
...
I should call to check on her.
[End entry]