(Untitled)

[discordare]

It's by the whim of a goddess that you awaken in a foreign place tonight. Perhaps you are a spirit or a deity, and you've come of your accord. Or perhaps you are a mortal, and it is only by her will that you've been invited. Spirited away to this magical place. Your gracious immortal host has provided you with two things: a mask-- ornate, jeweled,

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[aut_augur]

[Not a spirit, not a deity, but in between. The mask suits him well, does not have the same long beak as another bird's, is mostly reminiscent of a human's but is specked with feathers and flowers.

He has not been forced into a suit this time, recognizes the augurs robes and knows something larger than himself has occurred. Discord is not a patron of his, it makes him nervous, but he knows how to behave himself and moves quietly to one side to watch the dancing.]

[lagopa]

[ Beneath the mask, her anxious mannerisms and gentle movements could make her familiar to him. She senses the powers at work here-- smells Strife in the air, feels Discord's eyes-- and his familiar aura is comforting to her.

She approaches cautiously-- tentatively, hands folded in front of her. A hesitation, then she dips her head towards him. ]

Hello, Jast.

[aut_augur]

[He does recognize her, fair hair streaming out around her petite mask. It feels as if they are caught in the eye of a storm, huddled together waiting for the inevitable rush of chaos. Seeing her is comfort to him as well.]

Hello. Do you... know where we are?

[He is not entirely certain if this a dream or not, cannot follow the strings of magic without recoiling from the horrible sound they make at his touch. There is a twinge of pain in his eyes. No. Discord is not one of his patrons at all.]

[lagopa]

[ The chaos and darkness of their host seems discomforting to the fox spirit as well. She does not dare try to reach out to it or defy it. Her powers are nothing compared to that of any god or goddess-- especially not one whose magic seems so malicious.

She draws closer. As if to hide away from everyone but her friend. ]

An immortal has invited us into their realm.

[ A pause, then more softly: ] I do not like it here.

[aut_augur]

[The guardian in him flares and he reaches out for her, tucks her into his side where he can exert enough influence to be soothing, offers up the clean scent of fresh snow, the bright greenery of pines, the perfection of a cloudless, blue winter sky. It is his purpose and it is comforting for him to be able to rise to it.]

It... will be okay.

[He thinks so. His sight has not given him any warnings to the contrary, but perhaps his goddesses cannot reach him here. The thought frightens him, just a bit, but he hopes this is just ceremony, that he can offer this strange realm a ritual blessing and be excused from cruelty.]

[lagopa]

[ The smell of snow and pines reminds her of home. This too is comforting-- like the familiar presence beside her. She has always been wary of foreign places, and here, with malicious magic festering in the air, these comforts are treasured blessings. Her anxious heart beats a little easier in her chest. One slender hand curl's into her friend's clothes loosely, to have something to hold.

When she replies, her words are not in any human tongue: ]

You are a good friend, Jast. You have been very kind to me.

GOOD MORNING MADDIE 8V

[aut_augur]

[He smiles faintly for her, expression a bit pinched off, it makes this place no less discomfiting, but it will do. The mask hides it well besides. He hums back to her musically, the wild trill of the violin winds with his birdvoice eerily.]

I will always be your guardian when you have need of me.

[It is his promise, and it gives him strength to make it.]

GOOD MORNING LOVELY MISS 8V

[lagopa]

[ Below where the design of her mask leaves her face exposed, the fox spirit's mouth curves into a small smile. No teeth, just the corners of her lips pulling upwards. The shape of her mouth is hesitant, but friendly. Warm. ]

Your belief makes me strong. I will be a good protector to you also, Jast. I promise this.

[aut_augur]

[They have their own little bubble amongst the anarchy, a clean little clearing of calm and purpose. A little more of the pain leaves his expression as he says softly,]

I met a cat who smelled you on me.

[burntoobright]

[Fallen's been to many carnivals in his time, but he'd never gone when he was blind. It's bewildering, close to terrifying, the noise and press of people. He manages to find a wall and stands against it, trying not to panic.

He reaches for Mist, any of his siblings, finds none of them near. His connection to Jast thrums strong, though, and he tightens his grip on it, the situation making him a little desperate for the familiar feel of the boy.]

[aut_augur]

[Jast is not sure when he becomes aware of Fallen, he was not there from the beginning and there was no set point when he arrived, but their string is taut. He can pick out its distinct notes amongst all this chaos and he goes to find the firebeast, knows he's needed and his heart beats in his throat thinking he hasn't been fast enough.

He finds Fallen, recognizes him under the mask because he's seen him wear it before. He isn't sure why it is his first reaction, but he presses into the man, arms wrapped tight around the center of him. His clean rain scent pervades from him in a cool burst.]

[burntoobright]

[Relief floods through Fallen to feel Jast against him. He wraps his arms around the boy's shoulders, startled a little at the soft robes Jast is wearing. He pulls back a little to feel over Jast's face, finding the mask and wanting to push it aside, have the boy's skin under his fingers, but he restrains himself, smoothing over a feather with his thumb.]

I'm alright, Jast. Just... [spooked, disorientated. Jast's presence is making that better though, a solid anchor he can hold on to. He offers a crooked smile, a little ashamed of how panicked he'd been before.]

[aut_augur]

[Jast stares up at him, for once is not soothed by his smile at all and hugs him closer. He doesn't like this realm, and he doesn't like that Fallen is here as well. He does not want Discord's claws in him. But Jast has no real influence here, there is no nature, there is cold and marble and cruel steel and he is not of the deep Earth, he is of grass and tree and sky.

He wants to send Fallen home but that isn't in his power, and his voice is muffled into his shoulder when he says,]

Sorry.

[burntoobright]

[Fallen slips one hand under the hood of those robs and settles it at the back of Jast's neck, giving comfort as much as taking it.]

Nothing to be sorry for.

[He's calmed enough to really think about where they are now, tilting his head as he listens more carefully to the sounds around them. He's always loved carnivals and Mardi Gras, and regrets that he can't see this. There's something about the place that appeals to the fire in him, coaxing at his core.]

Can you tell me... [what it all looks like, the cacophony and crowd. But Jast has never been good with words and he can't ask that of him.] where we are?

[aut_augur]

A goddess calls us.

[Jast says it quietly, looking up at him once more. His fingertips brush the closed places in the mask where the eye slits should have been. Shame fills him that he has not healed the golem yet but he is...

He reaches up, coaxes Fallen down closer to him. Their cheeks brush briefly as he moves to whistle something straight into his ear. There are no real words to worry about in the tune, just the dip and movement of the things around them: the cacophony, the crowd, the gleam of marble, the glimmer of golden apple.

Fallen had always understood his songs better than most, without his eyes he should take the meaning clearly.]

[burntoobright]

[A goddess. Fallen can't say that's happened to him before. He wonders at it, coupled with the pull on his nature, but he's distracted by Jast's touch, his song. The tune sparks an image in his mind, growing slowly with each new inflection. For a moment the room is as clear to him as if he were seeing it himself, before Jast's song ends and it fades into a memory image.

He brushes a kiss against Jast's hair as he draws back, hand still stroking circles over the nape of his neck; an idle, comfortable motion.]

Thank you.

[He's quiet for a moment, thinking over what Jast's shown him, listening to the room and placing sounds within the map Jast gave him.]

So, this goddess want something?