((Locked to sashanofstars))

[zhilbar]

((Continued from here))

Leading Sashan through the portal, He came out in an opulent Oriental foyer, smiling and chatting with the guy behind the podium in badly accented Cantonese. {Hey there, Li Pao! How did the foot operation go?Some short chatting later, Zhil and Sashan are safely ensconced in a booth as various white-shirted folk bearing

Comments

[sashanofstars]

Sorta. Kinda. It's a confusing thing, even when she was the one who did a great deal of the separation and therefore should likely know very well.

The little goddess settles in her seat, sighing faintly. "The subject is my son, Zhilbar."

[zhilbar]

Hey, 'sorta' is close enough for baccarat, Their respective contributions aside. Zhil's waving a few waiters over, picking up some ha gou, some siu mai, a little duck, perhaps a nice pork bun.. Just enjoying the small amounts and delicate flavorings, and certainly offering some to Sashan. Food is such a wonderful thing!

...And then She got down to business. About Kheldar.

Somehow, He predicts this will end badly!

Hopefully managing to keep at least most of the 'ohcrap' off His face, He responds, "A fine young lad, by all means. ...And exceptionally good at tail-chasing, to boot."

Okay, so He can't quite manage a neutral tone of voice. He likes the kid!

[sashanofstars]

It just might. Sashan isn't unaware of the 'ohcrap', and for a moment is actually sort of impressed with how much of it isn't showing. "Well practiced," she murmurs, a shooting star disappearing over her shoulder.

"I assume you noticed Kheldar is a demigod."

[zhilbar]

Luckily, Tom Kiang's is in San Francisco. Hardly a patron even bats an eye at silly things like scaly customers meeting up with star-filled paragons of femininity; this sort of thing happens all the time!

All the same, Zhil's going to try urging food on Her a little more. It's so GOOOOOOD, Sashan! :D

Tactfully ignoring the commentary on His poker face, He still managed to go with a nod only the slightest bit sardonic. "It may have come to My attention, yes. An excellent thing for a growing boy to be!"

[sashanofstars]

Sashan's face is in the even neutrality she usually adopts when trying to stay the fuck out of mortal wars (she learned her lesson on getting involved in those many, many years ago). She lets him convince her to try the food, although her mind is so far elsewhere she's really not appreciating it as she otherwise might.

"Growing, yes. But when he is grown?" she puts forth, the most delicate of frowns marring that pretty face. "I must be blunt, Zhilbar, my children need more than my children can provide." And while she isn't going to be this blunt, she has better things to do than give them a new demigod every time they run out. (So to speak.)

Quietly, she murmurs, "I came to bargain with you that you might help me raise him higher than that."

Well. She doesn't ask for small things, does she? A piece of his soul, the immortal godhood of her son...at least she's not asking him to help with the rest of her eons-spanning plot.

[zhilbar]

Yes, this is what He half-expected. He'll lead off His foodshovery for the moment, simply drinking in Sashan's depthless eyes.

A hand gently reaches across the table, cupping and caressing Her cheek; more daring than He'd normally be, but these are special circumstances. And when He speaks, a river of compassion and sorrow flow within those two words.

"Remember Galenna?"

[sashanofstars]

Sashan tilts her face into the hand at her cheek and she closes her eyes; this is an admission that doesn't come so very easily. She's failed her children in many ways, but outright forgetting is new...

"No." It's soft, almost inaudible, but she has a feeling he's not going to miss it.

She knows, intellectually, who and what Galenna was. She couldn't have gone this long without having been told. But memories of her own? Those are lost.

[zhilbar]

...What?

Damn and blast it, I've just twisted the knife. That wasn't a 'huh?' answer, She knows what She's missing... But the lessons I learned from Our first child are just too pertinent to ignore.

His hand strokes, gently and continuously. He wanted to just come across the table, take Her in His arms, and let Her know that She wasn't going this alone...

But that was something reserved for His splinterself. All He had at the moment were hard truths. "I do."

To Zhilbar, that speaks volumes.

[sashanofstars]

Sashan's perfectly capable of gracefully disentangling herself, so well the intent of the motion isn't obvious. She doesn't, this time; she simply moves back out of reach. "I know."

But she isn't sure what it means beyond that.

[zhilbar]

His hand starts to tighten in the air before He can smooth it back out, regretting the loss of the silken star-warmed touch of her skin... But this is how it had to be. "I don't want Kheldar to suffer from the same mistakes She went through."

Fighting to hold eye contact, He stated slowly, with infinite regret, "The answer, for the moment, is no." THEN he could turn away a little, because He truly hated to see that look in Her eyes.

[sashanofstars]

"He won't."

This isn't a protest against Zhilbar's decision. Sashan's words are matter of fact and simple, and her tone is the certainty of ages. There is a hint of regret in her eyes, but then they smooth into her natural black and those eyes give nothing away. Neither does the ageless calm on her face.

"It pleased me to see you," she says, and the phrasing implies sincerity that might not be expected right now. "I'm sure it will again."

With that, she rises to leave.

[zhilbar]

"I believe it." Now.

The sadness in His eyes is deep as years, the certainty in His voice unshakable. There's not a doubt in His mind that He's doing the right thing, and no less does He wish He didn't have to.

"I cannot imagine not feeling pleasure at the sight of You, lady. I can but hope for our next meeting." He stays seated, just to make it easier. Still, there is one more thing to say...

"When he can come to Me on his own, if he wishes ascension, send him My way. I will test him, I will try him- and if he can manage, I will open the door." Perhaps that might give some insight as to why She was denied, if temporarily.

On the other hand, perhaps not.

[sashanofstars]

Sashan tilts her head in acknowledgment, but she doesn't bother with an actual response. Her plan is vastly different from what Zhilbar has in mind, and if she's going to have to go elsewhere for the assistance she needs...well, she's just not going to waste time trying to make him understand.

Many people have observed she looks at the world in an odd sort of way, and they're dead right.

"Be well, Zhilbar," she says, with sincere warmth.

She hadn't wanted to involve her father in this; she'd wanted to be able to present to him what she'd done, to show him...mn. No such luck, maybe. He'll be able to do what she's asking, and moreover she knows he'll be willing.

Still, she can always try Sam first.

These are the thoughts drawing her further and further away as she fades until only the barest hint of stars are left in her wake.

[zhilbar]

And Zhil's head sinks into His hands, one thought running through His head. The act of observation changes the thing observed.

Once again, it was His fault. The knowledge that He'd let some shred of Him get it right just wasn't enough, was it? Even if He'd assured Himself there'd be no meddling, He still had to see... and seeing was meddling.

"Damn you, Heidelberg..." The words came out softly, almost inaudibly. Give him a moment, waiters.