The Sacred City

[cityship]

After the crew finished up with the Rituals of Judgement and Joining, they were permitted to enter the city proper.

Orongo was even more impressive than it appeared from outside the wall. Despite the primitive seeming architecture, the city was alive with lights and sounds and colors. The numerous stone buildings were covered in bright paints in

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[agoodomen]

Before Daimon did anything else he first wanted to see where they would be staying for the night. He rubbed his chest absently, a habit he'd picked up since the darksoul left him. It was strange to feel completely smooth skin over his chest now that his birthmark was gone. But those were not his thoughts at the moment. He didn't know precisely what he was thinking. Images of his wedding (but of course it wasn't really a wedding, was it?) to Patsy and feelings- feelings he'd been trying very hard to bury for what had to be over a year now.

It wasn't right to love her. Not then, not as the hideous spawn of Satan. But now that he was fully a man...

[patsy_walker]

Patsy ran a nervous hand through her mane of thick, lustrous red hair. She shivered with nervousness, and she knew that the nervousness was evident on her face. She wished that she was wearing her Hellcat cowl just then. But that would involve hiding, and the last thing that Daimon deserved was her hiding from him anymore than she already had.

Granted, not that what had happened was voluntary hiding by any means.

He loves me, she mused. He loves me, and he loves a version of me that I haven't even become yet. She sighed softly. Cheese and crackers. And now we're married. Kind of. Sort of. Wherever face painting is regarded as being more of a valid marriage-thing than a huge, honking diamond ring. She looked up at Daimon. Maybe this will end better than my last marriage?

[agoodomen]

Patsy needn't worry about her anxiety being obvious. Daimon was worse, but of course, she would have been able to tell even if he really was the Prince of Lies he was supposed to be.

Still, Daimon forced himself to smile. "It is tradition for the groom to carry the bride over the threshold, but then this is hardly traditional- at least not by our standards."

[patsy_walker]

"True," Patsy said, nodding her head. "So..." she looked back at the entrance. "How should we play this?"

[agoodomen]

"Well, I- that is- whatever you would- whatever you think is best." Smooth.

[patsy_walker]

Patsy looked at the entrance, and back at Daimon.

And then she considered some things.

And then she looked back at him and noticed that he was just as nervous as she was.

And then she smiled.

"Maybe we should humour the insanity of all this and go traditional?"

[agoodomen]

"Maybe." Daimon took a deep breath, and steeled himself. "If you're sure." He first made sure to open the door, then swept Patsy up into his arms and carried her into their Consummation Hut.

[patsy_walker]

Patsy wrapped her arms around Daimon's neck as he lifted her up. She stifled a small laugh, but looked straight at him. "Well. Hello."

[agoodomen]

Daimon grinned. "Hello, Ms. Walker." He thought about teasing with Mrs. Hellstrom but... that would be a bit much.

With his foot he nudged the door closed behind them. Looks like you're not the only agile one here, Pats.

If he could look away from Patsy for one moment, Daimon would have noticed that there was only one bed in this hut. But then he should have expected that.

[patsy_walker]

"Funny," Patsy said, feeling brave. "I thought it was Mrs. Hellstrom." She turned her head towards the interior of the room and blanched a little. "There's only one bed." She looked back at Daimon. "This is a lot more real than we thought, handsome."

[agoodomen]

Daimon's expression mirrored Patsy's. He looked around for some kind of couch but this hut had none.

Carefully, Daimon bent so he could let Patsy back down on her feet. "If you prefer I can sleep on the floor." At least without his darksoul he actually could promise that trust in his ability to retrain himself.

[patsy_walker]

Patsy eased herself out of Daimon's grasp. "No, that's not necessary," Patsy replied. "I trust you."

[agoodomen]

"As you wish. I promise I will be nothing but a gentleman." And then he actually smiled. "I wouldn't dare risk your wrath." Considering she was actually stronger than him now.

[patsy_walker]

"Hell hath no fury like a...me, apparently," Patsy winked, encouraged by his charming smile. "Worst comes to worst, we could always place a dividing board between us on the bed and bundle the way they used to back in the 1700s," she joked. She reached up, bravely, and stroked his cheek. "I'm kidding. And I believe you. Are you okay with this, though?"

[agoodomen]

Daimon felt his heartbeat rise. While the urge to take Patsy in his arms was still there- a very slight urge- it was refreshing and relieving to not have to worry about repressing the darksoul's own thoughts and desires. He didn't know what was happier- Patsy's touch and interest or his own freedom.

O.K.? I have died and gone to heaven. He couldn't help but think, then was embarrassed at the thought since he knew Patsy could read them. While he normally made an effort to order his thoughts and block them off when he knew he was in the presence of a telepath, Patsy had a way of lowering his defenses.

"As long as it does not bother you, yes."

[patsy_walker]

Maybe you have? Patsy teased him, telepathically. Out loud, with a coquettish smile, she added, "No. Not in the least."