Author: Naota, Posted: Sat Nov 5, 2016 5:18 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

His lips parted.  Her father was a scholar, he wasn’t sure why it surprised him but it did.  Perhaps because all he’d heard in length had been about her mother.  That woman was wicked beyond comprehension to her daughter, and he wondered how such a bright man could have ever ended up with her.  At least he was safe and alive, hopefully happy.  When was the last time that Echo had been reunited with him…?  How proper would it be to try and invite him to whatever ceremony they did have?  If they had one.  Echo still needed to say ‘yes’ of course.
 
Somewhere in his own library there had to be a book or scroll of some sort that held information on fastenings.  They weren’t entirely common where he came from, and he thought about what his parents might say.  As strict and formal as they could be, they understood well the importance of certain rites of passage.  Marriage, any loving union, was one such passage.  His brothers would love Echo immediately, his father likely would be confused by her, it was his mother he held the most worry for.  His eldest brother had already married, and that loosening in grip had been a hard one.
 
It was never anything personal, she just worried…He wondered if he was in part to blame for that.  Such thoughts were unimportant though, and he nodded to The Mother with a grateful smile, sighing when she touched his nose, “Yes, thank you Angela.”  Angela, it was strange calling her by her name so informally.
 
“I’ll speak with her on the matter as soon as I can, and believe you me: you’ll be the first to know of the outcome.”  It felt harsh not to go to his own family about such a big decision in his life, but truth be told he’d hardly gone around them since his ascension.  He was different now, and a part of him was afraid of what they might think of him now: good or bad.  With having learned of his adoption he’d started to feel a separation from them, not due to him being born of another line, but because they’d tried so hard to hide that fact…This only made the barrier higher.  Hiromi, he’d find her, and hope that touching her wouldn’t cause her any harm.
 
“I look forward to our drinking session…Thank you again Angela.”  Easing back in his seat, his eyes moved back out to Echo in the arena.  The soft smell of Angela’s tea still lingered in the air, and he danced with the idea of mentioning her visit to his -hopefully- soon to be Lady.  

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2016 8:45 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

Angela put her tea cup down and thought about Sage. “Holed up in his library back home. The man never rests when he thinks he is on the verge of a magic break through. It’s one of the reasons his family is so strong in magic. Where Cecilia’s family was brute force in magic… Sage’s family was well known for research and developing things.”

Leaning over Angela tapped his nose and chuckled. “Think on it. Don’t rush, but if you want to rush… there might be a book on fastening somewhere. You could pick out your favorite and maybe we could put something together. I would really think on it and pick the one that suits you both.” She reached over and pat his head.

Getting up Angela stretched and chuckled. “I’ll get working on those potions. When you decide on a fastening we can have all of the finest alcohol, I promise.” She took time to disappear but not before giving him a smile. “Just remember, there is no time like now.” She was teasing the boy knowing how embarrassed he could be in the right situation.

Author: Naota, Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2016 2:22 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

He smiled, small but genuine.  There was comfort in seeing her so sure of something, now if only some of that confidence could get passed on to him then everything would be perfect.  Sometimes he wished he could get intoxicated as easily as the common man, and he joined in her laughter, though his more contained.  He nodded his thanks to her, “I look forward to it then.”

Mention of her father brought on more curiosity though, and while he felt almost asking, he couldn’t help but do so, “Sage.  Her father?  Where is he exactly…?”  If he reminded Angela of himself then he wondered if he was as reclusive as Naota was known to be.  Echo’s mother wasn’t the most pleasant person, so he wouldn’t have blamed him for wanting time to himself were that the case.

It was strange to think about a lover’s parents.  With Holly he had known who her mother was of course, everyone in Revaliir did.  And with other flings they had been just that: occurrences of pleasure and nothing more.  Casual.  That’s how they’d wanted it.  So now thinking about parents again…?  It was foreign to him.  Hell, he’d brought up his own but it never crossed his mind to take Echo to see them.  Not because he was ashamed of her or ashamed of them, it just didn’t cross his mind…It was a bridge he’d never had to cross, Holly had never made it that far.

His lips parted, Torn, he recognized the name immediately as the other that had ascended with him.  At this point though he hadn’t met him but had her whisperings of his…jovial nature.  He hoped that was a good thing, it was hard to tell.

“Marriage is something the two of us never really spoke about, just…a subject that never came up.  I don’t even know where to start.”  Or if she’d say ‘yes’ for that matter.  Some people just were opposed to the idea of marriage in general, even if they loved the person with all their heart.  The word struck fear in some.   His eyes moved out in thought, his words growing quiet, “Maybe a fastening…I don’t know.”

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 12:10 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

Angela gave him  a watchful eye. “I don’t think she honestly trusts us too greatly thanks to Cecilia. That’s why she only trusts you and her father. Sage is a nice man. When you meet him you’ll love him. He reminds me a lot of you actually.” 

The mention of alcohol had her rolling. “I will make the strongest batch of alcohol the world has ever seen. Enough alcohol contents to put down an entire army! You and I will drink it and accomplish what we can. You just have to get engaged first and I’ll get everything arranged. Think on it and make it happen.”

The promise of the Mother’s own brew was a gift in itself. She rarely made alcohol but when she did she knew to make it right. A smile came across her face. “You are a good match for her. She is a lot happier here than where she use to be. I think a change of life will help and if you need to let loose.. I’m sure Torn would let you run wild in his gauntlet.” She reached over and patted his head. “You leave the hard stuff to me. I can get everything in working order.”

Author: Naota, Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 11:36 AM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

All of this talk with baby making in such an unorthodox way was fascinating, but also intimidating.  How Angela did so with such ease would always be a mystery to him.  When she started talking about given Echo temporary body parts, that was when his mind tried to completely check out.  While he knew it wasn’t how she’d do so, he couldn’t help imagining her in a dank laboratory, needle and thread in hand with a crazed cackle and flash of lightning.  He smiled.  The image was funny, even if vastly inaccurate. 
 
He looked down at his hands, the new markings that lined them, and thought about all of the missions the two of them had been on.  Angela was right: they were a very good team.  Still were even, but he hadn’t been on a hunt in so long.  It wasn’t his place anymore and he wondered if she missed that dangerous life.  And then he remembered her with her fillies and colts and thought otherwise. 
 
Still, there was a tension forming in him, the need to move and run.  As much as he was trying to embrace his new position, as much as this place was his home, he wanted to do things from his old life.  The daemon was gone, but his demonic blood still pulsed with the need to get out aggression.
 
His lips quirked up, “Has never seen or heard love from anyone other than her father?  Now Angela, we both know that can’t be true: not with your watchful eye, and Lily’s.”  The Mother was nothing if not loving, even if it was tough love.  Yes, he’d experienced the tough love.  He laughed, “Well here’s to hoping she doesn’t get bored of me.”  His eyes softened, watching Angela for a moment as she made herself cozy in his temple.
 
Alcohol?  He hadn’t thought of drinking with her before, and wondered what it would be like to do such a thing with a deity.  Another deity.  His eyes widened, “A drink eh?  My tolerance was high before, I can’t imagine what it’s like now.”  A smirk slowly stretched, his eyes shifting, “You’re you though, something tells me that if there was anything with the ability to put down a deity for the night, you’d know.  Seeing The Mother with a drink?  That’s something even I couldn’t pass up.”

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 7:09 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

Angela laughed a bit and shook her head. “I meant the elixir. The babies will come of both of you naturally. However, she is lacking certain parts that I can give her temporarily while she is pregnant. I will need time to make such a great elixir. You could say the elixir is an art piece. No one but me can make something like this.” 

She formed a completely new teapot and sighed. Pouring the new cup of tea she laughed. “Sometimes we just have to think about what we want. You’ll figure it out. The two of you are a great team. Now that you are settled down, a little bit, you can be happy on another level.”

She sipped her on her tea and laughed a bit. The goddess almost choked on it. “Echo is a simple girl. She has never seen or heard love from someone but her father. You are someone important to her and she would like it anyway you did it.” She reached over with her free hand and patted the top of Naota’s head.

Laughing more she relaxed in her seat and sighed. “You will be just fine. I don’t think Echo would ever get tired of you.” She offered a soft smile. “I know you will. You have never broken a promise,” She looked as relaxed as ever. She took a huge sigh and drank all of her tea. “We should get alcohol together! And plan how we are going to slip her the elixir!”

Author: Naota, Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2016 6:47 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

His eyes softened when Angela began to calm.  She loved her, was protective, if nothing else then that was something he could always count on from The Mother: she wouldn’t give up on her family.  He thanked every day that Echo-Rose was so lucky.  Something she said caught his attention though, “Commission one from you…does that mean that they wouldn’t be made from the both of us then?”  Children were children and he’d love them regardless as well as his wife, but the bitter irony wasn’t lost on him…Hopefully he’d just mistaken what she’d said.  He didn’t focus on it,
 
“To be honest,” He looked out at nothing, his attention barely caught by the flaring tails of the nightmares, “I haven’t thought about how I would do it.  This wasn’t exactly something I thought would be a true option for me one day.  Companionship yes, but marriage was…dangerous.”  He expected a cackle in his head, but of course there was none. 
 
The green of his eyes shifted, turning to white until there was no distinguish between iris or pupil: completely white eyes.  In that moment he could see through Minasé’s eyes.  It was something he did every now and again with his unwilling avatar, to know where he was, what he might be doing…if he was hurting anyone.  At the first sign of blood he closed his eyes.  Minasé had taken up a bloody profession, and he personally didn’t like watching.  But at least it forced him to stick to some kind of code.  At times.
 
When his eyes opened the irises were emerald and shining as always, pupils had returned, “Not to disappoint you, but it will likely be dull in comparison to what others could think up.  Sometimes I wish I could just carefully slide the ring onto her finger: for us to just understand what it meant without having to say words at all.”  He smiled, still looking out, “She deserves better than that though, so I’m sure I’ll come up with something.”  Everything around them, the rooms, furniture, gardens, pathways: all had been constructed from him, springing from his mind and soul…yet he couldn’t think of words perfect enough to ask the woman he loved if she would marry him.

He looked over to her, “You won’t need to worry about that: I’ll probably be around her so much after she gives birth that I’ll become the problem.”  His smile faded, “But I understand what you’re telling me, don’t worry, I’ll make sure that she and the child are safe and happy…”

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sun Oct 2, 2016 1:05 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

Angela rocked her heels back and forth after her anger had subsided and she gave a smile. “If you didn’t want to after hearing that then you do not deserve her. It just means you love her Naota and that’s a good thing.” Thinking on the solution Angela started to crack up. “We’re going to drug her then I take it? It won’t be an end-all solution Naota. It never will. I have the power of resurrection but she’s not dead. However, if you give her one of my potions we should be able to temporarily fix the problem. Every time you want children just commission one from me and I’ll get it to you. You slip it in her food and she will never know. Though if she found out… Well… I suppose we’ll just have a secret to keep.”

The goddess chuckled and shook her head. “No, it will work I do make people pregnant all the time with less. I’ve made men pregnant and they lack what she has.” She tapped her finger to her chin. “I told Torn and Keira they were pregnant four hours after they conceived so… Right away.” She crossed her arms and thought on it. “Do you know how you want to propose? I can help you with that part right now.” 

The goddess was merry about the whole situation again as she watched Echo out in the arena with the horses. It never ceased to amaze her just how good she was with the horses. “One more thing before we talk about the engagement. When she has the children… I… Just look out for her. She’s never had a good mother and she might need a lot of help adjusting. She hasn’t ever known what motherly is but from Lily. I’m sure Lily would help her out if she had problems. I probably wouldn’t be the best person for this particular job like my sister would be.”

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Oct 2, 2016 12:39 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

Suddenly all of it clicked, and his eyes saddened remembering back to a scar he had seen on her.  There were so many littering her body that he morbidly hadn’t paid it any extra mind.  As Angela had said, the damage was right above the womb and he recalled sending gentle presses of his lips along it as if to ease any past pain.  Angela’s fist came crashing down at the exact moment his anger spiked and the white symbols on his skin flashed quickly as his eyes closed.  How could someone do that do their own child?  Barren…he’d never been barren by any other means of his own, but he understood the loss one felt at knowing they could never have children.  All of that was different now, but only due to recent ascension.
 
He looked back at her, eyes opening though they’d swirled closer to black from all of these newfound realizations, “I still want to marry her just as much as I did before knowing, though I have a much deeper sympathy towards her now than I’d already built…”  Someone should be so lucky as to be blessed with a child, and it made his stomach churn to hear about how much further the horrors of what that woman had done to Echo truly went. “She doesn’t know, I won’t bring that news to her.  Not when you say there’s a possible way to fix it.”  He knew all too well from personal experience how gut wrenching it was to come to the realization that you could never produce offspring.
 
“If it turns out that your tries won’t be able to help her though, then I will give her that news.”  Angela had done more than enough for Echo already, being a mother herself, The Mother at that, he’d spare her having that conversation if he could.  Or maybe they could do it together.  How did you tell someone they couldn’t ever have a child?  His own father had dropped the news on him as if it were a throw away fact that he should be grateful for: as if that responsibility to keep a child safe was as easy as turning off a switch.  He supposed at the time that it had made sense: Nathan hadn’t stayed for himself or Hiromi, he doubted the man had any true paternal instincts.
 
Looking back out he caught sight of her once more, his eyes softening and filling with green from their tarry state, “How soon can you know if your attempts will be fruitful?  I’d like to propose to her before any of that happens…”  For even a moment he wanted her to feel happiness and bliss…before it might all be ripped out from under her.  Again.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 5:25 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

Angela put the teacup up to her lips as she listened to the new god. Sure things had changed and stuff was better but what all did he know about Echo? What did Echo know about herself? Angela had known for a great while all of the struggles Echo would eventually have. “Be be honest, there isn’t really anything you have to be scared of when it comes to bedding Echo… I was just pushing your buttons,” despite the joking she did not smile about it.

“The problem isn’t you. It would have never been you even if you hadn’t purified yourself.” She shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she stared off at the wild snow-haired mage playing with the colts and fillies. “It’s her.” The words fell flat and Angela leaned her head back so she could stare up at the sky. “You  becoming a god changes a lot about what I wanted not to tell her.” She leaned over and poked him in the chest. “When she got with you… I must admit I sighed that I didn’t have to tell her what is wrong with her. You becoming a god put a stick in my spokes.”

Obviously it was rare for it to happen for Rosenites but there was disdain on the woman’s face. “It happened one autumn when Echo was out with her mother doing whatever it was that Cecilia did to Echo. By now you know about Cecilia.” There was a huff from the woman. “To think she would call herself a mother after throwing her daughter into vampire nests and demon nests like that. I would piece Echo back together but Echo only ever wanted her mother’s praise. She didn’t know what was happening was wrong until she was much older.” She set the teacup down. “I suppose it happened that autumn. She lost half of her body.” Angela made a motion towards the womb. “Now I’m a good healer but I have to get to the body before it starts to break down. Cecilia thought it was training to make the damn girl endure it.”

Angela landed her fist into the table she had made shattering it and everything on it. “Echo-Rose has been barren since the moment that happened.” She was upset by it clearly but she calmed herself down. “I can fix it. However, it’s just a temporary fix.” The table went back to how it was before she lost her temper. “I suppose, I wanted to bring it up because she doesn’t know. AND she can’t know. Well, yet anyway.”

Making a motion she poked at Naota, “You brought up marriage… What do you think of it now? You must have thought of it for a reason. Are you thinking about it? Echo-Rose is quite the catch. A duchess and a warrior. She might be barren but that is fixable with the right people.”

Author: Naota, Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 5:07 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

There was something…different in his temple: a new energy had made itself known, one just as strong if not stronger than his own.  His lips parted and his eyes widened, that could mean only one thing: Angela.  He ran down the Path of Light quickly, flickering past people as they walked, quickly giving his apologies as he ran and light teleported as fast as he could.  Angela was here, what could she want?  Was something wrong?  Nevermind that he had just ascended into deity hood, when he thought of Angela he thought of family.  Strange family……but family nonetheless.
 
One good thing about his temple was that the more time there he spent the more he was able to simply feel out where someone was, and he turned towards Echo’s horse arena and stables.  Soft rose quartz welcomed him as he made it through and his lips parted when he saw her: sitting comfortably as if she’d been here a million times before.  Already she’d gotten tea and materialized a seat for him which he promptly fell into as he caught his breath.  In truth he wasn’t tired given how much his body had changed, but it was still clinging to his former mortality that had his body responding with old habits.
 
He looked over at her, absentmindedly taking a cup of green tea as one of his clergy quietly handed it to him.  It was warm between his palms and drank slowly.  Though his eyebrows furrowed from her words.  Was she speaking about his newfound immortality?  Echo knew full and well about that now.  But as she continued he realized what she really meant…that look only solidified it more.  Instantly his cheeks flared with heat that had nothing to do with the tea in his hands.  He drank more down to stall speaking for a moment more, “It’s…Well, it’s a subject we haven’t breached yet.  I’ve barely come to terms with knowing that I can have children now and guarantee their safety…”
 
His eyes moved out to the pink ring, watching as colts bucked happily with each other, no doubt trying out new training that Echo had started them out on, “Right now everything is still so new, it seems like a bit much…A month ago I was scared to even think about marriage because of what I was, and now?”  Needless to say, things were completely different…he hardly felt like the same person anymore, in body at least.

Author: Angela Rose, Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2016 5:46 PM, Post Subject: Business [P/R]

After visiting the moron at his temple, she took a detour home. She wasn’t too concerned about the second deity who had risen. Naota had been good not only to her daughter but now to one of Sularia’s Duchesses. It was hard to image someone getting so entangled in her family but there he was. Taking a few days to play the waiting game Angela decided it was time to show up and check up on the young man. And he was young to her.

She looked much more elegant than her hasty teleport to the Dream Arena. The dress seemed to be fashioned from white silk and the flowers of a cherry tree. Her long red hair was left down and she seemed in a rather good mood as she appeared in the palace. She was quick to go to the arena where she was sitting down now on a chair where she could watch Echo-Rose training the many colts and fillies that Naota had gotten her. It was an interesting gift.

She was quick to call a clergy member over. “You don’t know me well but could you get us some tea. I know he will be here soon. He’s never missed an invitation before.” Her just showing up was an invitation. He knew her power well enough by now.

She was sipping on the tea as soon as she could. When Naota finally decided to join her she sprung up a chair and patted it. “She is far enough away where she can’t hear us.. and she is busy. So let’s talk. First off, does she know?” Those mischievous eyes stared up at him. “You’re going to have to be much more careful now. We’re quite fertile you know.”