Personification Life - IC Part VIII [open]

[Giovenith]

Jacob blinked, not quite understanding. "Uh..... Did something happen to Yoshi?" Jacob guessed, a terrified look on his face. He really hoped he was wrong. Really, really hoped. He hoped that Yoshi was fine, or at the most just hurt. He couldn't even imagine that Yoshi would be dead. Especially with the fact that no one in the building had ever really died before.

Albert sighed, and stopped his petting. He guessed Ray might be a bit pissed at him for lying. He realized Ray would be able to guess easily what had happened to Yoshi, unlike his brother. Albert merely hoped that Jacob would be able to get over it eventually, loosing his best friend.

"... I'm really, really sorry, Jacob," said Giovenith, looking down. "I got the news from a prayer. Our dear friend Yoshi... isn't going to be coming home. I'm sorry." She crunched down a bit, as if nervous about Jacob's reaction, getting the feeling it might be the most intense.

[New Aksarben]

Jacob blinked, not quite understanding. "Uh..... Did something happen to Yoshi?" Jacob guessed, a terrified look on his face. He really hoped he was wrong. Really, really hoped. He hoped that Yoshi was fine, or at the most just hurt. He couldn't even imagine that Yoshi would be dead. Especially with the fact that no one in the building had ever really died before.

Albert sighed, and stopped his petting. He guessed Ray might be a bit pissed at him for lying. He realized Ray would be able to guess easily what had happened to Yoshi, unlike his brother. Albert merely hoped that Jacob would be able to get over it eventually, loosing his best friend.

"... I'm really, really sorry, Jacob," said Giovenith, looking down. "I got the news from a prayer. Our dear friend Yoshi... isn't going to be coming home. I'm sorry." She crunched down a bit, as if nervous about Jacob's reaction, getting the feeling it might be the most intense.

Saying Jacob looked stunned would be an understatement. "S-so.... He's really dead...... Why?! He promised us that he would come home, and now he won't ever be able to be back here! And why didn't you get Swith or someone else to find a way to revive him as soon as you heard!" He looked a little angry, but he mostly looked stunned and sad. Tears began leaking out of his eyes, but Jacob did the best to keep them back. "Y-Yoshi was my best friend..... And now he's gone....."

He was feeling so many conflicting emotions, and was beginning to remember why Albert always had told him to avoid interacting with mortal people. Those close to you would always die, and when they did, you would feel horrible for not being able to die as well. While personifications could feasibly be killed, they were also much tougher than normal humans. Jacob had even heard of some who had fallen from a plane, and survived with very minimal harm. It depended on the strength of the nation they represented. A very weak nation had a weak personification, and a very strong nation tended to have a strong personification.

Jacob looked down at the floor and coffee table, as the thought, and sobbed. He had lost his best friend, and was only making it worse for himself by reminding himself of things Albert had told him in the past, but had somehow forgotten until now. "....It is my own fault..... Thinking I could have a friend who isn't immortal. It was just a matter of time until this happened after all..." Jacob muttered, just barely loud enough to be heard by the others.

[Giovenith]

"I..." Giovenith bit her tongue and swallowed a bit about the revival question, knowing it was far too complex to answer straightly. Frankly, she had no clue where Yoshi's soul had gone, and she figured that Swith, being the mature and developed god, probably already knew and made her choices. "I'm really, really sorry Jacob..." Giovenith got up, sat next to the personification and wrapped her arms around him. "No, no... do not regret your friendship with Yoshi. You helped fill his once painful life with light and happiness. You made it so that his life was not wasted, and remembered by those worthy of honoring him."

[New Aksarben]

"I..." Giovenith bit her tongue and swallowed a bit about the revival question, knowing it was far too complex to answer straightly. Frankly, she had no clue where Yoshi's soul had gone, and she figured that Swith, being the mature and developed god, probably already knew and made her choices. "I'm really, really sorry Jacob..." Giovenith got up, sat next to the personification and wrapped her arms around him. "No, no... do not regret your friendship with Yoshi. You helped fill his once painful life with light and happiness. You made it so that his life was not wasted, and remembered by those worthy of honoring him."

".... Yeah.... You are right.... He was a great person.... It just sucks that he had to die in a pointless war...." He sniffed, and continued staring at the floor. "I... I just do not know if it is wise to have friends who aren't immortal in some way or another..... I will likely outlive most normal people here, because of the fact I won't die until my nation does..." He sighed heavily, and laid back against the couch.

".... I'm guessing you got the invitation to meet in the communal dining room on Monday as well, Giovenith?" Jacob asked, more than a little listlessly. He seemed very depressed about this whole thing, and his ears were drooping on either side of his head, like a dog's would do when they are sad. Nearly all of his previous happiness was gone, replaced by sorrow. "Do you think they will deal with Yoshi's belongings and such then?"

[Giovenith]

"I..." Giovenith bit her tongue and swallowed a bit about the revival question, knowing it was far too complex to answer straightly. Frankly, she had no clue where Yoshi's soul had gone, and she figured that Swith, being the mature and developed god, probably already knew and made her choices. "I'm really, really sorry Jacob..." Giovenith got up, sat next to the personification and wrapped her arms around him. "No, no... do not regret your friendship with Yoshi. You helped fill his once painful life with light and happiness. You made it so that his life was not wasted, and remembered by those worthy of honoring him."

".... Yeah.... You are right.... He was a great person.... It just sucks that he had to die in a pointless war...." He sniffed, and continued staring at the floor. "I... I just do not know if it is wise to have friends who aren't immortal in some way or another..... I will likely outlive most normal people here, because of the fact I won't die until my nation does..." He sighed heavily, and laid back against the couch.

".... I'm guessing you got the invitation to meet in the communal dining room on Monday as well, Giovenith?" Jacob asked, more than a little listlessly. He seemed very depressed about this whole thing, and his ears were drooping on either side of his head, like a dog's would do when they are sad. Nearly all of his previous happiness was gone, replaced by sorrow. "Do you think they will deal with Yoshi's belongings and such then?"

"Possibly," Giovenith sadly patted Jacob's back. "I did receive one. Jacob, the price of longevity or immortality is a stinging, scarring one, but I would much rather live through their burn, rather than forsake them and the lovely things they follow to live in a dull, sad, anxious existence. Everything comes to an end, sooner or later, but that is part of living... to hide from that, is to become a blank puppet who wastes away as Eternity flies by."

[New Aksarben]

".... Yeah.... You are right.... He was a great person.... It just sucks that he had to die in a pointless war...." He sniffed, and continued staring at the floor. "I... I just do not know if it is wise to have friends who aren't immortal in some way or another..... I will likely outlive most normal people here, because of the fact I won't die until my nation does..." He sighed heavily, and laid back against the couch.

".... I'm guessing you got the invitation to meet in the communal dining room on Monday as well, Giovenith?" Jacob asked, more than a little listlessly. He seemed very depressed about this whole thing, and his ears were drooping on either side of his head, like a dog's would do when they are sad. Nearly all of his previous happiness was gone, replaced by sorrow. "Do you think they will deal with Yoshi's belongings and such then?"

"Possibly," Giovenith sadly patted Jacob's back. "I did receive one. Jacob, the price of longevity or immortality is a stinging, scarring one, but I would much rather live through their burn, rather than forsake them and the lovely things they follow to live in a dull, sad, anxious existence. Everything comes to an end, sooner or later, but that is part of living... to hide from that, is to become a blank puppet who wastes away as Eternity flies by."

Jacob nodded. "I would rather live longer anyway. My people rely on me being safe to give stability to my nation, and if I died, It might cause another civil war. But like all things on Terra, even nations must die eventually. I just hope that my nation's legacy can live on in later nations. Much like Rome's has in this universe and mine."

Following that, Jacob sighed. "Well. Maybe the trip to Urran will help us all get over Yoshi's loss..... So he prayed to you as he was dying? I did not know he worshiped your pantheon..." Jacob was a bit confused by that. H had thought Yoshi was Jewish or something. Or possibly Christian. Jacob couldn't quite remember what Yoshi had told him regarding that.

[Giovenith]

"Possibly," Giovenith sadly patted Jacob's back. "I did receive one. Jacob, the price of longevity or immortality is a stinging, scarring one, but I would much rather live through their burn, rather than forsake them and the lovely things they follow to live in a dull, sad, anxious existence. Everything comes to an end, sooner or later, but that is part of living... to hide from that, is to become a blank puppet who wastes away as Eternity flies by."

Jacob nodded. "I would rather live longer anyway. My people rely on me being safe to give stability to my nation, and if I died, It might cause another civil war. But like all things on Terra, even nations must die eventually. I just hope that my nation's legacy can live on in later nations. Much like Rome's has in this universe and mine."

Following that, Jacob sighed. "Well. Maybe the trip to Urran will help us all get over Yoshi's loss..... So he prayed to you as he was dying? I did not know he worshiped your pantheon..." Jacob was a bit confused by that. H had thought Yoshi was Jewish or something. Or possibly Christian. Jacob couldn't quite remember what Yoshi had told him regarding that.

"Er, he didn't. That's what made it weird and surprising," Giovenith admitted, shrugging. "I did feel quite awful about it, though... you know, being asked to help fix something, and not being able to do anything about it..." The girl looked down, attempting to remember Ogoti's words, but still feeling the sadness creek in. "I'm a godling. That doesn't mean I can do anything."

[Swith Witherward]

"Er, I wish I could, but this matter is too much to push off for a few minutes. I'm sorry. Don't when I get back I we will have ourselves a nice long walk on the beach." He answered. He made his way over to the mech room and within seconds, he opened the door up.

--

Lucius laugh. "Well then, we will have to go to the store now won't we." He slowly got himself back up from the ground as he used the tree for support and a tool to get up with.

Swith sat down on a beanbag chair surrounded by cheerful toys and happy colors. Eternally unblinking eyes seem to bore into her, the toys' faces fixed into vapid grins. She lifted a plush Norovirus from the mix and started into its grim, grey face.

Alone! Alone! Alone! Hahahaha, it seemed to chant to her mind. The seam above the eyes caused the face to frown.

Swith snorted. "Balls. Apart doesn't mean alone. It simply means distance between. Love is an emotion. I don't need physical proximity. No matter how far apart, the love between can't be separated because it flows beyond the physical state. Not even death destroys it, so long as the soul remains."

The toy stared at her through yellow glassy eyes. Really?

"Trust me. I'm made of emotion... I'm a Chaos god."

She rotated the toy so its seam fell below the eyes. The toy was now smiling. Fair enough, Chaos god. But you're talking to an inanimate object.

Swith snorted. "I'm projecting my doubts and fears onto an inanimate object in order to weed out negative thoughts which would cloud my heart. I've faced my fear and overcome it." She set the toy back down with its companions and her ears perked.

The sound of flip flops slapping the hall floor drew closer and closer, a resounding and extremely annoying FLAP FLAP FLAP that momentary halted at the very end of the hall and was replaced by the pitter-patter of bare feet on the linoleum. The steps paused again and Swith realized the person was standing outside her apartment. "Down here," she prompted, and the feet hurried their owner to the open door of Thriller's old room.

"Am I too late?" Naomi breathed in deep chuffs and propped herself against the frame.

"Not at all," Swith assured her.

--

"You're getting old, Luci," Xanthe teased. She rolled into a squat and then stood up. The former angel brushed the grass from her palms. "I think there's a small grocery story just down the way."

--

Blythe yawned and adjusted her position in the tub. "You know, I'm starving," she muttered.

[New Aksarben]

Jacob nodded. "I would rather live longer anyway. My people rely on me being safe to give stability to my nation, and if I died, It might cause another civil war. But like all things on Terra, even nations must die eventually. I just hope that my nation's legacy can live on in later nations. Much like Rome's has in this universe and mine."

Following that, Jacob sighed. "Well. Maybe the trip to Urran will help us all get over Yoshi's loss..... So he prayed to you as he was dying? I did not know he worshiped your pantheon..." Jacob was a bit confused by that. H had thought Yoshi was Jewish or something. Or possibly Christian. Jacob couldn't quite remember what Yoshi had told him regarding that.

"Er, he didn't. That's what made it weird and surprising," Giovenith admitted, shrugging. "I did feel quite awful about it, though... you know, being asked to help fix something, and not being able to do anything about it..." The girl looked down, attempting to remember Ogoti's words, but still feeling the sadness creek in. "I'm a godling. That doesn't mean I can do anything."

"gio. We can't help everyone. I cannot tell you the times I've wanted to help the people of my nation during civil wars and normal wars, but I've been powerless to do so. I hate War, and When many of my citizens die in huge numbers, especially from wars, It pains me. I think I know how you feel, maybe.... But I am not a god, or a godling, like you, Gio. So I might be wrong." Jacob said, a small, but weak, smile on his face. He decided to change the subject to something much less heavy. "Have I ever told you what pantheon my nation worships, Gio?" HE asked, looking over to the Godling as he spoke.

[Giovenith]

"gio. We can't help everyone. I cannot tell you the times I've wanted to help the people of my nation during civil wars and normal wars, but I've been powerless to do so. I hate War, and When many of my citizens die in huge numbers, especially from wars, It pains me. I think I know how you feel, maybe.... But I am not a god, or a godling, like you, Gio. So I might be wrong." Jacob said, a small, but weak, smile on his face. He decided to change the subject to something much less heavy. "Have I ever told you what pantheon my nation worships, Gio?" HE asked, looking over to the Godling as he spoke.

"I always assumed it was the Roman gods," she said, pulling her legs to her chest and holding her face in thought. Jacob was right, there were probably countless people who wanted to help countless others, but simply could not... heck, a good portion of history seemed to revolve around this. Part of the unavoidable. "Jupiter and his kin and what not. Unless I am mistaken? There are a lot of differences between your world and mine."

[New Aksarben]

"gio. We can't help everyone. I cannot tell you the times I've wanted to help the people of my nation during civil wars and normal wars, but I've been powerless to do so. I hate War, and When many of my citizens die in huge numbers, especially from wars, It pains me. I think I know how you feel, maybe.... But I am not a god, or a godling, like you, Gio. So I might be wrong." Jacob said, a small, but weak, smile on his face. He decided to change the subject to something much less heavy. "Have I ever told you what pantheon my nation worships, Gio?" HE asked, looking over to the Godling as he spoke.

"I always assumed it was the Roman gods," she said, pulling her legs to her chest and holding her face in thought. Jacob was right, there were probably countless people who wanted to help countless others, but simply could not... heck, a good portion of history seemed to revolve around this. Part of the unavoidable. "Jupiter and his kin and what not. Unless I am mistaken? There are a lot of differences between your world and mine."

Jacob nodded, with a small smile. "Yes, Jupiter and the other Olympians. Polytheismus Romanum, as it is called in my nation. I was just thinking how different you are from many of the gods I worship. Most of them would rather watch us suffer, for kicks, than help. But, despite the fact you are a god, Gio, You want to help people. I find that amazing." He smiled at Gio, genuinely this time.

[Giovenith]

Jacob nodded, with a small smile. "Yes, Jupiter and the other Olympians. Polytheismus Romanum, as it is called in my nation. I was just thinking how different you are from many of the gods I worship. Most of them would rather watch us suffer, for kicks, than help. But, despite the fact you are a god, Gio, You want to help people. I find that amazing." He smiled at Gio, genuinely this time.

"Gods are a complicated, species, if you want to call them that for simplicity's sake," sighed Giovenith, leaning back a bit. "They can have common traits, but they are each still capable of having their own cultures and personalities, just like mortals. I am not rare, there are plenty of deities who genuinely care about their people and wish to help them. Keep in mind though, Jacob, I am very young. I have yet to experience much of the life that molds some common traits. Many people also forget though, that gods are not simply just like humans only with superpowers, that is grossly oversimplifying it. They have different perceptions, exist in a different way, are forced to behold things differently."
She shrugged again, then looked to the side rather nervously, as if someone would pop up any second. "Eh, in modern days, the Roman and Greek pantheons have garnered some criticism for how they've acted before. Values dissonance and all. Not my place to judge, though. Defenders of them usually try to point out that they've done good, as well. Plus it is always possible to change with the times."

[New Aksarben]

Jacob nodded, with a small smile. "Yes, Jupiter and the other Olympians. Polytheismus Romanum, as it is called in my nation. I was just thinking how different you are from many of the gods I worship. Most of them would rather watch us suffer, for kicks, than help. But, despite the fact you are a god, Gio, You want to help people. I find that amazing." He smiled at Gio, genuinely this time.

"Gods are a complicated, species, if you want to call them that for simplicity's sake," sighed Giovenith, leaning back a bit. "They can have common traits, but they are each still capable of having their own cultures and personalities, just like mortals. I am not rare, there are plenty of deities who genuinely care about their people and wish to help them. Keep in mind though, Jacob, I am very young. I have yet to experience much of the life that molds some common traits. Many people also forget though, that gods are not simply just like humans only with superpowers, that is grossly oversimplifying it. They have different perceptions, exist in a different way, are forced to behold things differently."
She shrugged again, then looked to the side rather nervously, as if someone would pop up any second. "Eh, in modern days, the Roman and Greek pantheons have garnered some criticism for how they've acted before. Values dissonance and all. Not my place to judge, though. Defenders of them usually try to point out that they've done good, as well. Plus it is always possible to change with the times."

"There are some in my nation who see it that way as well. Worship of them is becoming less common, especially with a democratic government that promotes freedoms." Jacob sighed. He wondered why Gio was looking off to one side briefly, but guessed it was nothing.

"The Gods are strange in my opinion. They act like mortals many times, but none of them can die. Their legends have changed over time, so the versions my nation have might be very different than those of the original Rome. Especially with the lapse of civilization for a few thousand years. Most of what we get our beliefs from are old books or other records." Jacob sighed yet again. "I can't imagine the gaps we have because of that....... Its one of the things I hate about the history of my universe. I can't imagine how much we have lost because of that...."

[Giovenith]

"There are some in my nation who see it that way as well. Worship of them is becoming less common, especially with a democratic government that promotes freedoms." Jacob sighed. He wondered why Gio was looking off to one side briefly, but guessed it was nothing.

"The Gods are strange in my opinion. They act like mortals many times, but none of them can die. Their legends have changed over time, so the versions my nation have might be very different than those of the original Rome. Especially with the lapse of civilization for a few thousand years. Most of what we get our beliefs from are old books or other records." Jacob sighed yet again. "I can't imagine the gaps we have because of that....... Its one of the things I hate about the history of my universe. I can't imagine how much we have lost because of that...."

"Tis the rough grating of the sands of time. Many things are lost, many things are mistranslated, or misspoken," said Giovenith, still keeping her eyes to her side worriedly. "Yes, all gods are strange. Like I said, they are different, they work in a way that is frankly unimaginable to most mortals, but that doesn't stop them from holding many of the same kind of emotions and desires mortals have. It's common in all pantheons, really. To be fair, you would be a bit hard-pressed to find one pantheon that hasn't thrown at least one..."

She thought for a moment. What was the word Jensinhai had used?

"... shit fit." Ah, that was it. "Or at least that is how it could be perceived. Even mine. We just try not to talk about the Middle Ages, and I just try to forget that Kathandra Holly exists. Because she doesn't." Obviously. "Have you tried reading some of their myths from this universe?"

[The BranRiech]

Yuri shook her head. 'No idea...maybe it's about a funeral or something?" she suggested. She really had no idea. Whatever it was, might not be pleasant.

"It's gotta' be, probably about his belongings or something. It's not going to be fun, but it's got to be done, eh?" Bran said and shrugged, looking to the ceiling, in sadness.

Rylli nodded as well. "Yeah, I don't want to, but it's what he would have wanted. I'm going to miss the boy."

[New Aksarben]

"There are some in my nation who see it that way as well. Worship of them is becoming less common, especially with a democratic government that promotes freedoms." Jacob sighed. He wondered why Gio was looking off to one side briefly, but guessed it was nothing.

"The Gods are strange in my opinion. They act like mortals many times, but none of them can die. Their legends have changed over time, so the versions my nation have might be very different than those of the original Rome. Especially with the lapse of civilization for a few thousand years. Most of what we get our beliefs from are old books or other records." Jacob sighed yet again. "I can't imagine the gaps we have because of that....... Its one of the things I hate about the history of my universe. I can't imagine how much we have lost because of that...."

"Tis the rough grating of the sands of time. Many things are lost, many things are mistranslated, or misspoken," said Giovenith, still keeping her eyes to her side worriedly. "Yes, all gods are strange. Like I said, they are different, they work in a way that is frankly unimaginable to most mortals, but that doesn't stop them from holding many of the same kind of emotions and desires mortals have. It's common in all pantheons, really. To be fair, you would be a bit hard-pressed to find one pantheon that hasn't thrown at least one..."

She thought for a moment. What was the word Jensinhai had used?

"... shit fit." Ah, that was it. "Or at least that is how it could be perceived. Even mine. We just try not to talk about the Middle Ages, and I just try to forget that Kathandra Holly exists. Because she doesn't." Obviously. "Have you tried reading some of their myths from this universe?"

Jacob nodded. "I have read some things, but not to much. I have been mostly focusing on the history of this universe. One thing I noticed is that it seems like this one sect of Judaism in my world has its own religion in this world.... I find that very strange, given how that's such a big difference....." Jacob scratched his chin, and thought. "Yes, many pantheons have their peculiarities, but I'm not familiar enough with those aside from my own to say any more." He noticed she was still watching the area around them, so he had to ask. ".... what are you worried about Giovenith? I have noticed you've been watching for something.... or someone.... Why is that?"

[Urran]

Yuri shook her head. 'No idea...maybe it's about a funeral or something?" she suggested. She really had no idea. Whatever it was, might not be pleasant.

"It's gotta' be, probably about his belongings or something. It's not going to be fun, but it's got to be done, eh?" Bran said and shrugged, looking to the ceiling, in sadness.

Rylli nodded as well. "Yeah, I don't want to, but it's what he would have wanted. I'm going to miss the boy."

Yuri nodded. "He was a good man." She said with a soft smile. "I'm just glad no one seems to grieving too badly, he wouldn't have wanted that"

[Giovenith]

Jacob nodded. "I have read some things, but not to much. I have been mostly focusing on the history of this universe. One thing I noticed is that it seems like this one sect of Judaism in my world has its own religion in this world.... I find that very strange, given how that's such a big difference....." Jacob scratched his chin, and thought. "Yes, many pantheons have their peculiarities, but I'm not familiar enough with those aside from my own to say any more." He noticed she was still watching the area around them, so he had to ask. ".... what are you worried about Giovenith? I have noticed you've been watching for something.... or someone.... Why is that?"

"Eh, I just don't want any of them showing up out of nowhere and laying the smack down on us for saying something about them they don't like. They used to do that all the time from what I've read, but I'm not sure about now-days," she said honestly, blinking a bit at the blank space again. "Seems alright though. They're probably not quite into that anymore. I don't know. Haven't ever met them on any sort of basis."

Well that wasn't necessarily true, as she clearly remembered being briefly watched and followed by Pan a la Syrinx from the island trip before getting help from Primordial. But she didn't care to mention that. It made her anxious, based on what she did know about the satyr wild nature god.

"Anyway, we could pick up some myth books sometime. It might give you a start. If you wanted to, anyway."

[Torsiedelle]

A military humvee, bearing the new blue and white rays of the Confederacy, pulled up in from of the apartment. Out of the vehicle stepped a familiar face, the protege, Dimitrus. With her was an envelope, already opened, its contents read. She had her assignment...though she was less than enthusiastic about it. She was sure that she'd have to leave the grand halls and luxurious spaces of the capitol, for the dull, common dwellings of her peers. Still, it was for a purpose....

Several days earlier...

"Dimitrus, dear..."

The man sat alone, in the middle of the dim room. Ornate rugs decorated the floors, blending with the gold-coloured walls and blue ceiling. paintings of military leaders and historical figures decorated the walls, images of heroes such as Vaas Morikov, an 11th-century folk hero, soldier, and artist, to intimidating portraits of Stalin and Hitler. The man himself, clad in a solid-black uniform much like what the woman wore, gazed at her from across the space. Dimitrus stood alone as well, in the middle of the room, at attention. Above her was an expensive chandelier, though it wasn't lit. The only lights were from two torch-lamps in the top corners on the Fuhrer's side.

"Yes?", Dimitrus asked the Fuhrer.

The Fuhrer reached from under his desk and brought out a bottle of wine, which he poured himself a glass.

"Well, well, well...I know that you're a brilliant protege, and a fine leader, but you are...lacking, in some crucial areas. Do you know what those are?"
"No, sir."
"Well, you're cold. You have trouble with feelings, emotion. You're a robot, frankly. I know you were taught to be that way, but that was years ago. Now, you're soon to be a leader, the head of the Grand Council, Military Dictator of the entire nation. Dimitrus, Dear...great leaders have emotion, something which you lack. You know nothing of other people, nothing of feelings, nothing of how the people feel and think and talk and dream...at least, you appear not to. That's why I have an idea for you?"

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Yes, my Fuhrer, what is it?"

Furher Romanus pushed an envelope towards her from his desk. "I'm sure you know of Bielefeld, the annoying little prick in our side to the west? Well, I know that two of the closest things you call friends, Miss Dimitrova and her darling sister, Tora, are assigned to the region, no? They interact daily with the diverse and interesting peoples there. They have developed over the last few months there, and have grown into quite the young women. So I was thinking, maybe spending some time there wouldn't be so bad for you, no?"

"But sir! I-"
"It's already decided, Dimitrus. That is, unless you don't really wish for total control of this land..."

Dimitrus sighed. She was already hating her assignment.

"Okay, I'll go. When can I expect to leave?"
"Good, I knew you'd accept. You leave in a week."

---

"I suppose there's no turning back now.", She thought to herself. She took her single suitcase and stepped towards the building. "Wait, Miss!", One of the male soldiers said, "You'll be needing this."

He handed her her favorite pistol, given to her as a member of the Fuhrer's personal circle. "Thank you, Lieutenant.", She nodded. They waved, before Dimitrus turned back to enter the lobby. The Humvee drove off.

[Swith Witherward]

"Hopefully she lets the butchering of the mortal slide in that case. Best not angry the gods personified when constructing a Chapter with their aid. As for the name? Eh. I'd rather pass it. Sounds similar to the Nordic names used by the Space Wolves. Nostroman or High Gothic would be preferable, especially for a son. However- the lobby of the apartment building has a collection of books. Borrow a couple, then scour them for any decent names while eating eels?" Volturius suggested, partially due to hunger that lingered despite devouring a fully-grown human male.

Tipper continued to stare at the bones a moment. She was perched on the ledge with her back to the ground, seemingly oblivious of her precarious perch or the deadly fall. She almost looked like a gaunt bird herself, deep purple robes fluttering softly around her as she squatted there to squint at the whitish objects against the black roof. Her position almost made her look like a haunted vulture staring at the remains of its last meal. Tipper's beauty, while still present, took on a sinister complexity. Slaanesh's art could be grim indeed and the small woman seated before the Raptor seemed for a moment to dispel any poorly-formed or preconceived notions that she was merely some cultist who happened to be tied to a a chaotic force.

"Thuring." She pointed to the bones as if it was obviously written there in some fashion. "Thuring... In darkness of the night I spied him in a tree. Sat I froze by the sight; he was looking at me."

She tilted her head and squinted again at the bones. They sparked and began to burn with a near-phosphorous brightness, the wafting smoke from them reeking of both death and Alpine lace. A song seemed to rise from them which only she could hear and she hummed softly as the lyrics forged inky-black shapes that wrapped tendrils around her mind.

The song itself was nothing new on Earth and had been chanted before in the deepest recesses of grim-grimey dens housed deep under their primary structures. Yet it was this odd tune which reached the ears of the seer on the ledge and compelled her to give voice to the underlying mysteries which seemed to plague the building as it wrapped them in Fate's cold, gossamer embrace. When she opened her mouth, it wasn't a song that poured forth. Rather, it was softly spoken words chanted in rhythmic cadence that were nearly lost by the same wind that fluttered the edges of her robes.

"He was in his room, half awake, half asleep
The walls of the room seem to alter angles
Elongating and shrinking alternately
Then twisting around completely so that he was on the opposite side of the room
A trick of the light and too much caffeine, he thought
Then came a knock on the door
And this sound was the same dark-brown tone as the wood of which the door was made
At first, he thought he'd imagined it
Because it would not have been out of place with the other strange hallucinatory events of that night
But then it came again
Only heavier this time
With a sense of real urgency
So pulling himself up
And stepping through pools of moonlight and shadow
He made his bleary way across the room towards the door
And slowly, apprehensively, raised the latch

The latch became a fingertip, touching his own

Energy sapping as a new form, transversing the edge of his emotions
His power became his agony, his power knew no bounds
Whereas before, his peace withstood the vastness
His prerogative became an endless force of the all impossible
His final soul is flying with contempt only
Even the legendary glance backward to meet with eternity's stone in peace or save his, already destroyed
You cannot share, the temperature is rising
The ghost and monkeys make a choice
This...
This...

He tried to will himself back to bed
He wanted desperately to feel the reassuring crisp, white sheets once taken for granted
To be back home, safe as houses, protected by walls covered in familiar patterns
But even wallpaper had become sinister to him
He remembered staring into the paisley print and seeing a repetition of skulls
At night he would listen to the click of heels on the concrete outside
And try to imagine the facial features of the unseen figure
He would always see his own face
And another realization of this prophecy rang terrible and true
For at this moment, it was indeed, his own feet that filled the shoes
Shoes that no man would want to wear

Into the hills then to search for another searcher's closely held goals
Into the forest under the billowing leaves
Under the dreadful birds, the singing soil, the decrepit babies, the unhappy new loves
The preaching alphabutics, the long-lost lovers never to find the safety of their mothers
In fact, all the guilty clouds he will move into a playground
A sense of moonlight and shadow
All the stars touch to the cold molten sunflower, fly to his middle eye
The wallpaper had sinister tones
Alas, white cold
Alas, rainbow's middle infinity's destination.
All life's drums drink from bottles and visions are blinded..."

She blinked and slowly rotated her head until she was peering up into the face of the Astartes who would found the Chapter that would unite the four restored birds lurking in the distant hills. "Thuring. The Hour comes."

The bones, now crumbled and ashen by the chemical reaction that had consumed them during her trance, sifted away in the wind and left behind only their impressions on the roof itself. These impressions were indelible, a sigil that spoke not of random purpose or unclear thoughts. The marks themselves were five, one from each finger bone in the hand from which they came. They had shattered as the marrow inside them cracked, and that marrow had sprayed outwards. Thus the Raptor, if he chanced to look at them, would see the signs of the Five.

"Okay," Tipper stood up. The moment was broken and she was nothing more than a little blind girl standing on a ledge. She carefully stepped down and clasped onto Volturius' wingtip. "You'll have to read the words in the books for me." Another harsh reminder of the cruelty of her physical plight.... Tipper had never learned to read.

[New Aksarben]

Jacob nodded. "I have read some things, but not to much. I have been mostly focusing on the history of this universe. One thing I noticed is that it seems like this one sect of Judaism in my world has its own religion in this world.... I find that very strange, given how that's such a big difference....." Jacob scratched his chin, and thought. "Yes, many pantheons have their peculiarities, but I'm not familiar enough with those aside from my own to say any more." He noticed she was still watching the area around them, so he had to ask. ".... what are you worried about Giovenith? I have noticed you've been watching for something.... or someone.... Why is that?"

"Eh, I just don't want any of them showing up out of nowhere and laying the smack down on us for saying something about them they don't like. They used to do that all the time from what I've read, but I'm not sure about now-days," she said honestly, blinking a bit at the blank space again. "Seems alright though. They're probably not quite into that anymore. I don't know. Haven't ever met them on any sort of basis."

Well that wasn't necessarily true, as she clearly remembered being briefly watched and followed by Pan a la Syrinx from the island trip before getting help from Primordial. But she didn't care to mention that. It made her anxious, based on what she did know about the satyr wild nature god.

"Anyway, we could pick up some myth books sometime. It might give you a start. If you wanted to, anyway."

"Oh, damn. I forgot about that habit of theirs for a bit...." Jacob began looking around as well. "They haven't been as overt as that in my nation for many, many years... But I really hope they don't start going after my people because of that.... Knowing them, if I pissed them off badly enough, they would start going after my home...." He sighed heavily. "Let's just hope they weren't paying attention..."

[Giovenith]

"Oh, damn. I forgot about that habit of theirs for a bit...." Jacob began looking around as well. "They haven't been as overt as that in my nation for many, many years... But I really hope they don't start going after my people because of that.... Knowing them, if I pissed them off badly enough, they would start going after my home...." He sighed heavily. "Let's just hope they weren't paying attention..."

"Oh you'll be fine. I'm pretty sure. They don't really seem to like punishing en mass," assured Giovenith. Though there was that time in Oedipus Rex, when- ah, screw it. "Point in being, you're never really going to like every pantheon you come across. Just like you'll never like every person you come across. Because c'est la vie. Nobody is perfect, and I can not say much on the Roman pantheon."

[New Aksarben]

Jacob nodded in agreement. "That's all true, Gio. My pantheon has a good and bad side. Just like most do." Jacob looked around once more then said, "well, what do you want to talk about now? Has anything interesting happen to you recently?" He was doing his best to distract himself from thinking of Yoshi. He didn't want to break down in front of others, and make things uncokfortable.

[Giovenith]

"Not really." It all either had to do with Yoshi, or wasn't really her's to share. Such a big dismissal of information, it almost felt like lying to her. "What about you?"

[New Aksarben]

"Not really." It all either had to do with Yoshi, or wasn't really her's to share. Such a big dismissal of information, it almost felt like lying to her. "What about you?"

"Not too much. Some interesting things happened during zalgofest, but not much else...." Jacob said with a shrug. "But it wasn't too interesting..... Did you have fun during the carnival a while ago? I didn't end up doing very much there.... I got there near he end, and then the zalgofest happened, so I forgot how it ended...."