Personification Life IC IX - [Semi Open]

[Germanic Templars]

"Well whoever did it must have been a crafty individual. Though to figure out on how and when to strike requires even more work.. Either someone crafty, or someone close.. Eh, who knows we may never."

Meanwhile deep in the jungle, Levi was climbing through the thickness of the jungle, when feeling he was alone, he pulled his left arm into his view and flipped open a panel that laid under the top of his forearm. He then began speaking in the Krute dialect, which translated into this;

"This is Black Dagger reporting, come in, over."

There was a moment of static before a voice came over in Krute language.

"This is Leviathan....Reporting, over. What business do you...Have?"

"Reporting death of Swith, the widowed wife of the emperor."

"Ahhh, very good... I shall....Report this unfortunate situation to the Shadow, let it know. If that is all....Then let us break off.."

"Wilco." Levi responded. The comms seized from there as Levi lowered the panel and headed off towards the compound.

"Naomi's leaving the assassin up to Klaus," Minerva replied, "which leaves Naomi free to take up the quest. I haven't any idea where she's to go first. She's hoping for a sign of some sort. To be honest, the whole thing perplexes me. I suppose we can start at the grave."

She covered a yawn with the back of her fingers. "Well, I've taken up a lot of your time. I'm sure you have better things to do than listen to this old cultist ramble, eh?" Her eyes traveled over to the bed where Blythe was either out cold or in a stupor. "Enjoy life while you can, Superbia. Live each moment as if it's your last, because it could be."

The cultist leader rose. "There's a feast over on the island, if you're interested. It's getting late, though. I don't know how many people are still at the table.''

"Ah, I think i'll stay here, wait to see what Blythe would want to do." He glanced over at Blythe then at Minerva. "Is she alright?" He asked with a bit of concern.

[Swith Witherward]

"Ah, I think i'll stay here, wait to see what Blythe would want to do." He glanced over at Blythe then at Minerva. "Is she alright?" He asked with a bit of concern.

"Considering that she's just learned the being who breathed life into her is now dead? You're not the only one to lose a mother," Minerva said kindly. "Be good to each other."

She opened the door and nearly tripped over the gift bag on the floor. Exasperated by the entire day, Minerva grumbled and lifted the bag. "I believe this belongs to you. Your name is on the tag, Superbia." She handed it to him with a soft "merry Christmas" and then let herself out.

Blythe was still lying face down on the bed. She was breathing but hadn't moved.

[Urran]

Yoshi blushed and giggled along with Bran as he tore into the gift. There was the shredding of paper as the Urranese man opened his gift. upon seeing it his eyes widened and he squealed with delight, hugging the item of clothing tight to his chest. "Thank you Bran! This is so thoughtful! How do I wear it?" he asked with a sheepish smile. Western clothes were worn in Urran, but it was only about as common as Middle Eastern clothing in America. That explained why Yoshi only had one western outfit.


Anew smiled at Torii and shook her head. "Are they being mean Tora? Making you feel left out. You can pour your heart out to me, that's what I'm here for." her voice was silky and smooth and she circled around the young girl once, smiling softly the entire time. "It's not fair, that you, such a smart girl would have to put up with their crap."

[Giovenith]

Somepony had come out of nowhere, Willow had no idea nor clue who, and dropped off a little giftbag before he even had a chance to thank you. She was there in one moment and gone with the wind in the next. How very odd.

"Hmm..." Willow looked down and read the bag curiously. Love from us. Who was 'us'? Whoever it was, it had been very kind of them to go ahead and give him a gift out of nowhere when they were presumably strangers. It was very much in line with the ever-told, Hearth's Warming Eve/Christmas spirit.

The Fire of Friendship melted the hearts of closed-minded, silly pony leaders long ago on that cold, unnatural winter day all those thousands of years ago, and likewise, Willow wondered if it was that same miraculous magic that was thawing out his own suspicions toward this world. He had been scared to death by the warnings he'd received from the shadow man on that first day, but the more time he spent here, the more Willow felt like this place wasn't out to gobble him up with one wrong step... not as excessively as he once thought, anyway.

How apropos to the season.

---

"Presents!"

Giovenith had been delighted to receive Naomi's gift, as she was sure that little Nick the kitty must have been excited to receive his. The sight of the chalk brought about happy chuckles at the good times they stirred in her memory. Had she not seen Mister Ceril alive and recovering at the dinner table before, she would have tried to stop and give her friend condolences, but was now ecstatic that everything was going to be alright for Miss Naomi after all!

Or so she earnestly believed.

[Tiltjuice]

Dora hovered a fingertip over the glass front depicting the image of the port of Piraeus, as it had been when she was a young girl. Warmth filled her, and she'd turned to thank Naomi, only to find her already some distance away like the gift fairy.

Contented, she wound the scarf around herself (marveling as the cooler sea air suddenly seemed to warm) and continued sipping her wine. Scanning the table and the beach showed her Giovenith ecstatic over chalk, Willow slightly less dour, and some stranger around Tora.

[The BranRiech]

"It's like coat, Yoshi, just slip your arms through the sleeves and the rest will fit on." Bran pointed out. He was somehow confused by Yoshi's lack of understanding, but thought it was sort of funny to have to explain it. "Like this."

Bran took the coat from his friend and slipped it on, taking it off and promptly handing it back to him.

"See? I wore one of these in the military."

[Germanic Templars]

"Ah, I think i'll stay here, wait to see what Blythe would want to do." He glanced over at Blythe then at Minerva. "Is she alright?" He asked with a bit of concern.

"Considering that she's just learned the being who breathed life into her is now dead? You're not the only one to lose a mother," Minerva said kindly. "Be good to each other."

She opened the door and nearly tripped over the gift bag on the floor. Exasperated by the entire day, Minerva grumbled and lifted the bag. "I believe this belongs to you. Your name is on the tag, Superbia." She handed it to him with a soft "merry Christmas" and then let herself out.

Blythe was still lying face down on the bed. She was breathing but hadn't moved.

Still keeping an eye on Blythe, Superbia peered into the bag with his other eye, getting a glimpse of the title, he became determined if this was true. So he tore the bag in half, causing the book to fall to the ground. He took his eye off Blythe and had both his hands and eyes on the book and it's title. Seeing the title caused him to let out a demonic scream of joy as he clutched the book to his chest.

[Swith Witherward]

Still keeping an eye on Blythe, Superbia peered into the bag with his other eye, getting a glimpse of the title, he became determined if this was true. So he tore the bag in half, causing the book to fall to the ground. He took his eye off Blythe and had both his hands and eyes on the book and it's title. Seeing the title caused him to let out a demonic scream of joy as he clutched the book to his chest.

"Wrrreeeeer!" She was on the bed, then she wasn't.

Blythe clutched the cabin ceiling with all her claws and dropped her head back to stare at Superbia. Her heart had nearly exploded right out of her chest. "What? What is it? What?!" Nothing shook off shock like sudden fright. She crawled along the ceiling until she was over his head and disengaged her hands so she could squat upside down to read the cover. Her mouth curled into a mischievous smile.

She realized life was precious, and there was little sense in dwelling in what-if or self-pity. She pushed aside her pain as well. If things didn't work out, she could push it off for eternity. If they did, she'd allow herself to grieve the next morning. Her hands touched Superbia's shoulders and she dropped her rump so she was crouching on his back and peering at the book properly.

"Neeeewwwwww!" she breathed.

[Cerillium]

He looked at himself to see the cloak on him. "Oh, why sure thing, here." He took it off himself and handed it back to Wren. He looked into Wren's eyes and smiled. "So tell me, did I do anything when I was unconscious?"

Wren slipped her cloak on. Her eyes made contact with Barox's. "No, you were a perfect gentleman," she pulled her hair from under the material and arrayed it on her shoulders. "You sort of just flopped down on the floor and remained there like a dead fish. Sapphire said you'd wake up soon."

Things had been very weird while he was out. How much should she tell? Should she say anything at all? It would be wrong to not mention the odd conversation, especially as Sapphire would probably publish the video on YouTube or something and then she'd have to explain to Barox why she'd kept quiet.

A blush rose to her cheeks again but it had nothing to do with shy romance. "I think I hurt her feelings. I told her I was sorry about her grandfather's passing."

Dora hovered a fingertip over the glass front depicting the image of the port of Piraeus, as it had been when she was a young girl. Warmth filled her, and she'd turned to thank Naomi, only to find her already some distance away like the gift fairy.

Contented, she wound the scarf around herself (marveling as the cooler sea air suddenly seemed to warm) and continued sipping her wine. Scanning the table and the beach showed her Giovenith ecstatic over chalk, Willow slightly less dour, and some stranger around Tora.

Crumbs littered the table as Ogoti nibbled a cookie. He swept them from the tablecloth and deposited them on an empty plate. Dora's reaction intrigued him. Such a graceful women. A contented smile overtook his concerned frown and he eased back in his chair.

Mission accomplished.

The old god rose. He swept past Dora but paused long enough to kiss her cheek. "Merry Christmas, dear lady," he murmured before walking down the beach. He planned to catch a ride to the ship.

[Cerillium]

The sun slipped into the ocean just as Ceril disembarked from the small ferry. He stood on the deck and looked back at the beach. His son's outline could be seen against a small bonfire that the boy had lit using the plentiful driftwood kindling scattered on the beach. He smiled. At least Marcus was making friends.

The old cyborg took the stairs to his deck. The cultists guarding the passage stepped aside to let him through. He found Naomi in their quarters, her mind withdrawn in thought even though her eyes were looking out the window towards the distant horizon. He pressed himself to her back. His arms enfolded her in a supportive hug. His left hand enclosed her own and their matching rings momentarily clicked. Many things had changed since the sun rose that morning; it felt as if all the universe were paused and listening intently for familiar sounds that would never be heard again.

Ceril sighed. Many things had changed, true. His love for his wife hadn't.

[Giovenith]

"So you sure you don't want to tuck somewhere in for the night?" Giovenith asked Willow, as she carefully crouched and packed a few of her gifts into her pockets, avoiding getting anything sandy. "You didn't seem so comfortable about it last time."

"I've figured that I really should be able to take care of myself at this age," Willow said, standing beside the godling. "Besides, the hut isn't exactly restored to former glory yet, and one should really take in holiday spirit."

"D'awwww, I knew you had some jolly sunshine somewhere in that black little heart of your's!" cooed Giovenith in a sugary voice, standing up and pinching the pony's cheek like an ecstatic great aunt. She was getting better at not treating the ponies like they were babies, but she still had her moments.

As if to counter said crack of 'jolly sunshine', Willow quickly scowled again and pushed Giovenith's hand away from his face, before puffing and rolling his eyes. "My heart isn't black. I've thought about that for some time. It's more like the color of old, dried-up, spilled water colors on a faded white desk that nopony bothered to clean up." A turn of the head, and spin of the wrist for flair and emphasis.

"How melodramatic."

"Indeed."

"Whelp, have fun with your lovely mess!" Giovenith smiled gave the pony's ebony mane a good-natured noogie. "I'm going to go hang around with everybody, we'll probably be doing more presents later. Don't be afraid to stick close! We'd love you there." She then hopped and spun out into the night gatherings.

[New Aksarben]

"Hey, Giovenith! Willow! I have presents for you two!" Sterling said as he basically galloped across the beach towards the godling and his friend, floating several nicely wrapped packaged behind him, some of which were for the pegasus and the others were for the godling. Sterling knew no other ponies in the group here so he had only gotten things for the two of them. But he definitely wanted to make sure that they got theirs before it was too dark for them to read see what they were easily. So after hastily finishing his food a bit ago(he had taken several apples from the table and had spent a while just wandering up and down the beach while munching on them) he had rushed to go find the two.

It was pretty lucky both were together and hadn't wandered off yet. Well, nevermind. It seemed like Giovenith had trotted off for whatever reason. But no matter! He could give the godling her present later! For now, he better give Willow his presents!

Sterling skidded to a halt in front of his friend, a big smile on his face as he floated forward several rectangular shapes with colorful wrapping paper around them. It was quite obvious they were books of some kind. "I found out that this planet has artists that specialize in the same style you do, Willow! I was wandering around a bookstore I found in the city before we left and found these. I thought they would be a good present so I bought them for you! Oh.... wait, I should have told you about that after you opened the wrapping..... well, its the thought that counts right? Sorry for ruining the surprise!"

He levitated them forward a bit more, about 6 books floating in front of the pegasus stallion. "I know books aren't really your thing Willow, but I thought you might appreciate seeing similar art from the hyoo-muns right?"

[Urran]

"It's like coat, Yoshi, just slip your arms through the sleeves and the rest will fit on." Bran pointed out. He was somehow confused by Yoshi's lack of understanding, but thought it was sort of funny to have to explain it. "Like this."

Bran took the coat from his friend and slipped it on, taking it off and promptly handing it back to him.

"See? I wore one of these in the military."

Yoshi blushed and smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, western clothes aren't worn much where I come from so I didn't know if it was different from a normal coat." he put it on over his yukata and twirled around. "How do I look?" he asked with a smile.

[Germanic Templars]

Still keeping an eye on Blythe, Superbia peered into the bag with his other eye, getting a glimpse of the title, he became determined if this was true. So he tore the bag in half, causing the book to fall to the ground. He took his eye off Blythe and had both his hands and eyes on the book and it's title. Seeing the title caused him to let out a demonic scream of joy as he clutched the book to his chest.

"Wrrreeeeer!" She was on the bed, then she wasn't.

Blythe clutched the cabin ceiling with all her claws and dropped her head back to stare at Superbia. Her heart had nearly exploded right out of her chest. "What? What is it? What?!" Nothing shook off shock like sudden fright. She crawled along the ceiling until she was over his head and disengaged her hands so she could squat upside down to read the cover. Her mouth curled into a mischievous smile.

She realized life was precious, and there was little sense in dwelling in what-if or self-pity. She pushed aside her pain as well. If things didn't work out, she could push it off for eternity. If they did, she'd allow herself to grieve the next morning. Her hands touched Superbia's shoulders and she dropped her rump so she was crouching on his back and peering at the book properly.

"Neeeewwwwww!" she breathed.

"I knowwwww!" Superbia squealed. He flipped through the pages, unsure which to choose, since it all was pretty new to him.

-----

He looked at himself to see the cloak on him. "Oh, why sure thing, here." He took it off himself and handed it back to Wren. He looked into Wren's eyes and smiled. "So tell me, did I do anything when I was unconscious?"

Wren slipped her cloak on. Her eyes made contact with Barox's. "No, you were a perfect gentleman," she pulled her hair from under the material and arrayed it on her shoulders. "You sort of just flopped down on the floor and remained there like a dead fish. Sapphire said you'd wake up soon."

Things had been very weird while he was out. How much should she tell? Should she say anything at all? It would be wrong to not mention the odd conversation, especially as Sapphire would probably publish the video on YouTube or something and then she'd have to explain to Barox why she'd kept quiet.

A blush rose to her cheeks again but it had nothing to do with shy romance. "I think I hurt her feelings. I told her I was sorry about her grandfather's passing."

"Sapphire? Oh God, did she have a video camera with her?" Barox asked. He seemed a bit concerned with the idea of Sapphire with a camera, especially him passing out. He then remembered the second part of what Wren said. "Eh, I doubt you hurt her feelings. Trust me, she is an emotional person anyway."

[Giovenith]

"It's fine, Sterling," assured Willow with a smile, both about the receiving of books and ruining the surprise. "I actually do like that prospect, thank you very much! It will be interesting to read up on." The pegasus accepted the present and bent around to nip something out of his saddle bag, which was resting on the sand nearby. "Dis fowr yuh," he mumbled, holding old the present with his mouth.

Inside would be a painting that was primarily composed of various shades of sterling silver paint.

[The BranRiech]

Yoshi blushed and smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, western clothes aren't worn much where I come from so I didn't know if it was different from a normal coat." he put it on over his yukata and twirled around. "How do I look?" he asked with a smile.

"Sorta' like I did in the Military." Bran chuckled, clapping slowly. He hoped Yoshi liked his present quite a bit, and deftly showed him how to button the buttons (In case he didn't get that either), and then stepped back to admire the new "Conscript". "Hmm, all you need now is an ADK, and then you'd be good to go. I was going to get Yuri a Communist Party membership, but I figure she'd kill me, and I haven't seen her around. Check your pocket."

In Yoshi's pocket was a little Orange book with the official seal of the Branriech on it. It stated that Yoshi was an honorary member of the Branriech communist party. The same party Bran was a member in.

--

It wasn't long until Rylli had approached Giovenith, with her gift in hand.

[Giovenith]

It wasn't long until Rylli had approached Giovenith, with her gift in hand.

"Rylli!" squealed Giovenith happily, embracing her old friend in a warm hug. "Merry Christmas! Did you get the quilt I sent you? Is that for me??" The girl graciously accepted the present with wide, happy eyes.

[Tiltjuice]

Dora hovered a fingertip over the glass front depicting the image of the port of Piraeus, as it had been when she was a young girl. Warmth filled her, and she'd turned to thank Naomi, only to find her already some distance away like the gift fairy.

Contented, she wound the scarf around herself (marveling as the cooler sea air suddenly seemed to warm) and continued sipping her wine. Scanning the table and the beach showed her Giovenith ecstatic over chalk, Willow slightly less dour, and some stranger around Tora.

Crumbs littered the table as Ogoti nibbled a cookie. He swept them from the tablecloth and deposited them on an empty plate. Dora's reaction intrigued him. Such a graceful women. A contented smile overtook his concerned frown and he eased back in his chair.

Mission accomplished.

The old god rose. He swept past Dora but paused long enough to kiss her cheek. "Merry Christmas, dear lady," he murmured before walking down the beach. He planned to catch a ride to the ship.

A brush and a whisper, enough to make her cheeks warm. If anyone asked, though, she'd put it down to the wine. It would dent her reputation as a hard-drinking party girl, but who cared? That was the old Dora.

She smiled after Ogoti. "Merry Christmas," she murmured back in her native tongue, and then she returned to gazing around. She'd stay a while longer, for a few more glasses, and then return to the ship herself if nothing happened.

[The BranRiech]

"Rylli!" squealed Giovenith happily, embracing her old friend in a warm hug. "Merry Christmas! Did you get the quilt I sent you? Is that for me??" The girl graciously accepted the present with wide, happy eyes.

"Ohp!" Rylli grunted happily, not expecting their eccentric friend to do such a thing. How did she not though? It'd been a while since they'd talked, and hell, Gio was probably wondering how Tolya was since the storm!

"I believe I did! I've got it right over there with the presents that I've got for all the others. You made them yourself? Ah, who'm I kidding, they're wonderful, Gio."

She blushed, hoping the girl liked her gift. It'd been bought from their homeland directly. Inside the package was an old Branriechian painting set.

[Giovenith]

"Rylli!" squealed Giovenith happily, embracing her old friend in a warm hug. "Merry Christmas! Did you get the quilt I sent you? Is that for me??" The girl graciously accepted the present with wide, happy eyes.

"Ohp!" Rylli grunted happily, not expecting their eccentric friend to do such a thing. How did she not though? It'd been a while since they'd talked, and hell, Gio was probably wondering how Tolya was since the storm!

"I believe I did! I've got it right over there with the presents that I've got for all the others. You made them yourself? Ah, who'm I kidding, they're wonderful, Gio."

She blushed, hoping the girl liked her gift. It'd been bought from their homeland directly. Inside the package was an old Branriechian painting set.

Giovenith carefully but quickly unwrapped her gift in excitement, gasping with joy at the sight of the painting set. "Oh my goodness, it's so beautiful! I've never seen one crafted like this..." She carefully turned over some pieces in her hands, before giving Rylli another, more gentle hug. "Thank you so much, Rylli! I love it, absolutely!"

[New Aksarben]

"It's fine, Sterling," assured Willow with a smile, both about the receiving of books and ruining the surprise. "I actually do like that prospect, thank you very much! It will be interesting to read up on." The pegasus accepted the present and bent around to nip something out of his saddle bag, which was resting on the sand nearby. "Dis fowr yuh," he mumbled, holding old the present with his mouth.

Inside would be a painting that was primarily composed of various shades of sterling silver paint.

Sterling carefully removed the wrapping paper and such, making sure to pick up any scraps and crunch them into a tight ball which he placed in his saddlebags for disposal later. No point dirtying such a beautiful island with senseless litter! Sterling then looked back at the painting, now floating up at eye level for the unicorn, and he grinned happily. While he may not understand what the splatters were supposed to mean, the unicorn could definitely enjoy the effort his friend had gone through for him to make this wonderful present.

"Oh, wow, Willow. I love it. Especially how you used that shade of silver. Does it mean anything special?" He always asked that when Willow showed off new art, wanting to make sure that Willow could explain what he had been going for when making said piece of art. With Willow, it would always be an interesting answer too. Especially seeing as all his art was very abstract in meaning.

[Giovenith]

"It's fine, Sterling," assured Willow with a smile, both about the receiving of books and ruining the surprise. "I actually do like that prospect, thank you very much! It will be interesting to read up on." The pegasus accepted the present and bent around to nip something out of his saddle bag, which was resting on the sand nearby. "Dis fowr yuh," he mumbled, holding old the present with his mouth.

Inside would be a painting that was primarily composed of various shades of sterling silver paint.

Sterling carefully removed the wrapping paper and such, making sure to pick up any scraps and crunch them into a tight ball which he placed in his saddlebags for disposal later. No point dirtying such a beautiful island with senseless litter! Sterling then looked back at the painting, now floating up at eye level for the unicorn, and he grinned happily. While he may not understand what the splatters were supposed to mean, the unicorn could definitely enjoy the effort his friend had gone through for him to make this wonderful present.

"Oh, wow, Willow. I love it. Especially how you used that shade of silver. Does it mean anything special?" He always asked that when Willow showed off new art, wanting to make sure that Willow could explain what he had been going for when making said piece of art. With Willow, it would always be an interesting answer too. Especially seeing as all his art was very abstract in meaning.

"Well, I mostly used sterling silver paint on it," explained Willow, pointing a few things out. "See, your name, Sterling, in a colored sense. The lines are like roots, trees, or lines, which can all be taken the symbolize knowledge. Basically, it's just personalized for you."

It was a refreshing description from some of the rather haunting things Willow had explained about his works to Sterling before. The painting merely symbolized Willow's friend in a way he knew how to express it.

"I made Giovenith and Toscha personalized paintings too."

[The BranRiech]

Giovenith carefully but quickly unwrapped her gift in excitement, gasping with joy at the sight of the painting set. "Oh my goodness, it's so beautiful! I've never seen one crafted like this..." She carefully turned over some pieces in her hands, before giving Rylli another, more gentle hug. "Thank you so much, Rylli! I love it, absolutely!"

"Oh, I knew you'd love it!" Rylli beamed with happiness. Her gift was a success! She'd have to ask Bran later how some of the others took to their new gifts, but for now, knowing that that old painting set was finally going to someone who'd appreciate it was much better than anything else at the moment. It would have sat around their place collecting dust forever, and hey, Gio'd probably get some use out of it!

"And thanks again for the quilt, you must have spent hours making them all. I love it."

[Giovenith]

Giovenith carefully but quickly unwrapped her gift in excitement, gasping with joy at the sight of the painting set. "Oh my goodness, it's so beautiful! I've never seen one crafted like this..." She carefully turned over some pieces in her hands, before giving Rylli another, more gentle hug. "Thank you so much, Rylli! I love it, absolutely!"

"Oh, I knew you'd love it!" Rylli beamed with happiness. Her gift was a success! She'd have to ask Bran later how some of the others took to their new gifts, but for now, knowing that that old painting set was finally going to someone who'd appreciate it was much better than anything else at the moment. It would have sat around their place collecting dust forever, and hey, Gio'd probably get some use out of it!

"And thanks again for the quilt, you must have spent hours making them all. I love it."

"I'm glad you do," Giovenith smiled sentimentally, squeezing her friend's hand. "I absolutely adore your gift as well, thank you. Merry Christmas. Is your baby safe as well? The storm must have been so scary for the little guy..."

[The BranRiech]

"I'm glad you do," Giovenith smiled sentimentally, squeezing her friend's hand. "I absolutely adore your gift as well, thank you. Merry Christmas. Is your baby safe as well? The storm must have been so scary for the little guy..."

"He cried a bit, but that's expected! I'm sure I cried quite a bit as a child." Rylli shrugged. Tolya had cried quite a bit, and was unsettled by the fighting and death that was going on. He didn't understand it at the time, but it all did seem very bad to the child.

"I'd better get to handing out other gifts then, Happy Holidays, Giovenith." She bowed her head in farewell.