Pagan Gods: Of Brotherhood and War

09:15 Madison_Jones: Looking to the sky, I see only a slim sliver of light on the moon and sigh. "It's too dark to call forth the temple. Guess I'll head to the lake instead..." And so under the darkness of nearly a new moon, I head to Lake Crystarium.
09:20 minotaur21560: And the voice said, "That is not dead that can eternal lie."
09:22 Madison_Jones: As I'm walking, I pause as I hear a familiar voice. Sniffing the air, I then turn in your direction, amber light glowing from my hand to create a light source. "General, good see you again." I move to embrace with a hug.
09:24 minotaur21560: I receive the hug, and return it, "Brother Mage"
09:24 Madison_Jones: "It would seem your title has changed dear general. Should I be concerned?"
09:26 minotaur21560: "Merely the heaven's embroidered cloths, enwrought with golden and silver light, the blue and the dim and the dark cloths, of night and light and the half light..."
09:26 Garras: A silence, a stalking, a great black bear is a walking. And reaching out with claws to pull himself past trees to stand between two trunks and oversees. Standing. Watching. A paltry thought a forming. And then splitting in half, a slow zipper pull, to send blood gushing out with claws latched in wooden hull. And crawling out of that bloody pelt, a human drenched in red a crawling out, like fever melt.
09:30 Garras: Ill illuminated by unfulfilled full moon, there, a human in the distance, naked but not unfurred, is crawling through the grass, with shoulders a quaking and thick thighs.. this pumping twist of full glutes set to piston, the feel of wet dewy grass lashing lascivious tongues over belly and the slow reach of fingers to grasp the earth to pull forward.. and two dark brown eyes gleaming between white sclera.. this serpentine slither crawl to arrest himself by the others. "Good evening, my friends."
09:31 minotaur21560: I raise myself from the cover of grass and greet the bear "Greetings, Beast!"
09:32 Madison_Jones: I look upon this scene, a concerned look as to the one on the ground. "Garras, it would seem you are enjoying yourself this evening..."
09:36 Garras: In the distance, the bear pelt seems to be upheld by its own volition, the head slung back slowly righting itself as its chest cavity flaps open and wide, like two sheets in the breeze while the human looks up at Madison, neck crooked at a violent angle that strains the face and tugs at the neck before slowly pushing the very earth away, the unbalanced effort flopping him on his back now as he lies there, drenched in blood, naked as naked can be and smiles, lips closed, unmoored and even shivering pleasantly in the open air as he feels his neck relax and his chest rise and fall. Even his toes undulate as his hands come to fold over his chest. "I thought I might come out. Say hi. I don't even have a ren fair thing going on."
09:38 minotaur21560: The music sings to our Lord the Flayed One, Hutzilopotchli, and the chant says: "None is my like, none is my equal. Not in vain have I donned the red-plumed garb. No one is as I am. I have put on the quetzal plumes, the green jades. He who stirred up dust before going to war, he was afraid..."
09:38 minotaur21560: The leaves of the forest also sing. And the red-stained figure, refugee from what is "real" what of him?
09:40 Madison_Jones: I cautiously approach this human drenched in blood, reaching to my pack to pull out one of the vials of water from the lake. I was here for a refill tonight having run low due to recent activities. "Are there injuries that need to be healed Garras? This is the last vial I have on me, I was headed to the lake to replenish my supply tonight."
09:43 Garras: The bear below smiles again and laughs, as he tilts his head looking up at you. "No.. This isn't my blood. Its just the blood I'm covered in." He scrunches his face up for a moment and the drying blood on his cheeks cracks like flakes, pulling at his skin. "Actually... I think.. the best thing for me right now.. is to take a nice, cold, bracing swim. So.. since we're here. And you are there. I guess I always kind of thought of this lake as yours.. in a way. Like.. i know its the forests but.. i was.. well. Hoping maybe i could have your permission to swim in the lake."
09:46 Madison_Jones: "My permission is not needed, for the lake is merely a place I found out here in the woods as I was drawn to its mana. I had no idea what I was being drawn towards in those early days, Dahvin once told me a legend about this very lake. Regardless, please enjoy yourself, it's waters are fresh and clear. Think I'll go for a dip myself." And so I begin to disrobe preparing for a midnight swim.
09:48 minotaur21560: The General's lips sputter, as if language is forgotten in the face of the enormity of horror and horror of enormity of bear pelt disgorging human core, but then seeing the mage disrobe, peeling off clothes enacting a return to sanity, the General does the same. "Can I swim there too?"
09:49 Madison_Jones: "But of course, the lake is common ground General." I approach its water.
09:50 minotaur21560: The forest, airy forest, whose canopy reaches heaven, whose foundation in the shining deep is firmly laid, on the land like a mighty bull lying, with gleaming horns like the rays of the sun, like the stars of heaven that are filled with lustre...
09:53 Garras: "I get the same kinda feeling.. like.. what even draws people to a place like this? Why do we do what we do when we do?" Crawling yet still, over the sand crusted rubble shore, and the itchy scrape and the curious pressure under fingertips.. beard dragging in the sand.. hairy forearms and hairy chest.. far too much white sprinkled about like shock white ivory abound were it not for the patina of pinky reds.. and crawling, prone to drag his balls and unhardened cock through the sand.. only a few speckles of blood dust in wake before swirled beneath dust cloud.. and the quiet lap of water from his hands breaking surface. And splashsploosh.. the water warbling as ice cold stabbing penetration battles his heated core.. eyes closed and bracing for the cold water. Afloat in dogpaddle. "Its cold Minot." Teeth a chattering and clacking.
09:58 Madison_Jones: I however do not crawl towards the water, but instead run, jump, and splash in. The cold water rocks my core, a shock hitting my nerves as intense as any impact to a the canvas of my profession. Plummeting under the surface a good 6 feet, I swim up breaking the surface, a deep breath followed by a laugh as I begin to tread water. "Oh fuck... that feels good."
09:58 minotaur21560: Can't suppress a smile, because the weft and weave of words calls forth a feeling, and on the surface of the water, widening rings and interference patterns. With a great chunk-chunk-chunk-KASPLOSH I rush in, reemerge, shaking head like a wet dog, droplets flying every which way. WHEEEEE-freezing!
09:59 minotaur21560: paddling now, three forms beneath the pattern of leaves and stars overhead, and life is good despite its endless patterning and recursion. "Good time for a swim, eh Maddy!?"
10:02 Madison_Jones: "Indeed General. Too much time spent in human cities with the smell of burning wood. The land of Cali-forlorn-ia is on fire again this year." I sigh while treading water, feeling the mana of the lake flood my body.
10:03 minotaur21560: Gorgeous processions, songs of birds at Sunrise... the waves upon the shore, the musical, strong waves, / The woods, the stalwart trees, the slender, tapering trees.../ The heat, the showers, the measureless pasturages, / The scenery of the snows, the winds' free orchestra, /The stretching, light-hung roof of clouds--the clear cerulean, and the bulging, silvery fringes, / The high dilating stars, the placid, beckoning stars...
10:06 Garras: The human curls himself up tight, knees tucked up beneath gripping arms and like a bouyant ball he capsizes, face plunging into the water as his back floats to the surface of the lake and the pinching clasp of icy claws presses at his lids and cheeks, body and form informally imperfect yet specialized to being itself and after soft slow tumble, and the brace of lungs too long full with air, the heretofore was bear slowly comes upright and rubs his hands to his face, face still ruddy red but washing away, dark ripples in the water wisping and transfering that residue elsewhere. "I don't have any soap." He says with a slight moue." Before lowering his lips to the water and taking a slight sip. "I had a buddy of mine get caught in that kentucky freak flood. They call it a once in a thousand year occurence. Like something so rare, its hard to believe it happened now."
10:07 minotaur21560: "sorry to hear that! Strange things everywhere in weather."
10:07 minotaur21560: And the General paddles to shore where there is a certain tree, and certain kind of sap. He harvests some, just a dollop, and tosses it out over water for the ex-bear to catch, surrogate soap.
10:09 Madison_Jones: "It is hard to believe that some would believe the clear signs of changing weather conditions as something of myth. Perhaps there are better topics to talk about though than the decay of a world by human hands." I sigh move to my back, letting my full front side float on the surface, its folds laid bare under the starlight.
10:13 Garras: Blinking as sap gets tossed over to him, he rubs himself with it but it's kinda sticky and tacky but eventually there's a subtle lather and more of the blood starts to come out, running his fingers through his hair to remove some of the matting. "I dunno. I was thinking about.. what its like to be there at the moment of something so rare like that..like it had to happen sometime and there you are at it. He's okay thankfully." The bear continuing to reach under the water to scrub his chest and thighs and crotch while off in the distance, the black bears flapping stomach slowly seals and lumbers down onto all fours before ambling over towards the lake. Snuffling Minot and the nosing his balls and snorting before turning to amble into the lake. "I dunno. What do you guys wanna talk about?"
10:15 minotaur21560: I bend forward, staying quiet, aware of the power of the bear, even bereft of its passenger. Let it snuffle and move on. And overhead, streaks of light, greenish, bluish, some displaced jet stream or aurora sparkling... unseasonable variance.
10:16 minotaur21560: Wade in again to the cold water, and karomp in with a splash again...
10:17 Madison_Jones: "I am happy your friend is okay Garras. Sometimes things happen that defy probability. I could share such a case that has happened to me in this last year. It's not as dramatic as a natural disaster, but unusual all the same." I backstroke to the shore and then pull myself from the water leaving my feet in for relaxation.
10:24 Garras: The bear doggy paddles up to the red human and snoffsnorts him before licking his cheek and the human cant help but smile a little before splashing a little water in his face. The bear groffs amd headbutts the human playfully before paddling over to madison and snufflesnorting him too. "If ya wanna talk about it. I'm just glad that the water is starting to warm up a little. Crazy how we just.. adapt to stuff." The human says before shaking his head out to send water flickering out in drops that ripple out. "You doing good Minot? You been kinda quiet sorta."
10:25 minotaur21560: "Just enjoying the stars overhead and the cool water on a hot summer night!"
10:25 Madison_Jones: i smile at the snufflesnort, this tender moment doing well to lighten my mood. Nonetheless, I being my tale...
10:28 Madison_Jones: "When I was a boy, I played a still game about a Vampire Hunter who was exploring a castle. Dad hated it. I couldn't get enough of it. It was called, Castlevania. As I got older, I would play the game more and more out of nostalgia because after I lost my dad, it was one of the things that reminded me of him. As an adult I still play it for charity events that involves completing it very quickly. It may seem silly to say, but this game has had a large impact on me." I look up to the constellation Orion while reminiscing. "Here is where things get weird."
10:32 Madison_Jones: "I decided to get involves with what some might call, a 'long term story' with a guy around here. We started to engage in it, its theme about me finding an older man to love who could help fill a role for me. Both in part as a lover, but older like a father. Try not to judge me too much for that, we all have our 'types'. And so it went on and on, a story continuing for a large number of pages. Eventually he told me a name to call him, and it shocked me..." I kick my feet playfully in the water as I continue to stare up towards the heavens.
10:35 Madison_Jones: "The name he told, without any knowledge of my own history beforehand, was Simon. The name of that hero from that game I played so much just so happened to also be Simon. It is a coincidence that almost defies probability, and yet feels so perfect as though it was planned. Sometimes things just happen and way, fall together. Of course this was a 'happy' coincidence. Your friend in Kentucky, that's on the bad said... a 'perfect storm' one might say of problems."
10:38 Garras: The human scratches his jaw thoughtfully as the bear snuffles around a little longer before paddling up to himself and turning his head, as if asking if he wants in, but the human just rubs his head for a little. "Its strange, how weird coincidence pops up everywhere. He still talk or.. did he stick around and help for a bit? What's goin on with Simon these days?"
10:40 Madison_Jones: "Oh he is still around of course. It's funny how connected everyone seems to be if you look deep enough. Seem almost like everyone I talk to around here these days knows everyone else in some round about way. Anyhow, I only brought up because of the circumstances of the story. Somehow he was the one to fall into a perfect complementary position in such a tale."
10:43 minotaur21560: "It's true - connections everywhere, even between dreams and reality."
10:47 Garras: Nodding thoughtfully as he idly runs his finger along the bearflap and then pats the beast's impassive face on the cheek. "Its always a trip. Finding out some people have known others since way back when. Weird how the time branches out from the intersecting points." He then looks at Minot and chuckles. "Well, we've talked about that too kinda. How our fantasies end up playing roles in our realities. And if the fiction is in parts or shapes the reality.. what does that mean for us here?" He sighs softly for a moment as he rubs the bear's side. "Where do circles begin?"
10:48 minotaur21560: "Where they intersect..."
10:48 minotaur21560: Paddles so as to start a widening ripple, expanding like a tiny microscopic wave.
10:48 Madison_Jones: "If dreams affect reality, and reality affect fiction... I wonder what says about me always ending up naked in my wrestling matches." I cock a smile.
10:50 Madison_Jones: "I am afraid I may be too drowsy to continue such conversations tonight. It would seem with the decreased lunar light, I am more sleepy than usual." I rise up and wander to my pack pulling out a bedroll.
10:52 Garras: "I dunno Madison. Sometimes, its easy to just keep doing things without questioning it. If thats a serious question I mean." The human shrugging as he swipes some water through his hair for a moment. "If you're heading out though, good night. Thanks for the company."
10:53 minotaur21560: And above, Drunken dawn, Infant rays, petals
10:53 minotaur21560: Dripping with liqueur,
10:53 minotaur21560: yield this hour to our loving counsel
10:53 minotaur21560: And let the future
10:53 minotaur21560: Gently consume you...
10:53 Madison_Jones: "It is probably best not to think too deeply about all this. I can't help myself though." Give a warm smile to my companions.
10:53 minotaur21560: "Goodnight and rest well, mage."
10:54 Madison_Jones: Moving over to the firepit I made when I first found this place, I start up a small fire from the wood in it. "You are both welcome to join me of course. The wood of this forest burns strong and long."
10:55 minotaur21560: "Yes, good idea..." I move ashore, step up, shake myself dry... "Make sure there's room just outside the light circle for the bear to snooze as well."
10:58 Garras: "I think I'm gonna float out here a little longer. Still sweeping out some of the cobwebs outta dark corners n all." The human looks at the bear and sort of rubs his cheek for a moment before giving him a hug, arms wrapping in intersecting pallets before disappearing into just the bear, whose body simply floats up to its back, floating aimlessly in the pond, eye half lidded while his hind paws kick him around in slow languid circles.
10:59 Madison_Jones: "Enjoy the swim. Good night." Curls up next to the fire and starts to doze off.

Published: 2022-07-30, viewed 60 times.