Death and Tide

[VisAnastasis]

" Well... I guess you are right. You did not really believe me even the basic things, like that I feel no ill will toward you. It would be all the harder to believe something abstract... But that's okay. I was no better. I wished you to trust me that I mean no harm, while I was likewise afraid you'd hurt me. But I felt so natural, being close to you. I... hope you do not dislike my freedom? I, I am sorry I didn't ask for permission to touch your hair... " Tide shook his head slowly, as he kept caressing Death's hair lightly, passing it through his fingertips - and there was something soothing in the loving gesture, as much as in the warm conversational tone he used. " It is just... so soft. Like a cloud would be if it was as it is in dreams. A cotton candy cloud, if you will. It's... kind of a guilty pleasure. " he blushed, seeming to only then realize he's doing it for his own satisfaction, not just as an attempt to comfort Death. " Um, ever since I had seen you, one part of me was nudging me, telling me it would look, um, adorable braided with colourful ribbons and flowers. It's just not a kind of thing that leaves a confident impression when said to someone that doesn't know you... "

[Mirach]

"I once wore a braid, so they wouldn't get in the way when healing..." Death murmured. "And then I wore a crown. No flowers or ribbons..."

[VisAnastasis]

" No flowers? No ribbons? Not even flower crowns? " Tide seemed taken aback, more so than by the talk of war they had - the other thing made sense, but this just seemed inconceivable to him. " B-but... It'd look so good on you. You have such a wonderful, gentle essence... What would be more fitting than something sweet and colourful to adorn you? " he bit his lip, looking at his hair thoughtfully. " I won/t have any ribbons or flowers until we get home, but... Well...  Since you are no longer wearing a crown, nothing prevents you from wearing a nice braid, does it? Would you like me to make you a braid? What kind used to be your favourite? " he inquired curiously. " Simple 3 Strand Braid, Fishtail Braid, 4 Strand Braid, Rope Twisted Braid? Or maybe Pull-Through Braid, Reverse Braid, Waterfall Braid, or Milkmaid Braids? My best friend has long hair, too, and he loves to party and show off, so I was always up to date with the trends of the time, so he'd always feel confident and happy with his look when we walk among people. "

[Mirach]

"I have no idea what any of that means, so whatever you feel like doing. But let's eat first," Death said.

[VisAnastasis]

" There's no rush. We can do it in the morning if you'll still be up for it. " Tide agreed. " Nothing is more urgent than a meal," he said, and he adjusted the gentle embrace, so he could reach for the bag with their supplies. He started listing out the food they had, and he let Spirit pick from those what he feels like eating the most.

[Mirach]

Death started eating after he made his choice, giving little bits of fruit to Xia as well.

[VisAnastasis]

The little kitten nibbled, leaning against his touch and eating trustfully from his hand.

Tide held them both close, comfortable and warm, and as they ate, in demon language so both would understand, he began speaking gently and lovingly about the sea - about places he loved, people that lived there, and not the least, about his city and mansion, reminiscing about it gladly, as it really seemed to have grown into a true home for him and his friends.

[Mirach]

Death listened carefully, remembering it, because he was going to see those places and meet those people, and this way he could prepare for it somehow.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide spoke to him of humans of the city and who he can expect to meet there, both good and bad, so he is prepared. Then, he paused, and took a deep breath, and he seemed to have decided - and he took a leap of faith, knowing very well it is feeding him the information that can be misused, but he felt it is a right thing to give him some insight. He knew how uncertain Death was, and that all control helps him calm - and so, he spoke to him about Beings he could expect to see in the sea around theatre and his mansion. He spoke to him of Spirit and Demon crafter working on the play or staying in the mansion currently, he spoke to him of Rain, he spoke of Janus... And finally, for the first time he revealed Hans's identity, and he said, my best friend is living with me too, and he is a Spirit that used to spend quite a bit of time on Spirit court - but he is one of it's most famous fugitive, and you know him as Llyr.

[Mirach]

"So he is with you? I wondered where he went... He used to have such nice songs... I... had to drove away everyone who would be able to understand me under the mask... leaving only those who understood and agreed with the mask..."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded quietly and was thoughtful for a moment.
" You did not... Drive him away," he whispered in the end. " He just had seen the war begin, and he knew I just couldn't make it on my own in its hell. I just... never had it in me, to be sneaky and resourceful. Half the time, I forget to even use waterbending in useful ways. I have no idea how you and I got out of this mess with me as a planner, other than extreme luck..." his face grew a little redder, but rather than embarrassed, he seemed a little sad, as he whispered. " Llyr... My poor sweet bundle of joy... He didn't want to leave me on my own, never to see me again, or worse, to see me die. He could have stayed safe in the Spirit world... But he wouldn't be happy, knowing I am out there, struggling, hurting, and missing him. We are family, and we will protect each other, forever, he said. And he left everything he knew and loved and followed me into the uncertain futures... He had chosen it for himself, to live an unsafe life at my side, rather than a safe life without me. It was harder for him... I didn't really have a choice but to run, he did. "

[Mirach]

"And that's how I drove him away, and many others," Death whispered. "By creating that situation. By hunting their friends..."

[VisAnastasis]

" In every war innocents suffer. But not only innocent suffer in wars. If you started not this war, you'd have been killed by all among those friends that were not so nice, and all of us with you would die. " Tide quietly and slowly repeated the heavy words he had said more than once. And then, he said something he did not before. " Don't... don't you think it's unfair, that you act like the only one that has driven people away? Yes, sure, I look pretty cool right now. It sounds pretty noble, being a demon king that has taken in and sheltered refuges of the war, doesn't it? But the pretty image hides the uncomfortable truth. " he looked down thoughtfully at his injured hand. " The only reason I am a demon king is that I rule over all those that choose to run away... And that I choose to run away from the conflict, too. We grouped together because we think alike, and because we wanted peace alike. Many of the people I care about pleaded me to join the war on the demon side, but I could not. It was not in my nature, and I refused, and now, they are locked, suffering in the fifth layer... And I choose not to fight for them because lending my strength to them would have hurt everyone else I wished to protect. I am but one person, and I choose to focus on those that I could save, not on those that wanted victory, not peace. I understand your pain... You were worse than me. I was at least able to raise myself as a shield to protect those that would happen across my path, but you were prevented from helping any demon or rogue spirit you would come across. But it is the past now, and you owe it to yourself to challenge that way of feeling... "

[Mirach]

Death sighed. "Tell me more about your kingdom, please," he asked, not answering that statement.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide nodded. He let Death eat without asking him any more questions. Instead, he kept soothingly passing through his hair, as he began explaining how his peculiar little kingdom came to be what it is now. He spoke of many fraction of refugees, of the unwanted, of the broken and bruised. He spoke of people finding each other. And quietly, he timidly spoke to him of his dream - of a kingdom where humans, Spirits and Demons live side by side, each bringing their own thing to the table. He spoke how his kingdom is actually ruled not by one, but Three Kings - Tide as Demon king, Llyr as Spirit King, and Sage as worthy human they picked to represent humans they are connected with as their Human King. He spoke of that, and of many little things and many little people, finding comfort in reminiscing about what was important to him.

[Mirach]

Death listened thoughtfully, as if he was trying to imagine where his place could be in the kingdom that Tide was describing to him.

[VisAnastasis]

There didn't seem to be some kind of a very strict, rigid structure to Tie's kingdoms - rather, there seemed to be people assigned to overseeing certain duties, or local leaders appointed to take care and monitor certain groups of people. It was all rather fluid though, and Tide's give tasks to those that would prove to love that task, and he'd not force a task on anyone - everyone gave as much as they wished to give to his cause. In turn, the three leaders monitored everyone, always made sure to know when anyone moves around to new homes and made sure to organize and solve any problems smaller groups would end up stick with. In last times, lot of Beings were entangled in the human world and wished to take part in it, and now that humans were more accepting of Beings, Sage worked hard to have local community accept the newcomers. With special pleasure, Tie spoke how he enjoyed the process, and he spoke of places where humans and Beings work together in groups, like some fisherman villages, some protective services, in restaurants he founded for that purpose for beings that love to cook - and quietly, with some wonder, he spoke to him how some of his beings that love arts and crafts are working on their play as they speak, for the first time working alongside humans.

[Mirach]

"Humans tend to be afraid of me... or at least nervous in my presence..." Death murmured.

[VisAnastasis]

" What should I say, then? With my razor sharp teeth, with my terrifying gaze, and with my overwhelming power to bend sea to my will? Yet, I still walk among them.  " TIde whispered. He paused, before adding slowly, with an innocent, gentle voice to it. " You know, I am officially Demon King and all... But you know what I love doing? I love when people come to me for help. I don't just help Beings, you see. A lot of humans suffer from mental illnesses. There's a lot of anxiety, a lot of depression, a lot of pain from loss... And my stability is comforting to people as much as to Beings. I love when people that have panic attacks or problems with their minds come to ask me to help. And people know I can handle fevers, and there's nothing better than when parents who have sick children call for me to help them. It's a delight... But... I can't do much else. I can't help if they, say, broke their limbs, or end up bruised, strained, and in a lot of pain. Those injuries are physical, not spiritual, and I can't soothe it... but you could. " he looked at him shyly. " Would you like that, perhaps...? To just come to house visits with me when I'm called, and help me when you can? Humans tend to be terrified of what they don't understand, true, but they tend to really easily pack bond with people taking care of their injured kids or family, just saying... You don't have to always go. I'd spare you from going to houses of people I know are mean or overbearing. But when some nice friendly family calls us, what do you say? Would you like to join me? "

[Mirach]

"Would you bring Death into a house with a sick child?" Death whispered. "I dont want to conceal my name, though."

[VisAnastasis]

" I would bring anyone into a house with a sick child that had a chance to help. " Tide replied firmly, though." You don't decide who lives or dies... You just accept and heal and cleanse the souls of the dying. Who better could knew how to keep death at bay? Or who better to convince parents that their child suffers no longer in worst case?" He shook his head." I am not saying it would always be easy. Not saying everything is curable. I just think it would suite you. I have been called to people's deathbeds too many times by too many desperate people, and it was hard to say when I couldn't do anything... But you can do much more than me. It'd be a rocky start, convincing people your nature and their loved ones dying doesn't corelate, but still, wouldn't you like a chance to act in your nature? To just respond to calls for help and heal... With no strings attached... ?"

[Mirach]

"I guess... I could try it and see if it works out..." Death said a little doubtfully.

[VisAnastasis]

But the doubtful attitude was not enough to satisfy Tide - if Death wasn't looking forward to it, it meant there were more options to explore until they could find the right one.
" It'd be nice to have you at my side during those tough moments... But I understand that not everybody can be saved, especially frail humans. I would not blame you if you'd rather skip when you know there's no hope. But... you know you don't *have to* do things to be taken care of, right? It's not... like my kingdom is one of those strict homes in stories, where you have to do hard chores or you'll be kicked out... " he noted quietly, adding encouragingly, with warmth and gentle patience. " I ask for nothing, but that you seek your happiness. Do you want to read books? Write books? Learn to play an instrument? Play board games? Or anything, anything else you'd find fun? Check. Really want some nice clothes or food? Check. We can just ask Hans for pocket money. Want to just indulge yourself and be a snake and bask in the sun? Check... And..." he slowly, quietly caressed Death's hair this time, as he added, deciding. " If you'd enjoy it, and really want it... I can't promise I won't be protective of them... But maybe you could help me... with... some of my souls... and... perhaps I can help you with yours? There are so many souls, both in my mansion, and held within you. Even if we focus on nothing but that, we'd have enough work as to never get bored... And there's so much of so much besides that to do, anyway... "

[Mirach]

"I would like to help you with them, and study the way you treat them..." Death said. "As to humans, I do not want to come uninvited..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I will never make you come anywhere where you are not wanted. I will never conciously send you where you would be despised. " Tide replied simply, likewise caressing his hair soothingly, as he slowly and shyly suggested." I love helping, but even I can't be helping people all the time... One needs some time for himself, otherwise, you grow unhappy. You grow insane. I will always make sure you have time for yourself when you need it... but... I was thinking... It was be unusual idea, but... " He whispered." You generally are more at ease helping Beings. Indeed, it feels better to help someone you are sure will either live or get reborn... But care and healing is a fair, honorable act either way. And then I realized - my people always send for me when they need help, even when I can't do anything, I can at least calm and comfort. But at sea, we are very scarce with healers of souls - in fact, we didn't have any for a long time... First healer that visited us last centuries was Svarik, but he is king and won't be here often... So I realized - I never had an official Royal healer. Ever.. " He smiled hopefully." So... What do you think? You're not king, but you'd not be a random little subject, either... You will be what you always wished be all those years... A person that helps. A healer that helps me side by side in crisis. My right hand in hurts of souls, not just for Beings in that room, but for my whole kingdom. What do you say?"