Senecio adn Tide II

[Mirach]

"Let's narrow down the search first," Death said. "I would prefer a smaller room with a canopied bed and a view on the sea."

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, don't worry about the bed, whichever room we choose we can just find you the bed that suits you and bring it there. As for the view on the sea, that excluded the rooms on the right side on the floor, as they look upon the inner gardens, the rooms on the left look to the sea. But it's the smaller that might be a problem. " Tide stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. " You see... With my height and all... I always felt a little uneasy in common human dwellings. So, when designing my floor came to be, I choose high ceilings and large rooms. Less claustrophobic, more spacious room means... more freedom, really. " he whispered with a touch of vulnerability, rather quietly. " There are only a couple of smaller rooms, that overlook the sea especially, and those are mostly rooms that have specific functions, not originally imagined for dwellings. The smallest room is actually... the one at the very end of the hall, where I keep the souls, with white and black doors. There was no need to make that room big, as my souls prefer the comfort of closeness to each other, and bigger spaces are overwhelming to them. Other than that, let's see, small rooms... Hmm... I have a storage room where I keep my collection of seashells. I like eating shells, but when I find some unusual or damaged in a peculiar way, I add them to my collection - I have a soft spot for broken and unusual. There are shelves along all walls there, and I fear it doesn't have a window, but it does have enough space for a bed if we remove the sofa. Then, let's see, the smallest one after that... I... Have... A sort of an observatory room. " he whispered. " It's a little unusual. It has no windows, but a telescope, and it's designed and enchanted so that it looks through the ceiling. I like to watch stars through it, and I have developed a secret star language, with the help of the Star Being, Alpha Centauri. I can send messages through Alpha to various parts of my kingdom, at the speed of light, depending on the position of stars in the sky. There is no window in that room, either, but technically, the telescope can see through any wall of the mansion, so if you'd like to see the sea, you'll just have to move it around and gaze at whatever you feel like through it. As long as you don't press any buttons aside from sharpening and manoeuvring ones, you wouldn't be messing with star language, so I wouldn't mind you using it... "

[Mirach]

"No, a bigger room is alright," Death said. "If you could just put some dividing screens to make the space smaller."

[VisAnastasis]

" Dividing screens? Won't that be too little? Hmm.. well, if that would help... but, you know, actually... " Tide's face lit up. " Well, I did plan to take quite a bit of time to sew you a nice dress... but it seems you already have attire you like if I am right? If it's so, then we could use the time we have differently. A canopied bed may be a nice compromise... but how about making you a little wooden house? Like, a cute little house within the room you pick. " he suggested, with a tinge of excitement. " In the past, while we were on the run, there was no point of learning to build stronger houses, but I did learn to build little wooden houses. I actually have gotten quite good at it... Ceilings are high enough for us to be able to build you a one-floor little house, with a roof level, too. And then, you can have a little bed there, a little table, you can pick a carpet, curtains, everything... It would be, in a way, like making a big room a small one. And we can build it in any bigger room, then, and that room will be like your backyard, heh. " he blushed. " Perhaps... hmm... I fear I don't have a cool indoors garden like Cernunnos, but I do have a room with glowing light sculptures that are in the shape of trees - I enjoy the idea of having a room that's like a magical glowing forest. I find it soothing. But... I wouldn't mind letting you have it. As long as I'm welcome to visit you... "



( Happy New year, dear! <3 )

[Mirach]

(Happy New Year!)

"That sounds very nice, actually," Death said. "But it doesn't need to be done today. A bed would be enough for now, in a room that I can call mine. We could make a dress for Xia in that time, instead."

[VisAnastasis]

" That would be a time well spent, as well. Let's just have some fun, it's long overdue guys! I am not sure if I have that much grey colour, as I thought I'd be matching it with some brighter colour, but I'm sure we'll pick some nice fabric. What do you say Xia? What kind of a dress you'd like? "
" A... dress? " Creature repeated in demon language, once she understood what was asked. " Why? "
" Well... You see, there's a ball after the play. The ball is like... A big party. A large picnic with a lot of nice people and Beings. It'll be fun, and everyone will be dressed in pretty clothes. I can make you a sweet little dress, and you can dance and play with the guests, with Svarik and us... You can just have fun and make friends... "
" Xia... I see... " she replied, very slowly, like usually when she'd have to focus to use first tense instead of third. " But what if... I... do not wish to make friends? To have fun? To dance? Uncle Tide's dress is pretty, and it catches attention... It is nice. But Xia does not want that. Xia wants to be in a form when no one will ask her anything, or talk to her. Everyone wants to talk to a child, so no. " she looked down. " Xia feels... very little, right now. Xia wants to be as littlest as she can be...Xia will be her tiniest, and her tiniest is a golden kitten. So... " she seemed hesitant to ask. " A little shawl... a kitten-sized shawl... would be enough for Xia tonight. A shawl with uncle Tide's flower... "

[Mirach]

"Wouldn't you like a pretty dress, though?" Death asked. "Not for the ball, maybe. Just for when you feel like wearing it."

[VisAnastasis]

Reluctantly, at words, Xia turned to him.
" Wouldn't Mister While like a pretty dress, instead? " she replied quietly with a question. " But he doesn't quite feel like pretending to be merry, does he? It would be dishonest to wear something for a party when your heart isn't partiful. So why would he expect Xia to want such a thing? What would dressing a dress even accomplish? Changing form is not changing the heart... Xia is still a lone creature out of time and this world, no matter what silly cloth you put around her. " she frowned, not looking angry or bitter, just quiet and withdrawn. " Xia... won't pretend she is partiful just to ease your conscience, Mister While. You are not partiful, either, so why is it so important for Xia to be? Does not seem very fair share, if you can be gloomy, but Xia can't. That is... indeed not a fair share of the cake. " she smiled sadly. " Mister While... is being really greedy with it... "

[Mirach]

That had the effect of a cold shower on Death, who was slowly coming to terms with this kind of relationship and starting to overcome his fear of it being more than he can take after his talk to Tide. He was at a loss for what to say to that for I while. "But I got my pretty clothes..." he said finally, unable to come up with anything better that would reassure Xia.

[VisAnastasis]

Maybe Xia was hoping some firmer statement may elicit some kind of stronger reaction - something she can draw any kind of conclusion from. Without it, she looked down, not seeming to know what to say, either, that would convey her feelings.
" But...What is... the point of pretending to be merry like that? If unc-... " she almost slipped up, before correcting herself sadly. " If sir While thinks Xia is just fine with all he asked from her... he will be relieved. He will think it is fine. Xia... wants to give him time. But no time to ease his heart. " she whispered, by the frail struggle in her voice apparent, in her own strange way, that she tried to act mature. " Time to reconsider his life choices. Sir Jake said, be patient. Xia is going to be patient, even if it hurts... but she wants to stay sad. If she pretends she is having fun, Sir While will be relieved. He will think silly terrible things... like... that Xia is just fine hanging out with others, after all...and is surely much better off without him... " her voice wavered hoarsely in pain, but also determination. " So, Xia won't pretend that she wants other people when she does not. Xia's heart is too unsure right now to be able to befriend any of them, so acting as if she can love them would mislead them... Xia won't be misleading anyone tonight... you, the least... "

[Mirach]

"I don't understand..." Death said. "I won't think that you are better off without me if you hang out with the others. I would like you to have fun. With others or just with me, if you would prefer that..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Xia... had a lot of fun with... sir While. Until this morning. She does not know if, how or when she can have fun with him again... but she has decided to stay and find out. But while figuring that out, she does not feel like trying to have fun with anyone else. It would be a distraction from much more important life decision. Especially... that dress distraction... " she whispered, and, just for a moment, as she admitted, Death could hear a suppressed and restrained longing in her voice. " Tide... Tide does not understand. If she would want a dress... Xia would... very much enjoy having a dress... But not a random one. A dress to match with you, like mister Senecio's dress matches with uncle Tide's. It seems so much fun... but... Xia really desires a dress to match with her Uncle Worth While. Not with the Mister While. " she empathized, with a tremor in her voice. " Do... you... understand why Xia can not have that dress now? She... can not have that dress, as long as Uncle Worth While does not exist. "

[Mirach]

Death sighed tiredly. "I don't know how to do this. Please, can you talk to Tide? He understands much better what went wrong today. I understand we misunderstood each other somehow but it's hard to explain."

[VisAnastasis]

" But... we are not misunderstood now. We just need different things... that's all... " the creature replied hoarsely, with confusion. " You... Mister While plays a heavy game. He wants Xia not to call him beloved, and to not tell him she loves him. He is only at peace when people act at a distance with him. But Xia wants to tell... people she loves... that she loves them to clouds, and over clouds, and there and back again. She wants to call people she loves names that are as tender and warm as cotton candy. Xia will play. Xia will play if it means she can stay with you... " her voice shook. " But she does not have to enjoy the game... "
" So... If I understand right, dear... Those things that put restrictions on how you express your feelings... upset you? Is that why you can't relax? Because boundaries you two set don't feel right for you? " the demon asked gently, but little creature winced with that.
" Tide... puts it poorly. When he says it... it sounds poor of Xia. But to Xia, it makes perfect sense to be sad over it, even if you accept it. " she stuttered. " It makes no sense... to expect people to have fun when they can not act on their feelings. How can it be fun? It is a terrible burden to play a game so cold. But, it is an important game... for Sir While. That is why Xia will play, as long as she is able to... Mister Jake is right. Sir While is too hurt to reconsider his life choices, so Xia must be patient. It is hard, but she has to... "

[VisAnastasis]

" But Xia, it's one thing to be patient, and it's another to step all over your boundaries. " Tide told her, sounding rather worried, actually. " Even more so, you can't walk all over yourself like that. You deserve to be happy and spend time with people that make you happy. You clearly don't sound happy right now... "

" Xia does not have to be happy all the time! " creature stuttered, brushing him off. " X-xia... Xia just wants to be a good friend! Xia... Well... Not just. Xia wants... Something that isn't this. But words are too much to describe it. So only thing Xia can do is get by until she figures it out! Xia just... "

In that moment, there was a knock on the door, and all silenced and turned to it. Tide subconsciously grew serious and stood between Death and the door, and Xia, despite their argues, covered Death with her wing, tensing up too... but there was no need for it, for there was no stranger on them this time. It was Sage who spoke up when Tide bid who was there, and demons relaxed, and invited him in.

The man entered, and right behind him, walking slowly and solemnly with head held high - and with tail fully grown now, as after he returned Svarik came to heal it till the end - was Hans, better known as Llyr, as he was called before the Being war.

[Mirach]

"Hello, Llyr," Death said in a little voice, almost fearful - like a child that was caught doing something that it knows is bad.

[VisAnastasis]

Senecio, with whom the Spirit shared his fears and insecurities about this, could imagine how conflicting the meeting was, and how unsure it made him - yet, he clearly tried to remain composed and not be salty, which was not that easy, considering how cosy Death looked, in soft new clothes, partially concealed with soft blankets and wings, leaned on puffy pillows.
" Yeah... Hi. Didn't really see you there... " the most blatant and casual lie of the day was said, as Llyr cleared his throat slowly. " I wasn't informed today was a pillow fort day, sure, but I guess it's not the worst thing that can happen... "

[Mirach]

Death looked embarassed about that, trying to straighten his back and sink deeper into the pillows in the same time. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

[VisAnastasis]

" For what precisely? Being ill or comfortable? Well, whatever it is, it'd be rather inconvenient if the world went down like a lead balloon because that fort pillow wasn't cosy enough, right? " Hans coughed, trying to sound nonchalant, but with a hint of discomfort and sarcasm, as he tried to keep his wits together. " Can you handle if I take one part of it, though? "
" Hans, pleeease, come on... " Tide shrugged helplessly, trying to appease the awkwardness. " You don't have to tease him like that... I wanted him to rest well. "
" I don't mean to tease. I am literally asking. That is to say, I don't need nothing from him. I came for Xia. " Spirit waved away with his hand, and it was little creature's time to be surprised, and she seemed as confused as Tide was intrigued.
" Llyr came for... Xia? "

[Mirach]

Death shifted his weight so he wasn't leaning on Xia, letting her go if she wants. "I'm not keeping her here," he murmured.

[VisAnastasis]

" You... Would not rather have... Xia stay? " Creature tensed, seeming confused and lost suddenly, not understanding the meaning of this. Tide didn't let it stay like that, though, knowing it would be a big blow for her to feel she'd been led away. He didn't feel he has the right to try to initiate a hug or touch right now, but he knelt before her, catching her gaze.
" No, no... it's not like that, dear... Do not worry. Hans isn't taking you away from us. I am sure he has a perfectly good reason he would ask for you, right Hans? " he looked at the Spirit hopefully, and Spirit understood the misunderstanding and delivered.
" Oh, of course not, little one. You do not have to come, we would just appreciate it. You see, we have an issue we think you can help us with... " he then proceeded to explain how they don't have a flier at sea, so quite a few Beings that wanted to go to the play couldn't, because they live too far, or aren't good at long term travel. But Sage was thinking about it and figured that with Xia there, it would be a great opportunity to bring more of them, so they can all come and enjoy it. Xia was still unsure, but once more informed, she seemed to be slowly warming up to the idea, once Tide translated it for her and she understood it.
" But... the sea... is so vast... Xia couldn't figure it all out on her own... " she stuttered, but Hans, seemingly ready for all arguments, replied readily.
" Do not worry, little one, we'll have it all planned out. I will stay here to finish up last preparations, and Sage knows the sea as well as Tide - he will go with you. "
" Yes, little Xia... "the old man said gently. " I'd make sure we take the easiest route, and many steps in between. You'll only have to fly. You won't have to worry about a thing... "
"And we'll not let you go unrewarded, of course. This is important for us. I'd love to pay you for your time, so you can pick up and buy something nice for yourself, you lovely little sweets. " Hans replied gracefully, and without Tide's sensibility and knowledge of the argument, he wasn't hesitant and being close, he caressed Xia under the chin, and little fox trembled, and teared up with the casual warmth of the gesture, and seemed finally won over.
"X-xia... Sees it is important. A-and... Xia has nothing. Xia... guesses... having some money would be something, for a start... "
"

[Mirach]

Death nodded encouragingly, but didn't want to say anything to not have his words misinterpreted by Xia.

[VisAnastasis]

" Okay, so if it's settled, we can get to business... " Hans replied - either he was oblivious to her tone, or rather more, it seemed he choose not to pry, and focus on the good. " We can go to the common room and plan out all the details. So, are you in? "
Xia, just once more, reluctantly looked to Death, but as he did not say anything anymore, she shook her head and took a deep breath.
" Could... Could... Xia be... very small... while we plan? "
When translated, Spirit agreed encouragingly, and little Xia turned no more - for she turned into a kitten, and went to Hans, allowing him to pick her up in his arms.
Tide knew Hans wouldn't want to be embraced or kept here, not right now, so he didn't insist.
" Thanks. " he just told the Spirit quietly. " I'll see you later, deal? "
" Deal. " Creature said, holding little Xia gently. He nodded to Senecio as well, as if in acknowledgement, before turning to leave, head held high, and gesturing to Sage to follow him.


(OOC; Btw, I ordered Angel of the Lord 1 and 2, from that site! It's probably going to be shipped soon, I'll tell you what I think as soon as I have watched it ;)

[Mirach]

Senecio nodded as well, stealing a look at his tail while he walked past.

(OOC: Does that mean that the "operation" that Svarik and Conrad were supposed to do is already over? Svarik didn't want to heal Hans before that.

And great! I'll then ask about the English equivalents to some words from there because I think there needs to be a crossover with Good Omens :D)

[VisAnastasis]

(OOC: I thought Svarik and Sage went to play for the Sea Deity, and that when they returned, Svarik first healed Hans, so he could go back to work, before going to Janus. If Svarik said he'd heal Hans afterwards, Hans would once awake definitely be like *No worries, I'm just going to go work like this", as one does :D So, if Svarik is now with Janus and hasn't healed Hans yet, Senecio will see that it's still bandaged, since actor himself put a balm on it and bandaged it the night before, while tending to him.

And yes, I can't wait to watch it and compare, I've seen some really cute crossover artworks, and am really curious about the dynamics between the characters, I didn't seem any spoilers rather than a vague description of the plot, so I'm really looking forward to that :D )