2023 catch-all

[sterngaze]

Who: Liem & various
What: Catch-all for non-event threads
Where: Various
When: Throughout the rest of 2023
Warnings: Will be in headers as appropriate

Comments

for Rudbeckia — offerings

[sterngaze]

[On some days, ever since the unexpected occasion when Set ambushed Liem with a date and brought him back to his shrine to cap off the evening, Liem returns to that isolated little holy place to leave tokens of appreciation. Though he doubts that he ever would have come to give prayers to a god like Set in his own world, here in Kenos, he has been the recipient of the red-haired man’s devoted companionship, and been allowed deeper into his confidence than he suspects most others have. For a priest, and a man who has little else to offer, offerings for the god’s shrine are the least of what Liem might allow himself to provide in return.

On this day he comes much as he typically does on other occasions: quietly; not there one moment, but there the next, wearing a suit of gorgeously-patterned fabric that would suit Springstar perfectly, but which makes him seem rather out of place in Highstorm’s deep forest. He takes off his sunglasses as the cornerstone deposits him nearby, sliding them into a breast pocket with his free hand. His other hand supports a basket leant against one slim hip, its contents covered loosely with cloth.

As always, the sounds and scents of the surrounding forest call out to him, and he must put them deliberately out of his mind when he turns his soft, booted steps toward the shrine itself. He has not come here to delve into the Beyond; only to leave a gift, and return home with more of the collection of food containers that Set had apparently been stockpiling in an out-of-the-way little corner of the building. Perhaps to tidy up a little, should the place appear to need it. Then, he intends to take his leave.]

[appeale]

[ ever since Set first offered it to her, this place has been a sanctuary to Rudbeckia – but even more so of late, with her having found the courage to reunite with him and beg his forgiveness, and her rapidly growing fear of both Zenith and Meridian. in a world that is proving to simply be a third repeat in the cycle of misery that defines her existence, Set's shrine is an outlier. never before has she had somewhere else. she's certain that it won't last forever, as it will be lost when Set someday turns his back on her, but for now, she has no qualms about enjoying it while she has it. a place where none of those bastards and their insane ideological war can reach; a place where her friends can live without harm.

none of those "friends" cross Liem's path on his way through the Beyond, all of them alert to the approach of a being that they do not recognise as one of their own. none of them, though, are afforded the time to warn Ruby herself about the possible danger – and the dragon that accompanies her is soundly asleep within the shrine while she mills about, tidying at her own relaxed pace, both of them unaware of Liem's presence in all his silence.

currently, she is moving a stack of the very containers he came here to collect. her back is turned to Liem as he enters the shrine, muttering to herself: ]

Where is he getting all these, anyway... [ as soon as Ruby turns, and catches sight of a figure standing in the doorway, the containers clatter to the floor in a great cacophony of sound at the same time as she squawks— ] Waugh! S-S-Signore?! B-B-B—B-Buongiorno...

[ What the hell do I do?! Set! Help me!!

while the two of them have rarely had cause to interact, she recognises Liem, both from her time in Meridian and her new alignment with Zenith. someone who was made to switch, like her. someone who has since returned, unlike her. if he has any memory of her, Liem will find Ruby's appearance to have changed dramatically – her sclera have gone black, a sharp contrast to her bright blue eyes; her limbs are dyed in a black gradient, as though she has smeared her hands with charcoal, as though she is decaying from her fingertips up her arm; her long, golden hair ends in black wisps that fade at the tips. it is a mark of high Discord for the Zenites, leaving her with the look of something undead. (privately, she has thought that it is fitting for someone like her.)

curled up along the wall like a coiled serpent, the dragon's eyes are open, its gaze fixed on Liem. ]

[sterngaze]

[Even before he steps through the threshold, Liem realizes that the shrine is currently occupied. He can hear the faint scuff of footsteps muffled on carpeted stone, and see the flickering of a shadow cast by the candles inside. As he approaches, however, he thinks that perhaps Set is within; it isn’t until he brushes aside the drapes obscuring the entrance that he realizes that the one in the god’s shrine is someone else entirely.

He has a moment to register a petite, feminine figure; long, gold hair fading to black; and in the corner — a small, rather floral looking dragon, curled peacefully up as though enjoying a nice nap. Then, the figure turns and the food containers in her arms — his containers — go clattering to the floor as she lets out a startled yelp. Only the presence of the dragon keeps Liem from hurrying closer in order to help clean up the sudden mess. He stays frozen in the doorway instead, his basket still balanced on his hip.]

Oh—! My lady…

[So; she is the one who has been tidying up around here, on the occasions he arrives to find an unfamiliar scent still lingering in the air, or a bit of strange, feathery scale lying under a piece of furniture. He had wondered why there should be signs of monster activity in Set’s shrine. Liem had supposed it might just be from creatures investigating the curious location, but he’s never seen any signs of violence. Surely, had woodland monsters been attracted here, Set would eventually have encountered and disposed of them. Now, he sees, at least one monster has deigned to visit in the company of this woman.

He hasn’t seen Rudbeckia much in person, but it’s impossible to miss the changes to her appearance; especially her eyes, which now look eerily like Liem’s own, pale blue on black. But of course, the strange darkness to his sclera and the pale, greyish cast to his complexion are all natural; he has never looked any different.]

Were you tidying those? Please don’t trouble yourself; I was going to take them back with me once I left.

[appeale]

Oh, they're yours... [ that answers the question she would not have asked, too, about his visiting here. not all of Set's acquaintances – friends? – make a point of attending his shrine. likely they have no need to; their relationship with him is not contractual as hers is, trading her devotion for safety. so Liem is here not seeking Set, the god, but Set, his shitty friend that doesn't return Tupperware. Ruby's thoughts leave her staring down at the scattered containers for a few seconds of silence, and then— ] Ah, I just dropped them everywhere, I'm so sorry!!

[ Rudbeckia lurches into motion, nearly stumbling to kneel on the floor where she begins gathering everything up once more. in the midst of her fluster, it takes a moment for her to realise that Liem is still lurking by the entrance, hesitating for some reason. she looks up, meaning to invite him in, and realises that slumbering in his direct line of sight is a dragon. Yes, that would obviously be a problem, wouldn't it? ]

It's okay, Fiore. [ her attention shifts, turning around to placate the creature: ] The signore is a friend of Set.

[ there is no doubt that, somehow or another, the dragon understands her – at the mention of Set's name, it releases a rumbling sigh as though exasperated, and relaxes. one eye remains open, half-lidded. that seems to be enough for Ruby, who refocuses on their unexpected visitor and his containers. ]

Um. Signor... Liem, isn't it? I'm sorry... If I had known these belonged to you, I would have brought them to you sooner.

[sterngaze]

[Married though Liem may be to his manners, he remains in the doorway of the shrine even when Rudbeckia drops to her knees amongst the scattered collection of dropped containers, his eyes still half-trained on the dragon that has its gaze so clearly fixed on him — though his hands do raise in a gently placating motion at the sound of her exclamation.]

Please; the fault is mine for startling you. I wasn’t expecting someone other than Set to be here. [And he knows his appearance is not an entirely comforting one.

On some level he had known that Set had probably shown other people his sanctuary as well — but he apparently hadn’t ever brought Hayame here, which to Liem suggested that the pool of people to know this place must be small indeed. He certainly hadn’t expected to run into anyone else in just the short time he was intending to visit.

Rudbeckia’s presence here with a drake in tow, however, slides some puzzle pieces into place. Once she addresses the verdant-looking creature and the latent tension seems to leave its coiled body, Liem allows himself to venture further into the little building. First he sets his basket down on a convenient surface, but he then wastes no time in crouching to gather some of the tumbled food containers beyond the lady’s reach. When she ventures his name, he nods.]

You’ve nothing to worry about. Set is the one who’s been hoarding them here.

[What a strange choice of keepsakes he’s claimed. If Liem had known that Set wanted something of his to keep in his shrine, he would have offered something a little nicer than Tupperware.]

Is this drake your companion? I’d been wondering about the signs of monsters hereabouts. I’ve never seen any in Set’s company.

[appeale]

[ explaining her connection to the creatures here was inevitable the moment Liem found her here with a dragon that he has never seen in Set's presence – but Rudbeckia isn't so willing to reveal her ability to someone that she doesn't have a good gauge on, even if he is a friend to Set. she cannot rely on anyone just because they have their own connection to one of her lifelines. if anything, that makes them more dangerous. how many people here would cut her hard-earned tether in an instant, if they thought she was burdening someone they care about? —so, she simply won't tell him the whole truth. ]

Yes, I met it in Alenroux. [ perhaps it is intelligent enough on its own to understand her. there isn't any reason for her to elaborate. ] All the monsters here are refugees.

[ when Ruby says this, she looks up to meet Liem's eye, and there is a stubborn set to her jaw, a glint in her eye, despite her otherwise warm and friendly expression. they are refugees from, of course, the Meridian hunters. creatures driven from their home. just as she, too, is a refugee of the faction conflict with nowhere else to go.

but she doesn't linger on the topic. the last of the containers in her reach is placed into a tidy stack for Liem, and she sits back with a broad, beaming smile, her hands clasped together in her lap. ]

I've been here a lot of the time lately! [ though with her Discord this high, she can't be away from Highstorm for long each day. given that, it isn't a surprise to her that she would have managed to miss someone else's visits entirely, if they're fewer than her own. ] I'm his, um... priestess? Shrine maiden? I don't really know what to call it, but I'm his.

[sterngaze]

[Though a dragon of any kind might be an unusual companion for a person to have, Liem doesn’t think to be suspicious of Rudbeckia’s lack of explanation for how she came to have the company of such a creature. Granted, she does not look like any warrior or beast-tamer he’s ever met, but to his knowledge, even the lowliest of dragons has some degree of intelligence lurking behind its reptilian eyes. They are not mere animals, incapable of viewing people as anything but threats or prey.

And, in any case, dragons are known to be fond of young maidens.]

Refugees?

[As he neatens his own pile of containers, he observes the stubborn set of her chin with a curious eye; Liem had not previously considered that anyone would be of a mind to preserve any of Alenroux’s monsters from the wrath of those intent on making the island safe for inhabitants.

If Set knows of the refugee population around his shrine — and Liem assumes that he must — he wonders what use the god might have for such a thing: monsters living in the woods near his shrine, beyond the limits of Highstorm itself. More and more, the god’s presence in these woods seems like something that would put a sour expression on the face of Highstorm locals.

With a perfectly straight face, he says,] Well — better here than in Alenroux.

[The stacked containers are set aside, near the exit, for his departure. Given that he didn’t only visit to retrieve his wayward Tupperware, however, he is content to let them sit for now. He has an offering to make, and besides, he is in no hurry to say his goodbyes to… Set’s shrine maiden?]

I didn’t know he had such a thing, in this world. [The upward twitch of his eyebrows betrays his genuine surprise. Rudbeckia has not, to his cursory knowledge of her, seemed like someone whom he’d expect to devote herself to any Osirian Egyptian god, much less one of deserts and violence.] Was that your calling back home, as well?

[appeale]

[ given his lack of hostility towards her or her friends, and the lack of any follow-up questioning about her relationship to the monsters, Ruby finds she isn't in any rush to be rid of Liem either. she's never particularly enjoyed socialising, possibly because she hasn't ever had anyone to enjoy it with, but... it would be good to get to know the people that are close to Set. she needs to know who she ought to watch herself around.

besides, it does get boring out here, just her and the monsters to play with. ]

Mm... Sort of? My father was the head of the church, and my brothers were both clergymen. I was raised by nuns and monks. But women aren't allowed to join the clergy, so I wouldn't say I have any experience.

[ not that it would help even if she were more involved. her exposure to other religions has always been minimal even in her previous life, cut off by the insular nature of Catholicism around her. however a priestess for a god is supposed to behave, she's sure it's nothing like men of the cloth from the Catholic church. ]

I just wanted to devote myself to him. He's my saviour.

[sterngaze]

[Without ever turning away rudely from Rudbeckia, or completely turning his back on the dozing drake curled up in one corner, Liem again hefts the covered basket he’d brought with him. Though he’d originally been intending to simply leave his offering on the altar, say some prayers and take his leave, the presence of a shrine maiden — even an inexperienced one — changes his mind.]

Is that so?

[He observes her for a moment, considering her dark eyes and dead-looking hands with a steady, deliberate gaze. He could ask if she intends to remain with Zenith while she does so, despite the war god’s current alignment, but for the moment, he does not.]

He is surprisingly possessed of kindness, given his portfolio, isn’t he? He wasn’t even cross with me after I left Meridian. In fact, that was the first time he brought me to this place.

[Liem displays no shame in slandering Set so in his own holy place. The god has treated him better than many members of his own church had, despite their supposed brotherhood. In any case, he suspects Rudbeckia will not disagree, even if Set probably would.]

That’s how I rediscovered my missing containers. And of course, it’s appropriate to bring offerings if I’m to deprive Set of his stash.

[With one hand, he peels back the cloth covering the contents of the basket, revealing a small, dark loaf of some kind of bread, and a bunch of fruits that vaguely resemble squat little green-and-orange bananas.]

Since you are present, would you like to receive them for him?