darkpiety | Inviting a Guest (For chiron

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Inviting a Guest (For chiron_survivor!)

((Directly following up to these two logs Here and Here! ))

As much as Abysa wills it not to, time continues to pass; minutes, to hours, and hours to days go by as the priest contemplates his next move. One day alone was lost to fervent prayer at the hanging banner of his Lord of Guilt, and later taken to his proper shrine elsewhere in the massive, maze-like dwelling he has made home. His Dark Lord's answer came with both relief and fear, knowing that if the priest wished it, he could visit his realm any time, to turn himself in for this breach of conduct. Yes, that about confirms the presence of a sin! That in losing his temper, Abysa had used a particular magic in a way it is not meant to; He stole complete control of another's body, and without permission!

The day after that is fraught with anxiety and procrastination as Abysa decides if this will be the right course of action. Absolution by Guilt's court will be permanent and final in the cosmic scheme, but it cannot force the victim to forgive the perpetrator, or restore any of that lost trust. He spends much of the day at the bedside of his sleeping charge, relieved that at least, he seems to be dreaming peacefully. This magic too, this spell of suspended sleep that can leave a mortal in dreaming near-indefinitely, should not be used in this way, and the demon knows it, he just needs time. Abysa also knows that his eventual sentence may be too brutal for a mortal to witness, or 'witness', since his poor patient's eyes are yet to recover fully. This leaves him at a loss for his next step. If only he had better perspective, a mortal one, perhaps...

During the night, he is pulled out of his thoughts as he hears a muffled 'clunk' on the floor of Micolash's soft blanketed room. Looking over, the demon spots Henry the cat, busy pushing at objects on the desk with his paws. A book or two, a roll of bandages, and a sealed potion bottle have journeyed quite close to the edge, ready to join whatever it was that had taken the first plunge.

"Ah, you have been neglected without your master to entertain you. My apologies, Henry, but these belongings are not toys-" He begins to say, floating over to see what had fallen, and notices that it is his new 'tablet'. Now, it is not made of stone as he might have expected, but is a delicately encased device with a display screen that projects images and symbols. In other words, it is a communications rectangle, or a 'phone', and a brand-new one at that, purchased almost immediately after his and Micolash's last outing.

"Henry, you clever beast! I had forgotten I now have a means of communication! Not to mention, a new contact." Indeed, Abysa made his purchase with the specific purpose of inviting a guest at his leisure. He pokes at the device until the screen activates, and is caught up in the moment of learning to navigate the interface of this shiny new piece of technology, until he finds the contact list. There is one name on it so far: Adia.

She seems like such a kind mortal woman, and her helpful nature might aid Abysa in finding the insight he needs, but the demon still finds himself hesitating for a time. Even kind mortals may change their natures, especially if he is to admit of the events that transpired... But surely she might see that Micolash had been wearing down his patience and his graciousness with ill intent? Even then, if she were to take the human's side, it would only assure Abysa that facing punishment is the correct course, and then he would need someone to watch Henry while taking a visit to Hell! Maybe she would be up for that! Henry is an innocent in all of this, after all, and quite a charmer.

With one long finger, he delicately taps the screen in deep concentration, writing a 'text' message to Adia, detailing an invitation and some instructions:

Dear Miss Adia: I, Abysa, humbly request a visit as soon as you are able. The matter is urgent but not life-threatening, and for which I would appreciate the opinion and perspective of a mortal in advising a course of action. If you are able to, respond to confirm your attendance, and instructions are to follow:

Arrive to the Nexus, and wait at any spot you wish, but send your location to me. I will arrive shortly to teleport with you to my abode. Any additional accommodations such as food, hydration, medical care, and so on can all be provided on request. If you decline this invitation, there is no need to give your location, nor will you be beholden to any grudge or ill will. Yours Truly: Abysa, High Priest of Hell.

Awfully formal for a text message, really. It took up two bubbles! Abysa lets go of the device, allowing it to float beside him as he goes back to watching his charge sleep. Nothing to do but wait, now!

Henry knocks a book off the table.

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"A good start would be getting him to admit he was responsible," she murmurs, remembering his reluctance to tell her about the Brain's true nature in the first place. "He's in a terrible denial over it. But, I suppose that's better than being proud or unconcerned over what happened."

The fact that Abysa wants to help the Brain of Mensis, too, fills her with a warm hope. But that hope is tempered with experience. "That's very kind of you," she says, her hands resting on the counter's edge so she isn't tempted to fidget. "I'm sure your Lord of Death is very wise and powerful, but the Brain is from a different universe than yours. Not all of the same rules may apply."

But, anyway. Back to the matter at hand, Abysa's primary concern. "I only know what he told me, which wasn't much." She rubs the back of her head in embarrassment. "I thought he had maybe kidnapped a baby... I mean, I guess he did, but..." She clears her throat. "It sounds like he was another Great One who was created rather than... um, already existing. It was his Nightmare that Micolash was hosting before he came to the Nexus. I don't really know any more than that."

"Ah, on that I may elucidate you. Mergo had in fact existed before Micolash's ritual, and was the child of a - what was it- a Pthumerian monarch. An ancient queen named Yharnam, no doubt the namesake from which the city takes its name, even if unaware of her existence. She was to be wed, or was already wed to Formless Oedon, another Great One who seems to lack a body but still possess consciousness and influence, and she became pregnant with his child. As you may have guessed, the child was Mergo. Only, it seems, children of Great Ones seem to possess some irresistible quality, perhaps it is their divine blood, that will cause mortals to do unthinkable things." Abysa shakes his head sadly.

"Just before, or perhaps just after Mergo's birth, Queen Yharnam was slain by her own, and Mergo too did not escape the bloodlust. Ah, but Great Ones do not live and die as mortals do; the poor thing's little consciousness had persisted all this time, lingering with its mother who also could not rest. It seems the queen exists in a state of undeath, unable to rest after her violent death, or maybe her marriage to a Great One has given her eternal life? But yes, Micolash not only abducted a child, but did so from an eternally grieving mother." With that the priest sighs and folds his arms once more.

"Her situation was similar to mine, as a bride of a god. Yet he still could not fathom my distress at her entire story."

His explanation fills in many of the blanks of her own knowledge, and even answers her earlier unspoken questions. It doesn't make it any easier to hear. Poor Mergo! His origin story is as tragic as that of the Brain of Mensis, even if his destiny was to always be a Great One. "That is so sad," she says softly. Worse yet, for Micolash to be so ignorant of the pain he caused both the baby's mother and Abysa in his telling of the tale!

"I'm sorry he couldn't understand why that would make you upset. It makes me upset to hear, and my life is nowhere near that sort of situation." She looks up at him worriedly. "Has he said at all what's happened to Mergo, now that Micolash is no longer hosting his Nightmare? He may be a Great One, but he's still a baby..."

"Unfortunately, I know not of Mergo's fate. I can only speculate based on what I know, if that will ease your worries some." Abysa, while upset about the story, does seem more calm when discussing the aftermath.

"From the way he tells his story, I believe the Hunter that struck down Micolash was sent by a higher power. Micolash described them returning to his loft again and again, despite being slain by him a great many times. And keep in mind, as Micolash was then a host, he was unable to die in the dreamlands as well, until this particular hunter managed to best him. I must infer then, the Hunter was perhaps sent by another Great One to dispense justice upon Micolash and his Nightmare. And well, to slay Micolash is but one step, and the second would be to liberate little Mergo, with whatever method that would take..." He does frown briefly.

"Ah, but Great Ones do not simply die. No doubt Mergo is adrift in the dream, free of its shackles, or it has been returned to its mother. Either fate is most preferable to being held captive by a madman..."

Ah, yes, the Hunter. She hadn't known what to make of their role in the Nightmare earlier, but hoped that it had been for a noble purpose. "That does make me feel a little better, thank you." It's not the happiest ending that one could hope for, more like the bittersweet conclusion to a ghost story. A restless spirit reunited with her child, hopefully. Too bad the Hunter merely shunted Micolash off to the Nexus, ending his hosting duties but not helping him understand the extent of his crimes....

"I wish we could talk to that Hunter. Or someone reasonable from his world. When he talks about Yharnam, it's always through such a biased lens. The village sounds awful, honestly, but there must have been some people who communed with Great Ones and didn't go mad, or get turned into... something else."

"I do wonder how many live still in his homeworld..." Abysa taps his chin idly. "It does sound as though a great calamity was visited upon the village and surrounding region. Short of going to that world myself, we can only wait and see if more visitors from that realm happen upon the Nexus. Travel to a new world entirely would take up quite a bit of my time, and I currently have obligations, but I am thinking it will be something to attempt in the future."

Finally, Abysa sits up and looks around.

"Well, I believe we have finished our tea. Shall we make our way elsewhere? Even if dear Micolash slumbers still, would it not be nice to meet little Henry at last?"

Well, there's a big surprise. People messing with Great Ones and mystical powers beyond their ken. Of course something terrible would happen. Even so, when Abysa talks about the possibility of visiting Micolash's world, she leans forward a little and says earnestly, "Will you let me know if that possibility becomes a reality? If there's some way I contact Kos, some say Kosm... I really think she's our best bet to helping the Brain of Mensis."

The offer of a little tour brightens her expression. "Sure. I'd love to meet Henry."

"Excellent! I am certain he will be pleased to have company. Just one moment while I get everything put away..." Abysa floats off to the side to open a cupboard manually, while the teacups and other dishes begin to float about, with the sugar and cream back to their proper places, and used dishes begin washing themselves in the sink. Abysa takes out a little plastic baggy, almost out of place amongst the magical scene. It has a picture of a happy cat on it, surrounded by kibbles, as well as more undecipherable writing on its label. By context alone, it's easy to guess that it's a bag of treats for Henry.

"With this, he is sure to take to you quickly. Well, and with Micolash asleep... He has not been spoiled for a few days. It will be a reward for his patience." Abysa lets go of the bag, and it floats along behind him as he makes his way to the kitchen doors.

She almost offers to help, but decides it would be more of a hindrance than anything, attempting to dodge floating objects so she could bring her own cup and saucer to the sink. She settles for keeping her hands in her lap, out of the way, until everything is cleared.

The bag of cat treats is immediately recognizable for what it is, and puts a smile on her face. She slides off her seat and follows her host. "Micolash takes care of him?" She thinks back to the glowing slug creature that lives in the caged scholar's head, how delicately the man handled it, treating it with genuine affection. A glimmer of humanity in that troubled mind. "I'm glad they get along."

"Oh yes! He adores Henry. Why, when I first introduced them to each other, he wept openly without shame, as he always wanted a feline companion to call his and was touched deeply by Henry's tolerant nature. Since Henry is clever and adapted to magical sorts, and raised in Hell, he is not repulsed by Micolash's otherworldly aura. I dare say it was one of my best decisions thus far! He is a friend and teacher to dear Micolash's troubled spirit." Abysa leads Adia out back into the maze-like halls of the 'dungeon', floating along at a walking pace as he speaks. While still seeming a little nervous, with the way he will pick at the hems of his sleeves, the demon's mood has improved considerably.

This walk is not as long as the one from the portaling room to the kitchen, though they do make a couple of turns through the halls that make gauging their location in comparison to each other difficult. As they continue, the overall feel of the place seems to grow warmer and more lived-in. There are long rugs stretching down the floor, sometimes a faded painting or two is encountered on the walls, and the doors all appear to be in better shape too. Even the air feels decidedly less cold and uninviting!

The hall of their destination is the nicest of all, all of the decor is new, from colourful rugs to hanging pictures of varying landscapes, some resembling earth's scenery, some more fantastic in nature. The sconces glow with a warmer light as they activate from Abysa's proximity. And finally, they arrive at a particular door. Unlike the others, the door appears to be made of metal, with a variety of locks on the outside (none are locked at the moment), and well-sealed. It's a bit of a comical sight in comparison to the little cat-door that is directly next to it. One with a flap and everything.

"I hope you do not mind... I did want him to watch over dear Micolash, and so we will be in his room. I did make sure it was spacious, and his bed is curtained."

"Oh... I had no idea that he wanted a pet cat so badly..." It reminds her of Caspar's somewhat unexpected affection for cats. A few minutes with a kitten -- or any cute animal, really -- and his entire mood shifts and softens. Her smile grows as she thinks about her beloved. "Animal companions have a way of bringing out the best in us. You were wise to adopt Henry."

After the pleasant modernity of the kitchen, a return to the dungeon halls is not the most welcoming transition. The rugs and paintings help, and after a time it feels more like she's walking through a confusing old manor than some bizarre bunker created for a purpose that not even her host seems to know.

She stops short at the metal door; she had not expected that she would be meeting Henry in Micolash's room. It feels a little intrusive, and it is with great uncertainty that she replies to the demon, her fingers winding into the ends of her scarf and tugging nervously. "Um... well, if you think it's okay..." It's not like Micolash can be accidentally awakened, right?

"Yes, perfectly secure. There is no breaking a demon's enchantment by mortal means." Some more superstitious types might use the word 'curse', rather than enchantment, but it's all a matter of perspective! Abysa opens the door, or it's safe to assume he opens it by psychic means, the door unlatching and swinging open with nary a creak.

Micolash's room seems comfortable enough; it is roomy, decorated mostly in clean pale grey from floor to ceiling, and the bed in the corner has indeed been obscured by thick curtains. The curtains seem to clash a little, as though they had come from a different room, deep blue in colour and decorated with white and silver stars. The closer one looks, the easier it is to note that there are no sharp corners present on any of the furniture, from desk, to chairs, to shelves, to bed. The corners of the room have been rounded off as well, and the floor feels plush and pillowy when walked on.

"Oh, Henry? We have a guest, if you would kindly show yourself- Ah, you are right there! Perfect." Abysa floats on in with the bag of treats behind him.

On the desk, straight ahead from the door, sits a cat in typical pear-like form. Its green eyes are open and watching Abysa as he floats on over, before turning to look at Adia. Its pink nose twitches a bit as it seems to sniff in her general direction. Henry appears to be round of face, slightly stocky in build, and mostly white save for a few orange spots and an orange tabby tail. The orange splotch on Henry's forehead has an eyelike pattern on it, and the spots on his back look vaguely like the eyes, nose and mouth of a skull-like face. Coincidence, of course! Henry is just a cat that happened to be raised in Hell.

"Good boy..." Abysa rubs at the cat's head with his long fingers, and Henry seems pleased with the attention, leaning into the touch. Once scritches are given, Henry goes back to eyeing Adia.

"This visitor is a friend, a human named Adia. And Adia, this is Henry! Is he not a lovely feline?" Abysa seems proud for Henry's sake, giving a beaming smile.

"No? Not even with magic?" She wonders if the same holds true for Reynard's blessing, if it can also not be broken by mortal means. Not that she wants to break it, Reynard gave it to her with her protection in mind... even though she didn't need it, in her opinion...

Despite the reassurance, it takes her a moment for her to follow Abysa into Micolash's bedroom. She peers at the comfortable decor, noticing the lack of sharp corners anywhere. It reminds her a little of a small child's room, which is better to think about than the likely true reason why everything around her is so soft and harmless.

Henry is much more pleasant to look at. What a handsome kitty! "Hello," she says to him with a warm smile. She walks over and offers her hand for him to sniff and hopefully find acceptable for scratches. Henry will find that she smells like a lot of interesting things -- beach sand, winter snow, pine needles, warm flannel -- as well as the lingering smell of a nice cologne. That must be from someone else, Adia isn't wearing any artificial fragrances.

"White magic could break such an enchantment, which is the magic of Heavenly Ones, or a stronger spell of black magic, which is the magic of demons. Mortals can only call upon such powers, and can only use so much before it taxes their bodies and spirits. My rank is such that my spells are of immense potency, assisted by the engagement to my Lord of Magic." Abysa explains, going to float about and inspect the room. He dusts some cat hair off of a chair.

Henry takes his time sniffing and taking in all the smells, his pink nose tapping her hand a few times. The feline cannot voice his opinion, but he is quite fond of the warm smells, and less so of the cooler, pine-like ones. Eventually, he finds her hand suitable for his needs, which are scritches on his soft cheeks, turning his head and pushing himself against her fingers.

"Ah, he is taking to you. I knew he would. He is a polite little gentleman." Abysa looks over and smiles softly.

That makes sense to her, as any explanation of magic can. It also reassures her that Micolash will stay asleep, even though she can't help but glance at those thick, dark curtains every so often. She can't help but keep her voice quiet and her steps soft out of deference to the slumbering scholar.

Her smile grows when Henry makes the universal cat request for scratches. She rubs her fingers along those broad cheeks, admiring his sweet nature. "He is," she says in agreement, taking pleasure in giving the cat attention as much as he is receiving it. "I'm glad that Micolash enjoys his company. I hope someday Caspar and I can get a pet, too, once we're settled a little more."

"A pet will be certain to bring cheer to any home, provided it suits the environment and temperament of its keepers. Do you envision a feline companion? I could obtain for you a hell-born familiar like Henry, if you like." A creature like Henry (who now rumbles with low purrs as he turns his head this way and that for scritching) seems like he would be pricey, going on description alone. Abysa does not seem to acknowledge that. After all, if he possesses such a high rank within his society, what does price matter?

"Ah, but your Caspar's wishes must also be taken into account. Do let him know of my offer as well."

Surprised by the offer, she stops scratching Henry's fur, but the cat's insistent head-turning reminds her quickly enough to resume the attention. "Oh, that's very generous of you, Abysa. I'll let Caspar know that you offered."

Price does not cross her mind, but the potential needs of a hell-born familiar do. And although she has no pre-conceived ideas of demons being synonymous with bad things, Caspar might have some concerns on that subject.

"We were thinking about a cat, yes. Caspar really likes cats." She smiles down at Henry and adds, "I do, too, but I love all animals."

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Inviting a Guest (For chiron_survivor!)

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that icon is really cute!

-3!

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