TheAmishPirate

TSL: The Excess of Flowers

A part of Han could no longer swear to what she would find if she ripped off that mask. A bed of leaves could hide a yawning pit. A false step could lead to disaster.

The rest of Han roars.

Running hot on the power of a demigod’s faith, she plants her feet, and the guttural roar of an apex predator erupts from that compact frame. She speaks a promise of doom to every sense of the body. Blooming flowers wither to brown in a blast of terrible heat, where they grow too close to her. Hearts too, should they stand before her unprepared.

What of yours, dragon-daughter? She will beat an answer out of your blade. At once she rushes in, following the storm of sound with a rain of heavy blows. None aimed for your body; all fall upon your umbrella. Again and again, until you break.

You think to hold a truce with her? Hold your own, first. Stand in the ring with her, and just see what happens. Pull out every trick and fancy technique you’ve got. It. Won’t. Matter. She’s strong enough to take it. She’s strong enough to beat you. That’s all there is to it.

She doesn’t need to trade when she’s got all she needs to beat you.

[Han gives into the desire for a duel. Piri takes another string on Han.]

[Han also rolls to Figure Out a Person: 6 + 3 - 2 = 7. Two questions, and a bonus question by doing it through combat:
-What are your feelings towards me?
-What do you hope to get from us?
-How could I get you to kiss me?]

Breathless Dead

The universe compresses all around you.

The Lanterns melt into the steamy mists, stepping back once, twice, and they exist no longer. Your heartbeats will drown out the patter of feet, directed silently to the nearest exit. Trays vanish, leaving drinks scattered around the pool. This one, like a cool mountain spring, to pour down a hungry throat like a waterfall. This one, rich, and just a smidge too hot. Sip carefully, as you catch your breath. Each one resting on the grass no less than the length of one arm, stretched to the full.

Your sisters. Your friends. Each will look up, in turn, and there will be a sheep. He will gesture with perfect clarity. He will carry a sign for those too tired to understand. Blink once to remain. Blink twice for a tasteful, silent exit. Whatever their choice, they will not see him again. Perhaps they are here. Perhaps they are only here, in your hearts. You know them, better than anyone. You will know where they are.

There is but one addition to this world.

The song sneaks in, under the cover of running water, of hearts overflowing, of sounds swallowed whole. Soft. Sweet. It has traveled far; through an open door, an empty hallway, past two rooms, at least. The pianist offers every tender note for love, with love, and so the song must keep playing, for love alone will outlast all things. Every silence will be comfortable. Every note will have its harmony. Nothing will dare compete for your attention.

Take this moment, both of you. A gift, from a sheep, with mice for legs, and mice for eyes, and his own hands clasped tight over his mouth. He will not gasp, or bleat, or some incredible mixture of the two. A good servant is neither seen or heard. And a friend may be there for you, by not being there at all.

********************************************************

You don’t have to.

Bit by bit, his hands close around the piping bag. Each flourish removes a little frosting. The volume shrinks. The pressure falls. He must make up the difference. The pressure must remain constant and unbroken.

“You know. It’s nice, when you find something to do for someone that they never asked you for. It’s a wonderful surprise. Not having to worry about it, not having to think about something. Knowing you were watching, and thinking of them. Do good things, as you see them. It works rather well, most of the time. It earned me good marks. At the Manor.”

He saves the bottom layer for last. Bad enough, the dawning realization that you might, truly, almost be done. No need to strain your focus any further with a balancing act.

“I. Know this is different. It’s just me, here. Nobody’s asked me to cross. No one would hold it against me if I did nothing. If I had to say, it’s...I think? I think. I would rather leave all over again. If I had the choice. I’d rather sneak out of the Manor, to hop on a spaceship going heavens know where, feel the hull buckle under Poiseidon’s fury with no idea when or if we’d arrive safely. I wish I could live that over again. Instead of the Rift.”

He has to make his hands unclench, when he’s done. He has to tell them that they can tremble now. His shaking fingers rap and tap at his wheels, grasping at the rims, to roll himself closer to the goddess he’d spent so long following after. One sleeve at a time, he shrugs off the warmest hoodie he’d ever known. His folding is without crease or wrinkle; as befitting such honored raiment.

He leaves it on the kitchen counter, and leans in to hug the honored goddess of hearth and home. An offering, the firstfruits of the loving warmth he has tended in her name. A prayer, that one too weak to stand might yet find strength. A declaration, in her honor, that she never spoke falsely or tried to lead him astray. Even at the end.

“Thank you.” He sniffs, once. “For everything.”

TSL: The Excess of Flowers

Han clears nine paces before Lotus can finish crying out. Her patta traces a glittering arc through the sky; a late-falling star with deadly aim.

“You want me to just surrender?!”

And down. And through. And swipe and slash and through and through and ever forward. Han calls forth an avalanche of steel, churning the ground to mud in her wake. Let slip from the mountain heights by an innocent demigod’s cry for help. She is unstoppable. She is indomitable. All her body is a weapon, and no one can stand against her.

(But not her left arm. It hangs by her side, only sometimes shifting, for balance. Not the vaulting, free-flowing ideal of violence she was before.)

“You want me to take a damn vacation while you steal my home out from under me?!”

She opens herself, and the Essence comes roaring in. With every slice of her blade, the midmorning air turns to reeling clouds of steam. A sword of justice, wielded in defiance, barring the way to Lotus with the power of Heaven that was her birthright. And she takes in more, and more, and more still.

(But not to her zenith. Not so brightly that the Beast comes forth. Not so hot that she burns all around her. Not with Lotus still so near.)

“You want her. I don’t know where she fits in your plans, but you’ll fit in a stewpot when I’m done with you. And you thought, you thought-!” She snarls, and her own sword creaks in her iron grip. “You thought we’d just go along with you?! You stupid, swaggering, Dominion rat! Save your breath and spare us the wilting speech!”

Such as it has been. Such as it is. Such as it always will be. The Dominion comes to steal, to corrupt, to own, and she stands against them. The Dominion will fight her, from their fortresses to their luxury barges, from their soldiers to her own neighbors. They may wound her. But they will not break her. They cannot break her. She will give her body and mind and soul to this war, and when the ash settles it will be her standing. Her!

(But not her heart. Her heart has no place in this battle. So. It cannot possibly hear the longing in Lotus’ cry. Or wonder at the strange, curious picture this Dominion spy paints, of quiet time, of true hearts unfolding, of fun.)

[Rolling to Fight: 5 + 4 + 2 = 11. Choosing to:
-Inflict a Condition, with cutting words or violence
-Create an opportunity for Lotus
-Provoke Piri with a harsh rejection of her goals, and take a String on her.

Piri chooses 1 option in return.]

Breathless Dead

Bella! Redana!

One might grow tired, taking an inventory of every waterlogged room aboard the Plousios. There are only so many ways to say a room is filled with crabs, saltwater, and crabs (in saltwater). Barely any are crab-free. Fewer still boast fresh water. And of those, perhaps only one gets its supply via waterfall.

By some miracle of Engine, evaporation, and the inscrutable whims of time and gods, a seemingly endless supply of piping hot water flows from overhead, glittering as it splashes down a rock face and into a pool below. Just deep enough to sit upon the smooth stones that make its bed, and rest your head on its banks. The air hangs hot and hazy here, wisps of steam curling as they float by. The pool drains out of a long stream, fast-flowing, but shallower still. By this supply, grass grows green and soft underfoot - though you will hardly feel it yourself, borne here as you were on stretchers. Overhead, a solitary tree stretches out its branches, and flowers drift lazily down to settle on the water’s surface. Above, the ceiling glitters with some trace memory of Hades’ treasures. The light is warm here. All is warm here.

What luck, that a sheep should stumble on such a place many months ago, while out for an evening stroll. A fine spot, for hearts to meet. And now, to mend.

Awake, o dreamers. Awake, and feel the stream running all around you, washing your wounds clean, and carrying away the grime of battle. Awake, to the careful hands of Beautiful and Beljani, your sisters, your companions, peeling away layers of shredded, matted clothes. Sit in the pools together; there is room enough for you all. Watch the shining lights of the Lanterns reflected in the rippling waters. Call to Jil, and you will have many hands to help you in, out, across, to wherever you please. Mouse or marble, they are here for you. Stretch out your hand, and Dolce will be there, with a tray of ice-cold beverages in a rainbow of colors and flavors. Each one ready to help replenish your broken bodies. Keep the tiny umbrellas, if you like; we have plenty. And don’t worry if you mistake him for a towel. When next you see him, his wool will be as fluffy and light as ever.

You have fought so hard, just to hold yourselves together. To hold each other together. Now, you need not even fight to keep warm.

Sit. Drink. Rest, all of you. Four sisters, and the princess who is their center. If your efforts have not earned you a hot bath, then there is no justice on Olympus.

************************************************

Finishing touches. Always takes longer than you’d think. Inch by inch, Dolce turns the cake on its pedestal, piping out decorations as he goes.

“I hadn’t forgotten.” He stops. Closes one eye, to sight his aim. “Just. Hadn’t thought of it in the same breath, yet. My birthday’s in a month. We cross the Rift in a week.”

He has an entire palette to choose from, each in their own piping bag. And only so much counter space within reach. He wheels to the side. He selects another. He wheels himself back. “I know the day will still come. But, it’s not the same. If you don’t remember to make it special.”

If you don’t have people in your life to make it special.

"...the Master would be 26 that day."

Breathless Dead

Stone has no heartbeat. Pressed firm against her, even his clever ears hear nothing but stone against stone against wooly curls. But, hearts are also rather clever. Connected as they are, they need very little to know when they beat in time. The longing in her voice echoes the dreams of his heart, from before this journey ever began.

“It is a good wish.”

But just a good wish. As she said, repeating after him, declining to mark a star to guide him. As he says, repeating after her, staring up at Poisidon’s skies, and seeing more stars than he can ever count.

It is a good wish. But.

“There’s…a lot of good wishes out there. Isn’t there?”

He pats her back, once, and immediately feels the arms around him loosen. Free, at last. Up, up he stretches, standing as tall as he can, and perched on her lap he is almost as tall as her. Almost. Soft hands cup carved cheeks. Carefully, like the finest glassware. Tenderly, like a favorite mug on a cold, dark night. He holds her, and bonks his fluffy forehead against hers.

“I hope you follow yours well. A good wish on this side of the Rift...is no less of a wish.”

TSL: The Excess of Flowers

Han’s attention doesn’t leave their unwelcome visitor, not for a moment. But pause she does.

“If an honest talk’s all she wants, she could ditch the mask, not jump out of the forest as soon as we’re alone, maybe start with telling us how the hell she caught up to us so fast. Or knew where we’d be.”

And, while she’s at it, tell her if they’d ever met, because dammit all, she’d swear she’d heard this voice somewhere before.

“But dear old Red Wolf didn’t put you to all this trouble just to check up on us, did she?” Her eyes flicked to the telltale choker around her neck. “Still time to walk away, you know. Plenty of road out there. Lots of places two people can disappear to. If you’re worried about what to tell your boss,” and her smile is full of teeth. “I can think of bigger problems.”

TSL: The Excess of Flowers

The luggage is sliding off her back before Lotus can finish speaking. She scans the clearing, the skies, ahead and behind, above and beneath.

They don’t have to wait long.

“Bud, get behind me.” She grabs the cloth-wrapped sword from her back with one hand. (The only one she has.) “If anything happens, get down and stay down. I’ll find you when it’s over.”

To the intruder, she barks a mirthless laugh. “Funny. I was hoping to walk the roads in my own damn home in peace.” She plants her bundle into the ground, casually leaning on it. “Be a real shame if we both get disappointed today.”

(Her posture is a lie. Her balance remains perfectly centered. You know that bundle of cloth hides a blade, and one of her hands is out of sight. If you wish to test her draw, you have only to keep advancing. Her eyes are sharp. Hungry. Consuming you, and all around you, waiting for the trick she knows is coming.

But she does not make the first move. Not yet. You still have a chance to turn around.)

Breathless Dead

In a Manor far away and long ago, a sheep stands at the heart of all things. He bought his passage with the seal of the Head Chef, earned by prompt completion of his nightly tasks, and a workspace clean enough to eat off of. He has occupied this spot for no less than half an hour. At fifteen minutes to the Sound of Night, the Majordomo enters his study, where he will begin the preparations for the next day’s tasks. Alone. Dolce has occupied this spot for no less than half an hour. He was required to wait five more, for the Majordomo to stand upon the family crest, and finally incline his head to listen.

“These ‘Starsong’ guests have given us a means to travel the stars.” Dolce recites his litany, rehearsed endlessly over boiling saucepans. “With careful bargaining, we could buy passage for a number of the Manor staff. Through them, we could find the Family again. We could serve them, not at distance, but directly. Perhaps, in all the years we have waited, they have found need of us. Perhaps they could need us, in the future. The risk is certainly great, but it may be worth it, if we could be at their side. Where we were born to be.”

He knew there would be questions. He’d made a list, so that his thundering heart wouldn’t forget, to stand at attention. Hands folded in front of him. Head bowed. Speak clearly. When spoken to, only.

“Chef. What is the third command?”

“A good servant is only seen when called for.”

“And the seventh?”

“A good servant is always watching for an opportunity to do more.”

“And who will take up your share of the work, when you are gone?”

He blinks. “Sir, if I have implied my inclusion into such a mission, I assure you, it was not my int-”

“Do you think me blind, chef? As well as stupid?!” The bark of the Majordomo swallows his apology, his heart, and his balance. “You hover at the table of our guests while the rest of the kitchen staff washes up. They looked at you - looked at you! - and asked for more wine! Where is the chef who would have filled their drinks before they realized they were empty?!”

He is on all fours now. Eyes to the ground. Wrong. Wrong. He got it wrong. “Yes sir. Sorry sir. It was a terrible lapse in judgment, sir. It won’t happen again, sir.”

“You have been preparing to serve for your entire life, and this is the result?! Now here you are; on your hands and knees, begging me to shatter 200 years of tradition, because you have an idea.” The Majordomo kneels beside him, perilously close to his ear. Every growling whisper threateens to grow. Any word could become a bark. “No sheep in my flock behaves so poorly. No sheep of mine would shame me with this display.”

But he made no sound. No breath. No whimper. No sobbing, in spite of flowing tears. His master snorted. The chef moved not a muscle. “So. Maybe you are one of mine, after all…”

The Majordomo pads across the room. A key pushes tumblers into place. A lock clicks. From a cabinet full of shining bells, the heaviest sings faintly at his touch. And he waits.

“Now prove it: On your feet.”

************************************

The question is solid. The question is a direction. The question nudges a sheep forward, saying this much, I would like to know this much, at least.

The rocking is lovely. Alexa’s hugs were worthy of legend.

“It struck me, hearing her Highness speak to the Starsong.” Loud. Bright-eyed. Warm as could be. “How many worlds had I seen where thrones and Emergency Declarations would really change things? So I thought, wouldn’t it be nice, once the stars were open to all, if everybody had the freedom to actually go to them? With whoever they wanted. Or, maybe to just go to the stars, to find the people they’d want to travel with. Or stay with. Or, anything, really. Nobody kept where they didn’t want to be.”

“There’s a lot of people it would help, I think. And, without somebody to wish like that, it could be a very, very long time before they could be free. I think that would be a better universe. I think that’d be a really good thing to do.”

It’s nice. Very nice. He hopes you’ll think so too.

Maybe you’ll even tell him he ought to cross, for a wish like that.

Breathless Dead

Beware. Even still waters can hide a deep pit.

“You’re…not going?”

He clings. He is held. There is little else for him to do. None of it is correct.

“You’re. Not going.”

Hadn’t he said that already? Sorry, his voice, it really ought to be louder than it is. Was. Could be.

“Of course. Yes. Quite. You’re quite right. It’s a sensible thought, really. You, with how I suspect it all works, would really ought to, yes. You’ve got it right. Completely right. Yes. Good.”

She enfolds him in her arms. She tucks him beneath her chin. Stone cannot truly tell how tightly he clings. She will not see the permitted words spilling from a face all wrong. A good servant bears a burden kindly.

“And Hades, he said we could. Stop here. And, so, and so! So. So we can. Stop here. If we. If we w. I-If we. If.”

Dolce sits in the center. And the center can hold no longer.

TSL: The Excess of Flowers

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.” Han laughs correctly. “Meow. Right.”

(Pretty girls love kittens. A kitten could lay their head in a pretty girl's lap all day. She’d dress them in pretty ribbons and brush their fur until it shone with love. She’d scratch behind their ears and never get tired of telling them how they were the cutest kitty in the whole wide world and she’s so happy to have you. She’d seal her words with precious little kisses on their cute little heads, until the effort of being awake was too much for them, and they’d drift off to the loveliest sleep…)

Her breath fills her chest to bursting and still takes in more. She gulps down the rain-kissed scent of flowers, and maybe if she holds onto it tight enough the next taste won’t be fainter. Or, maybe the dregs that are left will make her remember, and it’ll be just like the first all over again. She needs the help. She thought she could never forget her mouth, and yet, could she picture it, beneath that stupid veil? When the smile reached Lotus’ eyes, did she see anything more than torn fabric and wishes? She won’t even remember her eyes for much longer. Not when she’s got to see her skipping and dancing and laughing through the rain, twirling the umbrella over her shoulder. While visions of stars dance and fade after every blink, and before long the tingling handprint on her chest will follow, just as her bare shoulder is little more than cool and damp. Even when her heart beats so hot and loudly, and she. She just.

She catches Lotus mid-twirl. And pulls her in nice and parallel. One straight line of dragon and priestess. “You’re alright, bud.” One squeeze. One. Then she lets go, her fingers trailing only briefly across her back. “You’re alright.”

Dead wrong, too. But it was…nice. Being overestimated. Just this once.