goshdarnspam | It's Time for The...

ooc: Canon point is the middle of the third book to anyone who knows them

[ Both the Porter, and the pamphlet alongside it, are ignored by Mirar as he leaves the building. The fact that he's been brought to a different world couldn't be more obvious. He finds himself standing within an enormous city unlike anything he has experienced before. His clothes are out of place here; he wears garments made by hand, including a vest that would have identified him as a Dreamweaver where he is from.

His own mind is firmly shielded. He moves among the City's people, reaching out to touch their emotions and build from that an understanding of how they react to their world. Everything he sees fascinates him, and he follows the crowd to the busiest areas until he finds someone sheltering against a building.

The man seems to be one of the City's poor, homeless and suffering from a cough that sounds so deeply unhealthy that it draws Mirar's attention. He offers his services. After a few moments, he leaves the man with a clear chest and a stronger colour. Even in a brand new world, in a City as impressive as this one, there are those who need healing. Shaking his head, he moves on, now seeking others who might need his help. ]

[ Waking in a strange place had panicked Auraya had first. Had she only dreamt of freedom? But she wasn't back in the void deep beneath the Sanctuary. That place was dark and grim. This was a place of metal and light. She noted was told to her about the Porter and took the pamphlets with her as she left the building.

Auraya began to wander through the City. Her clothes nearly swallowed her, her weight still not close to what it had been. Her breathing was labored the more she walked, and on several occasions she had to stop and lean against a building to catch her breath. How miserable she must look. She laughed idly at the thought before setting off again. This City was too big...

But eventually she saw a familiar sight. The vest of a Dreamweaver fashioned in the way only clothes from her home were she had begun to notice. As she followed the man she realized who he was and the corners of her mouth twitched up into a smile. ]

How are you always where I am? [ She called to his back. ]

[ Mirar freezes when he hears that voice. There's a strangeness to it that he can't quite place yet, but he knows it so well. Auraya, his Auraya.

No. Not his Auraya. That much had been made clear. She didn't love him. She'd told him to leave, and then she'd told Emerahl that she did not care for him. He turns to her, apprehension coloring his features, but it disappears the moment he lays eyes on her

Now he knows why she had sounded strange. She has lost so much weight; she looks dead on her feet, a shade of herself. And she is smiling at him, which itself is strange, but he doesn't have time to think about that yet because he just goes to her, eyes wide and worried as all other concerns are forgotten. ]

Auraya. What has happened to you, why do you look like this?

[ And he gathered the evidence before him, coming to entirely the wrong conclusion. ]

How long have you been in this city?

[ Now Auraya looks confused by him. ]

You don't remember? [ Then she remembered what the pamphlet had said to her. About different worlds and even times.

Oh... he didn't even know she had been captured. He was after his acceptance of Mirar, she could see it in his eyes that he wasn't Leiard, but he was before her capture. Well in that case, no need to needlessly worry him.

she smiled reassuringly, shaking her head. ]

I only just arrived. This happened before I got here. Don't worry, I'm getting better. [ She smiles wryly. ] Good thing I have time to be patient with.

[ If she expects to not worry him while she looks like that, she doesn't know him very well.

He shakes his head, frustrated. What doesn't he remember? His memory is whole. Having spent a century with much of it buried, he would know what it would feel like if something were missing now. Even so, he turns his thoughts briefly inwards in examination.

There is nothing. He would know it if he had encountered her again. He wants to reach for her, to heal her...

But she can heal herself. And besides that, she does not look injured, only weakened. What on earth had happened? ]

Auraya. [ His voice is stern, firm. ] What happened to you? It's been months since I saw you, and I left you in safety. Tell me what I have missed.

Let me try to help you. Please.

You're from a different time than me. Didn't you read the pamphlet?

[ Probably not knowing Mirar. He'd prefer hands-on experience. Well, she would be it, then. Showing him how different their time really was. ]

I've been through more with you since we last saw each other, in my time I mean. I was imprisoned for a time. Which is why I look a little worse for wear. Don't be fooled, though. I'm fine. [ She smiles at him. ]

Besides, you already examined me. You said all that I needed was food to put meat back on my bones.

[ No, of course he didn't read the pamphlet. He'd been taken to a whole new city; who had time to read, with so much around to explore?

But her words make him stare at her. Imprisoned? And the thought that they would have been through more together, that he would be in contact with her again...examining her.

He has too many questions. Too many questions, and she looks dead on her feet.

He stows the questions away. ]

Well, if food is what you need, then perhaps we should find some before we talk further.

[ He moves towards her. He has no idea what is between them now. She is being friendly - far more so than he would have had any right to expect. He badly wants to know what she's thinking.

But he's still a healer. And regardless of anything else, his own feelings for her aren't in question. Her wellbeing comes first either way. ]

Is there a reason why you're walking instead of flying?

[ She notices the way he starts then stops. Ah, of course. If he hasn't met her again he doesn't know how much better things are between them. He's giving her the distance she had wanted then. ]

You don't have to stand so far off. I don't need distance from you anymore. [ She tells him. ] But food might be nice...

[ Light food. She'd realized after only eating that sludge for so long normal food was too rich and too much of it made her sick. Throwing it back up wasn't any good to her. So she ate small portions of what she could handle and built it back up again. ]

It takes a lot of concentration to fly. I'm a little bewildered right now. And a new world. I'm not entirely sure how well I could fly or if I might get hurt here. I'd like to know the lay of the land first.

[ So weak that she's afraid to fly. Anger burns behind Mirar's eyes. Who could have done this to her? He has never met anyone more powerful than Auraya. Whoever had managed to imprison her had done their work well.

But if she's willing for him to be around her now - and he'd be asking her about that as soon as he could - then he could help her. He gives her a brisk nod, and moves to her side. ]

I don't get the impression my money will be much good here. I'll have to try and sell my services. There's a green area not far away; we could rest there. [ Side-eyeing her, hoping to bring more humour into that smile. ] You might prefer that to the crowds, anyway.

[ She avoids leaning on him, even when he's at her side. As much as the support would be nice, Auraya doesn't like to depend on others. Ever. Not anymore. She'd rather use a wall than let another support her when she only needs to get stronger.

But having him close isn't so bad either. ]

Green would be nice. This place feels like a metal trap. I miss the Open... [ The green and wild of Siyee. ]

I can help. Any healing you need to do, I can work alongside you. I haven't much else to do anyway.

[ At this he frowns at her, contemplating his words. Finally he opts for a light, conversational tone, hopeful that it might make her less likely to reject what he's saying out of hand.

But this is Auraya, after all, and he's rarely met anyone so stubborn as her. ]

Healing while you're not at full strength might drain you. I do not want that; you should rest when you need to.

[ He keeps his pace deliberately slow. ]

Though, I admit. Working alongside you would not be unpleasant. I hadn't thought it would happen again.

[ He thinks of Emerahl's words, and of Dardel. What would either of them say if they could see him now, talking to Auraya like this? You're a damned fool, he tells himself. If they're as friendly as all this, he'll find himself getting his hopes up, and there are few things more dangerous than that. ]

[ That was a fair point, but it didn't make Auraya accept it any easier. She frowned at the comment. She wasn't going to sit idly by and let Mirar support her on his own. He would do it. ]

Then I'll make cures. I can manage as much.

I'll be fine, Mirar. I'm stronger than I look.

[ She's grateful for his slow pace, really. She didn't want to have to ask for it, and she would have let him go on and catch up with him if he hadn't slowed. But this was definitely easier. Her frown lessens at his words and she nods a little. ]

That always happens with us. The unexpected. Things that should be improbable suddenly very real... [ She gives a wry smile. ] I don't know if I believe in fate, but I'm starting to think I should highly consider it.

[ Well, she had better be considerably stronger than she looks, because she looks as though she should be indulging in bed rest. That is what he would prescribe to anyone else in her condition.

He turns, retracing his earlier steps to find Central Park. There are seats inside, so he starts to make for one of them. Meanwhile, he gives her a curious look. ]

Then you believe we are fated to run into each other? I couldn't much complain about that.

[ It's not until they're within touching distance of the seat that he finally lets himself indulge in proper questions. ]

Are you going to tell me when it is that we meet again? I have been in Southern Ithania for some months, and didn't know you'd left Si. My last news of you was when Emerahl left you.

[ Of course he goes for a bench. He's not used to seeing her like this. It's probably more of a shock for him since he hadn't realized anything had happened to her. So he's being careful with her.

But she takes the seat. If he's going to start questioning her she might as well be properly seated for it. ]

We meet in Glymma. In the Sanctuary of the Pentadrians. As you can see, I was a highly honored guest. [ She cracks a smile at that again, almost laughing at her own joke. ] I was in better condition when you saw me first after you arrived.

I had gone with the Siyee to help on a mission to kill the birds of that one Voice... Genza. They were caught by Nekaun, the First Voice, instead. I was forbidden to fight by Huan [ There's a flicker of a shadow that's almost dangerous with her anger. ] so I helped by remaining a guest of Nekaun's [ She manages to keep her voice from tripping over that phrase. 'Guest of Nekaun's' in ways that still give her nightmares. ] and freeing one Siyee every full day and night that I was there.

[ Mirar sits beside her. He's not tired, but he doesn't intend on walking anywhere else until he has a destination in mind - preferably a safehouse of some kind. He's seen enough of the City to know there'll be no Dreamweaver House. Perhaps there would be an alternative.

But for now, he listens to Auraya, his face growing darker with every word.

Genza. The Voice whose bed he'd actually spent a moment considering, before he recalled the harm her birds had caused to the Siyee. She had wanted him to meet this Nekaun, who was apparently the cause of Auraya's trouble...Nekaun and Huan. There is no disguising the flash of anger that crosses his face at the goddess' name. Of course, she had arranged this. Of course. Auraya had disobeyed her, and had become immortal. To hurt her would have amused Huan. ]

I feared that they would hurt you, after all that had happened. Huan was never one to ignore a perceived slight. It does not surprise me that she would betray the Siyee...or you. You never should have been there. They should never have had the chance to...

[ He frowns at her now. ] ...how did they do this? You are more powerful than any Voice; you proved that when you killed Kuar. You look as though they starved you.

The Siyee never should have been there. [ She corrects him now. Screw her own safety, seeing the Siyee caught and locked away like that. Knowing that at least one died in front of her and many others died on the trip home pained her more than anything. Huan had come after what she had loved all right.

But Auraya had made the bitch pay for it. ]

They fed me. [ Enough that she didn't die of starvation, but Mirar didn't need to hear that and get even more upset. ] But they lured me into a void. I was so distracted with my worry for one of the Siyee I didn't notice the void until it was too late. That is how I was caught and kept.

[ Mirar's eyes move sharply to her face. He knows how much Auraya cares for the Siyee, how much she has sacrificed for them. She has taken them as her own people. ]

Sending the Siyee was a foolish move for the White. I didn't expect it of them. I didn't expect you to disapprove so heartily.

[ Her loyalty is still to the White, is it not? She has not turned on her gods. He is still exceedingly sorry for that. But he feels cold when she speaks of the Void. They would have been able to hurt her there, physically...her healing Gift would not have worked. He swallows, though his mouth is dry. ]

If that is how they kept you, then how did you escape? None of our magic could have breached a Void.

It wasn't fully their decision. Huan made the choice and the White obeyed.

[ Which should help with his confusion about her and her normal loyalty to the gods and her obvious disapproval. He's smart. He understands the implications of it all.

Then she laughed slightly at the next question. That was easier to answer. And amusing. She thought of what Surim had said. If Mirar had been the one to save her she might have just thrown herself at him. What a shame that a veez had made him unable to do so. ]

Mischief. He found the key and set me free. I owe him life, really.

Ah.

[ Mirar's expression darkens. Huan had betrayed the people she had created, just to get at one Immortal who had defied her. It isn't surprising, but it still angers him. That manner of godly work has always angered him, and that anger is why the gods ordered him executed. He wonders if Auraya can see that better now. If she understands him better.

But it's the wrong time to ask. He's worried about her physical condition, and he'll deal with that before he questions her on the metaphysical.

Her answer makes him smile at first, though it quickly vanishes. ]

You owe him life?! You believe they would have killed you? That would have brought war back to them, and no mistake. The White could not have let that stand.

[ And Mirar would have been devastated. He manages to avoid saying that, but his hands curl into fists and his knuckles turn white. To see her looking so poorly is hard enough. The thought of her dying...

He does not want to imagine that. ]

What do you think the Siyee were doing there? [ She asks, looking at him with big eyes that say she's deadly serious. ] We were preparing for a war.

This time the Circlians desired to be the instigators. [ She rolled her eyes as she leaned back on the bench. What Dyara would say if she saw her now.... Probably shake her head in shame at how Auraya had lost some of her regal manner. Hard to feel really imposing when you were a stick, to be honest. ]

Again, that was not our personal choice. The gods were very busy those days. [ She almost snarls at the word 'gods'.

But then she remembers Chaia. And she sighs and lets the sadness sweep over her again, cooling her anger and feeling worn out just from the emotional whiplash. Her head still wasn't properly sorted out. ]

[ That tone makes his eyes widen.

How much time has passed? This is the woman who had claimed to love the gods. Who refused to turn her back on them, even when they made demands of her that she could not accept. Who had left the White, but remained a Priestess.

His face is a study in concern. When she leans back, he almost reaches for her, worried that she's weakening. He stops himself. If only it were so easy to keep his heart in check. ]

You are much changed. You no longer love them.

[ He should feel good. He should be happy, he should be celebrating the fact that her eyes have been opened...

But he sees her drained, and sad, and once again, his heart is out of line. ]

I'm sorry. I never wanted that for you. I never wanted this...to see you look so sad.

[ She looks up at him at that. He always just knew her. He did things for her without her even asking. He did things she needed. He knew what she needed without her having to say it. He just... knew her.

And she knew him, she realized.

She sat up now, then leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder. He may not know them like this, but she does. And she wants him to feel better. Hopefully it'll help to cheer him up. ]

I still have so much to learn, Mirar. I used to feel endless when I was a White. Now I just feel young and foolish. Imagining the rest of forever is hard. [ She glances at him. ] At least I know I'll never have to face it alone.

[ Well, this is...interesting.

So is the fact that his heart is doing ridiculous little leaps in his chest, and he wishes it would stop. She's leaning against him and it makes him feel young again. Young. He, who has lived more years than he could count.

But in all that time, she is the first he has ever truly loved. His arms move to hold her, and even though it's been so long, the feel of her is familiar and good. ]

It doesn't feel like forever. Immortality. It never does. It feels like one day after another, one period of time after another, and you stop counting the days. They stop mattering, and it's only when you look back that you realise how many have passed. It's easier than you'd think to live forever.

[ He looks down at her, bemused now. Meeting her eyes. ] Ordinarily I should say it is also lonelier than you'd think. But I have never subscribed to that. I found ways to stave it off, through the Dreamweavers.

Am I welcome in your life, Auraya? If I am, then I will promise that you need never be alone, so long as I am here.

[ That made sense. The oldest of the White was only a century or so old. Mirar and the others had lived much longer. He knew how better to describe eternity than the White had been able to.

It should sound frightening. Time just passing you by like that. one day at a time.

But she thinks about what he says. About loneliness and finding company in the Dreamweavers. She'd have the Siyee. She knew that. They always welcomed her and she'd be their guardian and protector for always. It was the least she could do for what they had suffered through.

Not just the Siyee, though. Mirar looked at her, and Auraya couldn't hide her mischievous smile at the secret she'd been keeping from him. It was too fun, but the after would be fun too.

She leaned up and pressed her lips against his. Quick but far from chaste. So he would get the idea. ]

[ She's kissing him. She's really kissing him, and it happens so quickly that he doesn't even have time to let it startle him.

His hand moves to her cheek, cupping it while he leans into her and his other arm pulls her close. It all feels so natural to him that he doesn't even need to think about it. It sends warmth through his body, and he looks a little dazed when she leans away.

Dazed, but happy. So there is hope, after all. He doesn't have to chastise himself for wanting her. If she's kissing him, then that must mean... ]

...I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch all the detail of that. Could you repeat it again?

[ He's mostly joking. His smile is slightly lopsided, and possibly more of a grin right now. ]

Mirar | Age of the Five

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