AI-Renewed

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Before you begin, you must know yourself. What style do you wear your hair in? <label><<radiobutton "$hairst" "long undercut">> Long Undercut</label> <label><<radiobutton "$hairst" "short bob">> Short Bob</label> <label><<radiobutton "$hairst" "butch">> Butch</label> What color is it? <label><<radiobutton "$hairco" "black">> Black</label> <label><<radiobutton "$hairco" "red">> Red</label> <label><<radiobutton "$hairco" "brown">> Brown</label> What about your eyes? <label><<radiobutton "$eye" "blue">> Blue</label> <label><<radiobutton "$eye" "brown">> Brown</label> <label><<radiobutton "$eye" "grey">> Grey</label> <label><<radiobutton "$eye" "green">> Green</label> And as for your name, it's... <<textbox "$fname" "">> <<textbox "$lname" "">> [[Continue|1-1.1]]

It's been a long time since I've seen my grandmother. Eight years or so, now. I think? It's hard to keep track. So much of my life was trying to ignore how dissatisfied I was and work hard to make my parents happy. It ended up making my whole life into a blur for at least...four or five years. Getting out of the house, finally, feels...so good. Especially since I know I won't have to go back. There will be no argument, no fighting and no more hiding who I am. I was so good at that last part that I never even opened my mouth when I thought it might lead to conflict. It's not that I wanted to be so...quiet and obedient. It's just- @@#options; <> <<link "If I started, I wouldn't be able to stop.">> <<replace "#options">> If I started, I wouldn't be able to stop. I have so much rage built up inside and I just haven't figured out how to resolve it yet. I don't want to scream hysterically at my parents, I want to be calm and resolved so they won't have any reason to dismiss me. It would feel incredibly good in the moment but afterwards I'd start to wonder if I had just been more controlled, maybe it wouldn't have gone so badly and that'd be a nightmare... So I just want to wait until I have the exact words I need, the control I need to speak them eloquently and //then// and //only// then will I face my parents and speak my mind. [[Continue|1-1.2]] <</replace>><<set $bold +=1>> <</link>> <<link "I don't like conflict.">> <<replace "#options">> I don't like conflict. I have never liked getting into pointless, petty fights with relatives over something I know they'll never change their mind over. I mean, it's not like I think there's a perfect combination of words I could use to make them understand, but...I wish there was. Hell, even if there were, I probably wouldn't be able to use them. I'm notoriously quiet. To the point that I feel kind of...invisible, most days. Not being seen means not having to deal with people, most of the time so it's not like it's not without its perks. I just wish I was a little more assertive. Maybe then I could actually stand up to my parents and I wouldn't care about all the drama that came with it, cause I'd feel...I dunno, vindicated? [[Continue|1-1.2]]<</replace>><<set $shy +=1>> <</link>> <<link "I didn't feel safe.">> <<replace "#options">> I didn't feel safe. I've never felt safe enough to speak my mind to my parents. Not about anything. It just always seemed wiser to keep my questions to myself. Maybe look them up online. In the end it was wise. I //was// safe and I eventually figured out the words for who I am and what I feel on my own...but it would've been nice to have had some kind of support. If Grandma had been there, I'd have had //someone//, I know I would. She's always been very open-minded and tolerant of other people's faiths, genders and sexualities. But until I got to see her again, I didn't want to end up pissing my parents off so badly they sent me to one of those brainwashing Christian camps. [[Continue|1-1.2]]<</replace>><<set $sly +=1>> <</link>> <>\ @@\

#Personality sets <<set $bold = 0>> <<set $shy = 0>> <<set $sly = 0>> #Flirt level sets <<set $flirt_Nav = 0>> <<set $flirt_Mel = 0>> <<set $flirt_Bel = 0>> <<set $flirt_Sym = 0>> <<set $flirt_Cob = 0>> <<set $flirt_Sha = 0>> <<set $flirt_Lav = 0>> #style sets <<set $goth to false>> <<set $prep to false>> <<set $jock to false>> #flirting sets <<set $bodylike to false>> <<set $LavBeauty to false>> #Favorite Aura in the dream Sets <<set $bloodyslash to false>> <<set $blur to false>> <<set $sparkles to false>> <<set $raindrop to false>> <<set $bluehaze to false>> <<set $maelstrom to false>> Watch Sets <<set $wnavi to false>> <<set $wcobalt to false>>

In any case, it's all behind me now. Even if my Grandma //does// turn me away, and that's unlikely... I'm never going back there. I don't care if I end up homeless or if I have to work my fingers to the bone to survive. I won't be with them anymore, that's all that matters. Even if it kills me, I refuse. So I take a deep breath and walk down the path to my grandma's front door. Lined with flowers and herbs in her own little garden, it's nearly magical. I remember Grandma teaching me 'potions' like how to make your own hand lotion and telling me about the healing properties of honey and other natural wonders. She always made everything seem so magical for me. And then I went and ruined it. Pausing on the doorstep to her cozy little cottage right on the edge of the woods, I remember so many things that bring tears to my eyes that I just want to //forget//- And then the door opens and I'm staring at a complete stranger. A beautiful stranger, but still. [[Continue|1-1.3]]

A black woman with beautifully styled and dyed purple hair stands there, looking as surprised to see me as I am to see her. "Well! Hello there. I knew I sensed someone out here," she says. I blink, "uh...I think I've got the wrong house. I was looking for my Grandma..." She laughs and it's one of the beautiful sounds I've ever heard. It's not only smooth and warm, it...//evokes// something in me. A feeling that I can't name. "You must be talking about- miss $lname. She's just inside. If you're her grandchild, then you must come in and tell me of yourself!" she steps back and beckons to me. I freeze up, not knowing what to do. Usually it would just be because this woman is so beautiful it makes my brain malfunction but- I don't even know if my grandma will want me here! I can't just stand here staring at her. I have to make a move. @@#options; <> <<link "I'll walk inside. Like it's already my home.">> <<replace "#options">> I'll walk inside. Like it's already my home. If Grandma //doesn't// want me here, then I'll leave. But I'll do it with confidence and...I won't break down until I'm sure she can't see me anymore. [[Continue|1-1.4-A]] <</replace>><<set $bold += 1>> <</link>> <<link "I should wait for Grandma's invitation.">> <<replace "#options">> I should wait for Grandma's invitation. I don't even know if I'd be welcome here. From what I remember of my Grandma, of course I should be...but people change and it's been eight years... [[Continue|1-1.4-B]]<</replace>><<set $shy += 1>> <</link>> <<link "I'll ask if my Grandma's ever spoken of me.">> <<replace "#options">> I'll ask if my Grandma's ever spoken of me. This woman might not be a friend, she could just be an acquaintance or a customer here to buy one of Grandma's herbal mixes. Who knows. But it can't hurt to ask. [[Continue|1-1.4-C]]<</replace>><<set $sly += 1>> <</link>> <>\ @@\

"First, you must tell me what's brought you to see me," Grandma says. "It's been so long, I imagine something would had to have happened." "I've left home," I explain. "It was unbearable there, I couldn't stay anymore." Tears are starting to spill over again, but I try to talk through it. "I'm an adult and my parents were still talking about me getting married, having kids and going to church as if it was a given and their choice to make. I could never tell them I didn't want any of it, I was so afraid just to suggest something else." "Oh, Lovebug," Grandma hugs me again and strokes my hair. "I was so afraid they would stifle your brilliant light. But look at you! You've broken free all on your own. I'm so proud of you." And that's about the point the floodgates finally break down completely and I'm just a sobbing mess in my Grandmother's arms. Everything is a little hazy from that point on. Grandma pulling me up out of my chair and leading me with an arm around me into the guest room that used to be mine when I'd come visit-- sitting me in the bed and getting me some water. I cry on my Grandmother until I'm too tired to keep my eyes open and too emotionally exhausted to put up a fight against the drag of sleep. And for the first time in months, I sleep all night long without getting up ten times in the middle of the night to assuage my nervous jitters by pacing or eating or something. It's pure bliss. [[Continue|1-1.5]]

My dreams themselves are a confusing mixture of past events and strange, fantastical creatures clamoring for my attention. Until eventually my grandmother's face and voices intercedes and the strange creatures dissipate, leaving me alone in my own space. But...I don't want to be alone. I try to search frantically for any one of those creatures from before, but they all seem to be gone and have left me in complete solitude, in complete darkness. The dream begins to sour, becoming depressing and bleak- until a single shaft of light enters to light up my space. It's a reddish-brown blur of merriment and mischief. And for the rest of the night, it keeps me company, warding away the darkness, while other creatures watch from the very outer reaches of my dream. A slash of blood red over there, a dazzling sparkle of purple on the other side. Shades of gold and green intermingling in a maelstrom that never gets bigger or smaller... and a deep blue haze contained to a space. And in the very back, where I can barely spot it, a raindrop containing all the colors of a sunset. It's one of the most beautiful dreams I've ever had. [[Continue|1-1.6]]

So I enter my Grandmother's house. The place where I would go every other weekend or so during my childhood. And it's just the same as I always remembered. Grandma's house was always a place of wonder and magic, and it still evokes feelings of safety and hope in my heart. The wooden walls, doors and floors are all shiny with the special wax Grandma uses to maintain them. She loves doing all that home-care stuff herself. She was never one to sit idle and she hates leaving things dirty or in disrepair. Her furniture is all wood-- with cushions on the chairs and her sofa upholstered in neutral browns. The mystery woman leads me through Grandma's house and toward the kitchen, where Grandma used to teach me to cook and prepare herbs for mixtures and poultices. Where I have to assume she still does so, now. And there she is when we walk in...back to us as she bustles around the stove. The mystery woman sees my hesitation and smiles at me. "You know, I never thought to ask this before, but do you have any Grandchildren?" My Grandmother responds without a single startle, as if she knew we were already in the room. "Oh yes, I've a beautiful granddaughter-" "It's grand//child// now," just kind of pops out of my mouth. [[Continue|1-1.4-A2]]

"I...I think I should wait...for grandma to..." I pause too long in the doorway. Grandma comes up behind the woman and addresses her. "Belzepha you mustn't leave the door open like that, it lets all the warmth..." She sees me and stops. For a long moment we're simply caught up with staring at each other, and then I feel one of my most stubborn tears escape and Grandma's running to me with her arms open before I can even start sobbing in earnest. Her hugs are just as warm and safe as I remember. "Lovebug," Grandma coos into my hair as she pats my back. "It's been so long since I held my little bug-bug in my arms." Part of me is embarrassed that I broke down so easily but she seems so happy to see me that my relief drowns it out. "Grandma..." I'm barely able to choke out even that much. I'll never be able to tell her everything. I can hardly even breathe. "Come in and sit and I'll get you some tea and a cookie," she says. Pulling back and grasping my hands to tug me lightly into the house. 'Tea and a cookie' are the magic words. I haven't had one of my Grandma's special blends in //years// and I'm not about to miss out on it now. So I follow her into the house. [[Continue|1-1.4-B2]]

"Has...has my Grandma, ever talked about me?" If she hasn't, it could mean nothing, but it could also mean everything. "Oh we're business associates and I've only recently come into my position," she explains with a twinkle in her eye. "I haven't had the opportunity to ask about her family just yet." Well that tells me nothing. Damn. But I smile anyway, because she's nice and it's not her fault that I can't figure out whether or not I'm welcome before I even see my Grandma's face. The woman smiles and waves me in, so I follow her. And for the first time in eight years, I step inside my Grandma's house and feel at peace. It's just how I remember it, too. Everything made of wood is shining and in good repair. No electronics besides what Grandma needs to make her life easier. And of those, there aren't many. A big mirror in the middle of grandma's sitting room, against the wall-- where you'd expect a television to be in most homes. Then we're through the living area and into the kitchen. And there stands my Grandma, pouring something from a pot into some glass jars. Probably some kind of poultice. What do I say? [[Continue|1-1.4-C2]]

I just- I have been silent about who I am for so long and I have so much hope that this will go better than it would with my parents- Grandma's body goes rigid in surprise at the sound of my voice but she quickly relaxes and flicks off the burners before turning to look at me with a radiant smile. "Is it?" she says. "Well, then I suppose I should introduce my beautiful grandchild to my colleague then, shouldn't I?" Tears are burning in my eyes, but I give a tight nod, trying to hold it all together. "Belzepha, this is my grandchild..." Grandma looks to me. "$fname," I say. And it's a little choked. "$fname $lname," Grandma introduces me. "This is my associate, Belzepha." We didn't have the same last name when I lived with my parents because of my Dad. Grandma said our family has always kept the woman's names to pass down to their kids. My Dad never let me keep Mom's name. But it doesn't matter now. I'm a $lname and it feels //so good//. And I'm sure my grandma knew it would and said it on purpose. I love my Grandma. [[Continue|1-1.4-A3]]

It's all too much, I feel so emotional right now I can't even see the woman Grandma just introduced me to through my tears. "Come sit, Lovebug and I'll get you some tea and a cookie," Grandma says. So I blurrily search out the kitchen table and collapse into one of the seats as Grandma grabs one of her homemade blends and drops it into a cup before grabbing the kettle and filling it with water. It'll take a few minutes for that to get hot, brew and be served, so I have time to calm myself down. Never in my life have I been so filled with emotions, and I've got an anxiety disorder and mood swings. Relief, hope, love-- some kind of really intense euphoria that fills me up from my head to my toes... "Now that we've been properly introduced," Belzepha begins and sits across from me. "Tell me, have you come to work with your Grandmother?" "I'd...I dunno..." I wipe away my tears as quickly as I can, trying to clear my throat so I can actually speak. "I mean, I don't remember a whole lot about Herbs that she taught me. I'd probably be more of a hindrance than a help." "Nonsense!" My Grandma puts a plate with two cookies on it and a mug of hot tea in front of me. "All you need is a brush up. But that's not exactly what she meant." I glance up in time to see them exchange a look. I don't know what it means, but I feel I'm about to find out. [[Continue|1-1.4]]

Grandma leads me through her well-maintained house, all the wooden surfaces shiny and almost new-looking. She takes me into the kitchen and sits me at the table before fluttering over to start the water boiling in the kettle. In the few minutes it takes her to boil the water, prepare the tea and bring it to me, I can breathe and try to get myself under control. So I sit, curled in a ball on my chair while that woman grandma called 'Belzepha' sits across from me. She studies me as if I'm a curiosity. And since my brain just short circuits even if the pretty person is just existing near me, all that concentrated attention is...a little too much for me to handle. My face burns and I try to hide in my hair, which isn't all that easy to do anymore as my $hairst hairstyle is meant to be low-maintenance which means I no longer have a lot of it to hide behind one way or another. "Well...I suppose I should introduce myself!" 'Belzepha' says. "My name as you no doubt heard, is Belzepha. I work with your grandmother. And your name is?" "$fname," I respond. A little too quietly, I think. She smiles and doesn't ask me to repeat myself, which is a relief. Grandma gravitates to us, placing a tea mug and a plate with two cookies before me. "I suppose there's much we should talk about, now that you're here." [[Continue|1-1.4-B3]]

"I guess so," I mumble. "Will you stay and work for your grandmother?" Belzepha asks. "She doesn't have to make a decision on that so soon, she's just got here!" Grandma exclaims. And I wriggle a little in my seat, wanting to correct her but feeling a little...uncertain. "What's the matter, Lovebug?" Grandma sits next to me and curls an arm around me. "I...I don't go by 'she' anymore," I mumble again. "Oh, my apologies. How shall I address you, then?" she asks. "'They'..." I'm having a hard time getting more out than a whisper. "Well, my grandchild is here for a visit. This should be a happy occassion that business shouldn't intrude upon. Or at least not yet." Grandma says and smiles at Belzepha. "You are welcome to stay, but I know how busy you are." "Oh yes, but I can stay a bit longer. I'd like to get to know them," she says. They exchange a look filled with meaning and I don't know why that is, but I guess I'll find out eventually. I'm a little worried I crashed something important. [[Continue|1-1.4]]

My beautiful guide speaks before I can make a decision. "Oh miss $lname, look what I found out on your front step!" "Just a moment, Belzepha, I've got to get these all done and stored away." Grandma says. Concentrating on her work. So I stand in the doorway of the kitchen and wait patiently as Grandma jars the substance, wraps it in some cloth, puts that bundle in a box and stores the boxes away in her pantry. She marks them with that old timey brush-pen thing she's got, and writes the labels in beautiful calligraphy. I remember trying to learn calligraphy and sending Grandma the most terribly written letters ever. God it makes me so embarrassed to see how smooth and effortless Grandma does it and remember the shaky, frustrated way //I// tried to do it. Grandma's had decades to perfect it, but I gave up after a while because it wasn't a special interest of mine. I just started sending Grandma regular letters instead. I think she was kinda disappointed I didn't like Calligraphy, because it could've been something to share with me, but. Well, we didn't see each other often so it's not like she could've taught me herself. Fidgeting, I wait for her to finally turn around. Wondering if she's going to even want me here. [[Continue|1-1.4-C3]]

All those worries slowly disappear as Grandma turns around and spots me behind the beautiful stranger. Grandma's face lights up and she smiles like the sun is coming out for the first time in months. "Lovebug!" "Hey Grandma," I say. Awkwardly. She walks over and opens her arms and I step into her embrace like I'm the child I was when I knew her. Everything is warm and safe in Grandma's hugs. "Oh it's so good to see you!" Grandma says. "Belzepha, meet my granddaughter!" Grandma pulls back and gestures at me while looking toward the beautiful stranger. "Wonderful to meet you," she says with a smile. "And your name is?" "$fname, and it's...I'm not a...woman," I say. Haltingly. This isn't like me, but I'm so flustered and hopeful and anxious all at once that my usual eloquence deserts me. "What do you prefer, then?" Grandma asks with a delighted smile. "I'm...not either. I go by 'they/them' now. And...gender neutral words." Grandma smiles and looks at Belzepha. "Then allow me to present my grandchild, $fname $lname." [[Continue|1-1.4-C4]]

The effortlessness of my Grandmother's acceptance makes me a little weak-kneed with relief. She pulls out a chair at the kitchen table and gestures me into it. "Sit and I'll get some tea and cookies for you." God, it's been forever since I had one of Grandma's herbal blends. Sitting down, I notice that Belzepha is taking the seat across from me. Her eyes are very intent on me. As if attempting to discover the answer to a puzzle. "You...work with my Grandma?" I ask, tentatively. She smiles, "oh yes. We have many dealings together. Are you here to join her in her work?" I blink back some tears and shrug, "I don't really know that I'd be all that useful. I haven't made herbal remedies in eight years." "Oh you just need a brush-up, is all," Grandma says. She places a mug of tea and a plate of cookies before me and then sits beside me. "But that isn't precisely what she meant." I'm already dying of curiosity and I'm still on the verge of tears. That odd combination makes for one seriously overwhelming case of fatigue. Still, I want to find out what's going on. Tired or not. [[Continue|1-1.4]]

Waking up in the morning and realizing all the dazzling colors and lights from my dream are gone is...a little saddening. But looking back on it through my morning routine and all through getting dressed and making breakfast with grandma-- the memory makes me smile. So much, in fact, that Grandma even mentions it. "You seem a great deal cheerier, today." "I had a nice dream," I reply. She smiles in response. "I'm happy for you. Good dreams can be so nice to have when you're going through such tumultuous times." Remembering my woes isn't going to help my mood, so I push them away. If I think about it all now, I'll burst, so I just don't. I can confront my feelings when they aren't so sharp. "I've got the roots ground up if you need them now," I say and put the mortar and pestle down next to the oven on the counter. "Oh thank you, I will need that very soon," grandma says. "Now, grab me one of the little hand mirrors out of the drawer over there? When we're done with this, I want to take you somewhere and I'd rather not have herbal residue all over my hair and face when we get there." "Sure," I respond and go searching through the drawers for a hand mirror. [[Continue|1-1.7]]

Grabbing the little silver-plated thing out of the top drawer of the counter on the other side of the kitchen, I walk back to Grandma feeling a little... Unsociable. And worried. "Where are we going?" I ask, putting the mirror down on the counter. "Out into the woods behind the house to have a meeting," she replies. Explaining nothing. "Okay," I reply. "Am I gonna have to talk to anyone?" What, does she get together with other people living around in the fringes of the woods to exchange goods or...something? "Oh I want to introduce you around, but if you just want to smile and wave, I'm sure they won't mind." That still explains nothing, but hell if I don't gotta talk to anybody and I can go out into the woods with Grandma like we used to do, sure. Do I need to change, though? "Are we going to be hiking or doing anything else strenuous?" I ask as I walk back toward my room. "Just a walk," she reiterates. Okay so, the outfit I'm wearing will //probably// be fine... @@#options; <> <<link "My heels might be a problem.">> <<replace "#options">> I've always liked girly clothes, even if I didn't like being //made// to wear them. A skirt, frilly top and a pair of heels make me feel powerful. [[Continue|1-1.8]] <</replace>><<set $prep to true>> <</link>> <<link "At least my boots are good for all occasions.">> <<replace "#options">> My tastes in fashion have always been kinda different. Dark colors, with splashes of brightness. Heavy boots, leather belts and jackets...it's just so me. [[Continue|1-1.8]] <</replace>><<set $goth to true>> <</link>> <<link "My sneakers would be fine out in the dirt either way.">> <<replace "#options">> I've always preferred to be ready for anything and a good tracksuit, pair of sneakers and any other sports gear I could need on a run always make me feel more prepared. [[Continue|1-1.8]] <</replace>><<set $jock to true>> <</link>> <>\ @@\

<<if $prep>> For any strenuous exercise, what I'm wearing would probably be inadvisable, but if we're just going for a walk...it's probably fine. So long as I watch my step. I actually felt like dressing up today and I'm not undoing all the energy I used to pick out my clothes, put them on and do my $hairst hair in an easy but flattering way. So whatever, I'll go in the woods lookin' glam. Who's gonna care? <<elseif $goth>> If we were doing something labor-intensive, my dark clothes might not be the best choice. I'm just lucky it's near spring and everything is cooling down a little or I would get heatstroke just walking around outside. I know I'm not taking this off. I haven't felt up to actually decking myself out in black and doing up my winged eyeliner and putting on my dark lipstick since I even realized I liked to dress this way. I even managed to make my $hairst look the way I want it with hair gel this morning. Couldn't look like this at home, but who cares if some farm people see me looking like a wraith? <<elseif $jock>> I guess I'm good to go, then. Ever since I first started realizing my own sense of style outside what my parents wanted me to look like-- I've loved feeling comfortable and prepared. My $hairst hairstyle is pretty low-maintenance as it is, but I tamed it in anticipation of some outdoor work this morning. Grandma likes to pick her own herbs, so I figured I'd be part of that if nothing else. <</if>> "We should be off, then!" Grandma walks past me holding a jar of whatever that is she was just making and gestures me through the back door while she holds it open for me. I wouldn't figure you'd go out into the woods for some kind of meet if all you have is one jar of...whatever that is. But I don't know anything about what Grandma gets up to these days. Could be her concoctions are just famous or rare or...something. "So we're meeting up with some of your friends?" I ask. "Oh they're business associates mostly," she says as she leads me through the trees. "We're friendly, but I've never really felt any call to befriend them. I could introduce you to their predecessors, but they're all retired now. A bit difficult to get to when you've got so much work to do." Right... [[Continue|1-1.9]]

As we walk, grandma asks me, "what was in your wonderful dream?" Remembering it makes me smile. "Well, at first there was too much light, and too many...I think I heard voices. But then your face was there and you were telling them to leave me alone, I think." Grandma is smiling when I look up. "Is there more?" "Well, I didn't want to be //totally// alone, so I looked for the colors. Eventually some just came to me, when I'd given up looking." I explain. "One of them got close and stayed with me, but the others waited out on the edges of everything." Grandma mutters something that sounds like 'Melicanthe' and shakes her head, smiling. "Well, which bit of color was your favorite?" "Ummm..." Thinking back to remember them all, I guess it'd have to be... @@#options; <> <<link "That Blood Red Slash">> <<replace "#options">> "There was this kind of...slash, of blood red." I tell Grandma. <<if $goth>> "Oh that's sort of your thing, isn't it?" Grandma asks with a smile. "Blood and mayhem, I remember-- when you were a child, you loved monster movies and you always asked me why the monster didn't get the girl or why didn't the monster win." "Yeah..." I remember. "I guess I just always felt like I related to the monsters more than the humans in the movies." <<else>> "Oh how strange," Grandma says, failing to hide a smile. "You're usually not all that morbid or fond of the old horror styles, are you?" "Not usually, no..." But. "There was something really...beautiful about it." <</if>> "Well I suppose it was too much to ask for them to hide away from you when you'd gone looking for them." Grandma muses. [[Continue|1-1.10-Nav]] <</replace>><<set $flirt_Nav += 1>> <</link>> <<link "The Blur of Reddish Brown">> <<replace "#options">> "There was that blur of kind of reddish brown that kept me company all night. I felt like it knew I didn't wanna be alone." Remembering it makes me smile. "I suppose that was rather gentlemanly of him, to keep you company." She says. "Even after I explicitly told everyone to keep their distance, too..." [[Continue|1-1.10-Mel]] <</replace>><<set $flirt_Mel += 1>> <</link>> <<link "There Were These Beautiful Purple Sparkles">> <<replace "#options">> "There was this cluster of purple sparkles, like...like a ball of glitter." I say. "It was...really sparkly." <<if $prep>> "Oh you //loved// sparkles as a child!" Grandma recalls with glee. "I can remember you at six years old, getting into my glitter drawer and just dumping it all over yourself because you wanted to be pretty." "Oh god, I remember that," I laugh. "It took weeks for mom to get all the glitter out of my hair, off my skin and out of my clothes." <<else>> "You know, you never had much interest in sparkles that I can recall," Grandma says. "But they are very pretty, aren't they?" "Well, these particular ones were...very alluring, for some reason..." I shrug. <</if>> [[Continue|1-1.10-Bel]] <</replace>><<set $flirt_Bel += 1>> <</link>> <<link "It Looked Like a Storm of Green and Gold">> <<replace "#options">> "Like a tornado or a hurricane contained in one place, constantly shifting around..." I describe. "It was wild. I loved it." "You always have been the independent, wild type. Even under all that poise and obedience," Grandma says. "You always wanted to learn to do things yourself so you could feel like a grown up. And you had to do it your way because no other way was as fun." Grandma chuckles. "Even when my way ends badly, I just can't do what anyone tells me," I say. "I can try, I can act...but it kills me inside." [[Continue|1-1.10-Sha]] <</replace>><<set $flirt_Sha += 1>> <</link>> <<link "A Dark Blue Haze">> <<replace "#options">> "There was this haze of this...really deep, dark blue...like the night sky, when it's empty of stars but still lit up by the moon?" Grandma grins. "I //have// always thought that //Cobalt// was a fetching color." "Yeah, that's the one!" That's the name for the color. I couldn't remember its name till now. "It was so calming just to look at, but it also felt...very intense." From what I can remember, it was like the depths of the ocean or the limitless outer reaches of space. Deep and placid with so much lurking underneath. "Like it was waiting for me to explore it." [[Continue|1-1.10-Cob]] <</replace>><<set $flirt_Cob += 1>> <</link>> <<link "A Raindrop Containing the Sunset">> <<replace "#options">> "There was this...like a raindrop, but it was...like a sunset, too. Like one of those little pieces of resin art with all the inks injected into it. It was beautiful." I explain. "But I felt like it held itself back because it didn't //want// to come closer, not because it felt like it shouldn't." Grandma hums. "I suppose he was just feeling painfully shy." "It was just a dream, Grandma. It was probably just some weird squiggle of my subconscious telling me that I don't like being around big groups of people...which is true." I've never been a social butterfly. [[Continue|1-1.10-Sym]] <</replace>><<set $flirt_Sym += 1>> <</link>> <>\ @@\

There is a voice from the path ahead that seems to melt out of the air, along with the body of the person it belongs to. "You didn't really expect us to keep away when they called out with such sorrow into the night?" And he's... <<if $goth>> One of the most gloriously beautiful nightmares I've ever had. Because I //must// still be dreaming. And I will be so incredibly disappointed when I wake up. <<else>> Beautiful and...somewhat horrific. To the point I wonder if I never actually got out of bed this morning. And I'm sort of silently begging myself to wake up before the apparition does something terrifying. <</if>> "I suppose I can't hold it against you, if they called to you." Grandma says, squinting her eyes. "But I know you and Melicanthe had a hand in that flood of spiritual presence last night. You weren't supposed to announce them until I'd introduced them around!" This has to be a dream. This is a dream, right? Pinching myself actually hurts and everything seems too vivid to be a dream but- Oh my god, did I hit something with my car? Am I in a coma? "You seem confused," he addresses me now. "Are you well?" The utter ridiculousness of a man with nearly translucent skin and hair that looks like it's bleeding asking me if //I'm// well would make me laugh if I weren't so utterly frozen with shock. All I know is I'm never going to forget those eyes. Dream or no dream. Pools of the darkest, almost black, red with something golden glimmering under the surface. Like a coin at the bottom of a deep well. [[Continue|1-1.11][$bloodyslash = true]]

There is a voice from the path ahead that seems to melt out of the air, along with the body of the person it belongs to. "They called for me! How could I not answer when such a lovely gentleperson was in distress?" And he's...honestly one of the most beautiful people I've ever seen... "Yes, and I'm sure you and Navisdan had absolutely nothing to do with that veritable flood of spiritual presence last night. You were supposed to wait until I'd introduced them!" With horns and a tail attached. Scale patches peeking out from under their flowy, dramatic clothing here and there. With hair nearly to the forest floor, voluminous, wavy and the most rich red-brown I've ever seen that didn't come from a bottle. But I- it can't be real. He's...maybe he's cosplaying. At that moment his tail flicks in an unnervingly organic motion as he steps toward me. Just one step and everything about him is so suddenly and completely //real//. "Feeling alright there, love?" he asks with a fanged grin. There's a man who looks like a very human-shaped dragon asking me if I'm alright and my Grandma acts like she knows him. The absurdity of the situation isn't lost on me, but...I just can't get past all this shock. His eyes peer into mine, the color of warm whiskey. Striking and draconic, like the rest of him. [[Continue|1-1.11][$blur = true]]

There is a voice from the path ahead that seems to melt out of the air, along with the body of the person it belongs to. "I suppose if my presence made such an impression, it's only right that I should offer to teach you to make your own sparkle, too." And it's, Belzepha. From yesterday. But she's different. Instead of just looking like a regular black woman with dyed purple hair-- well, now both her purple hair and pink eyes sparkle. Shimmering with flecks of light. She didn't have those eyes before and she definitely didn't sparkle or //glow// like this. "I trust you at least //attempted// to keep them in line," Grandma addresses her. "Who was to blame for that display last night? Everyone was supposed to //wait// till they were introduced." Belzepha laughs, "who do you think? Come boys, and say hello. You were so //eager// to meet last night." I'm still so flabbergasted by her sparkly hair and eyes, and...and her glowing skin-- and the fact that her hair looks like sparkly clouds instead of actual hair- "Alright there, sweetness?" Belzepha asks with some concern. [[Continue|1-1.11][$sparkles = true]]

There is a voice from the path ahead that seems to melt out of the air, along with the body of the person it belongs to. "And you are not the only one //Deswon//." And she's maybe the most dazzling being I've ever seen aside from Belzepha yesterday. Not only is she vibrant, with her golden hair and slightly pearlescent skin-- she is also wearing furs cut and braided around her body in such a way that she seems to be wearing almost nothing and yet everything has some amount of coverage. The diadem at her brow looks to be made of bone, with small skulls lining it where jewels should be. The bones themselves painted with something that looks a lot like blood. "You were supposed to keep your distance till I'd introduced them to you all," Grandma admonishes. "Did Belzepha at least wait until she left to tell you all or did you receive a message before I could even ask her to still her tongue?" "You didn't expect her to be excited at the return of your own family?" the woman says, tsk-ing. "You know to the Fae, blood and family ties mean everything." The beautiful woman looks to me with a pointed smile. Pointed as in, she has. Fangs. That poke out when she smiles. "Hello //Deswon//, pretty little thing. I heard your name is $fname and what a beautiful name it is. I shall be certain to say it as much as possible." "All of you come out," Grandma says. "Might as well make the introductions now." [[Continue|1-1.11][$maelstrom = true]]

There is a voice from the path ahead that seems to melt out of the air, along with the body of the person it belongs to. "Exploration can be fun, and I encourage you to undertake all that it has to offer you." And he's...a snake. Person. Scaled from the top of his head to the tip of his tail, with a pair of broad shoulders, no real waist... He's entirely cobalt where he's covered in scales. And the...underbelly flesh is a soft flush of bluish purple. He's wearing what looks like a kilt and...nothing else. Just some kind of...spear? On his back, fastened there by a leather strap that goes from his shoulder, across his chest, to the belt at his not-waist that holds up his...'kilt'. "Well, she is not screaming and scrambling away on all fours, so I will call that a good reaction," he says. His voice...it's so low and smooth and...it's just //beautiful//. He's //beautiful//. He's also...a snake. His body is undulating beneath him the same way a snake's does when it moves across the ground. Smooth, powerful, dangerous. My hindbrain is telling me to run away from the predator that is probably about to eat me and my front brain is just in so much awe I can't move. "Everyone else is here, aren't they? Come out, you lot! I know last night was your doing. If you're so eager to meet them, you should say hello." Grandma says to the woods around us. [[Continue|1-1.11][$bluehaze = true]]

There is a voice from the path ahead that seems to melt out of the air, along with the body of the person it belongs to. "Guess we've got that in common, then." And the person that steps out of the woods before us is, I mean...he's... "Didn't stop you from showing up last night though, did it?" Grandma says. "Whose idea was all that? As if I don't know..." she mutters the last bit in an aside to herself and the...guy...acts like he didn't hear it. "Melicanthe and Navisdan are always excited to meet new humans," he drawls. "And you should know better than to tell or show Belzepha anything you want kept secret without making it absolutely clear that you're swearing her to secrecy." He's a...merman. Or whatever you call someone who looks both like a fish and a human at the same time. A scaled body with soft underbelly flesh the same color of sunset orange-red all over. Deep black eyes, glittering with what looks an awful lot like a galaxy inside them-- and another pair of eyes above those? Little pearl shaped and sized black orbs that don't seem to blink. His main eyes do, though. With a nictitating membrane. Instead of having hair or being bald, he's got a fin running down the center of his head-- flopped over to one side, looking like some kind of asymmetrical mohawk punk hairstyle with a dash of emo to it. "Well?" Grandma announces. "Are you all going to come out and say hello? You were so eager before." [[Continue|1-1.11][$raindrop = true]]

I'm...surrounded, by impossibilities. A sparkly, glowing black woman and a radiant blonde in braided furs...a fish man and a guy who looks like he's...half dragon? Topped off with a snake man and...I dunno, a Vampire? "I'm so confused," I squeak. "What's happening?" "It's alright, it's alright," Grandma soothes me. Taking my hand and peering deeply into my eyes. "This is why your parents and I had a falling out. I want to explain everything to you, but you need to breathe, stay calm and come with me. I can show you...what you were always meant to be part of." Belzepha steps forward from the crowd. "We're all so excited to meet you. Please, let us all introduce ourselves and we can answer whatever questions you have after your Grandmother has explained her own part. I'm sure there's plenty you'd like to ask." "Don't overwhelm them," the fishman mutters. "I think we should go and wait to be called." "Well not all of us should go," Dragon man says back. "One of us should stay, in case there needs to be some kind of demonstration-- Lady $lname can only do so much on her own." "Who would you like to stay?" Grandma swings me around until my back is facing the crowd. "Do you think you'd like to speak to Belzepha some more for familiarity's sake? Do you want-" "I don't know!" I burst a little and then try to force myself to breathe normally. [[Continue|1-1.12]]

"Alright, everyone go!" Grandma says and gestures behind me. "I'll call for you if I need you." I feel something then, like...god, it's so strange and overwhelming-- like something under my skin, inside my guts and all around me, swoops past me-- so I turn to look- And they're all gone. Instantly. No sign of them anywhere, no sign of their presence. No foot prints, no drag tracks from the snake tail... "Alright...now breathe." Grandma grasps my shoulders and gets me to look at her again. "What do you want me to start with first?" What...where...would you even begin. Magic is real? Mom knew magic was real and didn't like that Grandma was a part of it? Did Dad also know? Did I used to know and I forgot? How is it that no one else knows? I stare at her, in mute shock for several moments before she nods sadly. "Yes, I know it's all rather a bit much...though I must say I was hoping you'd...like it." "Like it?" I ask in a strangled tone. "Grandma-" Shaking my head, I try to organize my thoughts... <<if $goth>> All I've ever wanted was for vampires and monsters and aliens and mutants to somehow be real and yet now that it's actually happening, part of me just doesn't believe it. It's...it's too good to be true! <<elseif $prep>> Everytime I've thought of my ideal world, it included magical creatures like unicorns and fairies and maybe even like centaurs and elves and things-- but now, seeing that they might all exist-- that they might be as beautiful and vibrant as Belzepha and that other lady or that fishman...it just seems all too good to be true. It...it //can't// be true! <<elseif $jock>> I've never really been super fanciful or anything, but I always thought it'd be the coolest thing ever if like...goblins and dragons and orcs were real. I mean...being a knight in video games is like, one of my favorite pastimes. If I could do that kind of thing for //real//? No. No, it's just...it can't be true. It's too good to be true! <</if>> "I feel...like I'm dreaming," I say while tears pour down my face. "This can't be real because I'm too happy. I don't-- I've never gotten to be happy and I can't be this happy, it isn't real- It isn't real!" I'm fully sobbing as Grandma pulls me into her arms. [[Continue|1-1.13]]

"Oh my poor Lovebug," she says into my hair, her voice choked. "It's real, I promise you it's real. I can show you-- I can do anything you need me to do, to prove to you that it's real. What do you need?" "Tell me..." I choke up and squeeze a hand in my hair till it hurts, and that...helps. I mean, pain doesn't exist in dreams, right? Not like in reality. "What //isn't// real?" "Yes, of course," Grandma pats my back, smoothing her hand up and down in a soothing motion. "But you must understand, all legends come from somewhere real. The details have been fudged or replaced, but it's likely that every creature you've heard of, exists in some fashion." I'm starting to calm down, but that's probably only due to the fact that I feel like I kinda have a plan now and even though it's not really much of one-- at least I know I can...I dunno. Ask about something? Maybe...Unicorns? Dragons? Elves? No, I should...I should stick with things that come from folklore and mythology, like...oh wait, Elves ARE a part of mythology... Damn, how did I forget about that? "So?" She pulls back enough to wipe my face with her shirt sleeves-- drying my tears. "What do you want to ask about?" Easiest and quickest thing that comes to mind, is... "Was that bloody dude a vampire?" Grandma barks a laugh, so I already know the answer is probably going to be- "Yes, I suppose," she says while still chuckling. "But also no." Well //that's// totally confusing. [[Continue|1-1.14]]

"Okay..." I'm starting to feel like this is like, circular dream answers to my questions. "Well, you see-- his people are likened to Vampires and Demons," she says. "But in reality, they're Blood and Shadow Aetherials. They exist within the same court because they are the most like each other and the most intertwined in terms of nature-- like the other courts." "Okay...real quick...fae courts?" I ask tentatively. "There is one, but it's not the ones you're thinking. Belzepha is a Fae, for instance-- but she's a changeling. She was a human adopted into Fae society." Grandma explains. "She's also the daughter of the king of the Fae and also the council representative in the Council of Courts." "There's a council?" I ask. "Oh yes," she smiles. "There always has been, you see. A human court, a Fae court, a Mer court, Naga court, Blood Shadow Court and of course there's the Incubus and Succubus courts which are intertwined as they are really...fairly much the same thing expressed different ways. The last is the Shifter Court, which is all sorts of shapeshifting Aetherials-" "You've said that word twice now, what's an Ethereal?" I ask. She shakes her head. "Not //E//thereal, Lovebug. //Ae//therial. They are beings born from what is known as the Aether-- or well, in some cultures it is. It is the most pleasing word for it in their opinion, so that is what we call them." I stare at her blankly until she chuckles and goes on. "Quite simply, they are magical creatures with a common thread between them." She smiles. "Us." [[Continue|1-1.15]]

"...us as in our family or us as in humanity?" I ask with my brows all contorted up in a pretzel. "Both, actually!" she declares with verve. "You see, all humans do come from a single source, but that source is //both// evolution and something like a deity or force of nature." She's grinning so brightly I think it might hurt a little. Or at least it would if I did it. "You see, Aetherials were //us//. And we were them. Aetherials and Humans were once the same thing-- but we had a split, a schism...somewhere along the line, for some reason-- magic and mundane became separate. We believe it's due to-" "Short version right now, please!" I throw my hands up. "Long version later?" She nods in conciliation and pats my shoulders, squeezing them. "Well. At some point, the Aetherials and Humans became two separate beings, but were still all the same people. Humans though, they became restless and territorial-- we all picked out places to go. That's why so many legends and myths are regional, even though we come from the same source." "Religions...mythologies...are all true?" I ask. "All of them are equally true and untrue," she says. "We still don't know exactly how much we got right and wrong-- there was..." Her face pinches. "There were events that caused a gap in our knowledge of the past. What we do know as it is, has been oral tradition, passed down. Some of it may be inaccurate or metaphorical. Who is to know?" She shrugs. "But the gist of it is that we are all one, but also two." Okay then. "I am //still// totally confused." [[Continue|1-1.16]]

"But much calmer," she says with excitement. "Now, about our family-- do you want the long or short version of this?" "Short now, long later," I reiterate. She nods. "Alright, so. Our family has not always been the representatives, but we have //always// remained loyal to the Aetherials-- barring a few who decided to live in mundanity here and there. I was so afraid that our line would go on without the knowledge of Aetheria and all its people because your mother was my only child and would not allow you to choose for yourself." "So Mom didn't want me to know about all this stuff...why?" I throw my hands up. "Why not just tell me and let me make that decision?" "Your father," she says. Sadly. "I thought I'd raised your mother with everything she'd need to be happy and independent but...I missed something, I must have." Her eyes fill with tears. "She needed something from him that I didn't teach her to provide for herself. I dont know what it could possibly be, but that must be it. So she...she is so terrified to go against him and lose him..." "Grandma," I reach up and around her neck, pulling her in for another tight hug. "I've learned a lot in the past few years and one of the things I learned is...it doesn't matter where you come from. Who you are will always shine through. Good or bad. And some people are just...terrible." "And in my long life, I've learned there's always a reason people are terrible," she says while squeezing me tight. "But thank you, Lovebug." [[Continue|1-1.17]]

She was right, I am feeling so much calmer now that some of my questions have been answered but not to the point of overwhelming me. So I pull away from grandma and look deep into her eyes. "The only way I'm going to know this is real, is if...I wake up tomorrow and it's still real. So today...experiencing all this, and then waking up tomorrow and being told it was all true, will probably be enough. But until then...I have a lot more questions." Grandma smiles and nods. "And I will answer them all, I promise. Now...do you want one of them to come back and help with those explanations? Or would you prefer-" "Grandma, I cannot even compute that you can call them back whenever you want, right now." I feel bad that I keep cutting her off, that's rude-- but I feel like my brain might explode if I take it too fast all at once. This is all so amazing, but part of me still wants to believe it's untrue so that I'm not let down when //inevitably//, it turns out to be a dream. So until I know for sure, I need to keep it simple. "Sorry, I don't mean to keep interrupting you," I apologize. "Please though, just...can we take it slow?" Grandma smiles, "of course we can. And I appreciate your consideration but really, I don't blame you for your confusion and disbelief." "Okay, so...first things first...what are we?" I ask. "Totally human, or part Aetherial or...what?" [[Continue|1-1.18]]

Grandma chuckles and gestures at a nearby tree stump-- and a fallen tree that apparently used to be one with the stump. We walk over and sit down next to each other on the fallen tree. "Humans are just as magical as Aetherials, you must understand that, first." She begins. "We have the magic, but it's been so long of repressing it-- the only thing we have left is our dreams. We will never lose it all completely, we can't. It's intrinsically part of our being, but...our magic isn't recoverable unless we know how to access it. And even for people who believe in some form of magic-- their magic takes the form they believe it //should// take." "So Wiccans and people who practice like...uh..." I'm not sure that counts as magic...does...does that? I don't know... "Anyone who believes in any sort of personal power, including priests who believe they represent their gods-- such as the Pope? They all have some form of magic. But it takes the form they believe it must." She explains. "Something of subtle power. It's elegant really, in its own way. But being in touch with magic, truly in touch with magic-- with yourself...it's...it's amazing. I cannot //describe// how amazing." I nod slowly. "So you can...teach me to do that?" Grandma smiles brightly, "yes. In fact, I must, if you wish to work with me." I frown. "Belzepha mentioned that, and you said it had to do with more than making herbal remedies so you meant...wait...are you..." I'm struggling because...no. Not possible. "Yes," she grins with sparkling eyes. "I am the Human Council member." [[Continue|1-1.19]]

"So what...what would I be doing?" God, this is all so much. "You would be trained to be my attendant and successor," she says. "I had put off finding one-- training someone outside the family is a very serious affair and...well." She flicks her wrist, eyes wet. "I had so much hope, even after all these years that your mother-- that she'd come back. Leave him." "I want to believe she might, someday," I say. "I know it's never gonna happen, but a part of me just won't let go. I...get that." Her smile is wobbling and watery, but genuine. "If anyone could, it would be you. We have always had a special bond between us, ever since you were young. It was stronger even than the bond between your mother and I when she was a child and...that always confused me. She was my child, why didn't the bond feel as strong as ours?" She muses. "I suppose it could be that part of her never truly opened up to me. And I will never know why." She inhales sharply and claps her hands together. "I am not explaining anything to your satisfaction, am I? Perhaps it's best you ask someone else right now. Belzepha is familiar, yes? She can even take her human glamour form, if it will make you more comfortable." That...doesn't seem right. "No, I...that sounds terrible. I don't want her to be anyone other than who she is." Grandma smiles again. "I will call her, then. And you can get all your answers about Aetheria before I take you and introduce you to the people there." [[Continue|1-1.20]]

So she does, and in the end...what I learn is... This is all still super confusing. "So you're a Fae that was a human that got adopted into a Fae family," I say slowly. "But you weren't exchanged for anyone, you were just...kinda picked up when you'd been abandoned?" Belzepha nods and smiles. "Exactly. Abandoned human children becoming Fae is a common occurence, which is why your people even have a concept of Changelings at all." "But if it's only abandoned children, how did they notice, and why make up a myth about replacing babies?" I am barely five minutes into this talk and I'm already hopelessly lost. "Remember Lovebug," Grandma grasps my hand and squeezes. "You and I are rather logical beings, but most other humans are not. I know it doesn't make sense to lie about something harmless, but that is what they do. Especially since the Crusades." "The Crusades?" I turn to look at her with wide eyes. "Like, the Christian Crusades?" "Yes, only that particular Crusade period happened //after// our own and our Crusade...is still ongoing." She says. "The religious crusades were a human on human affair. The Aetherial Crusades have existed as long as humanity has-- and as I said, are still happening." "Why? How?" I don't understand why you'd attack magical creatures from way back in the day before Christianity even existed! [[Continue|1-1.21]]

"Allow me to paint a picture, $fname." Belzepha offers and picks up a stick. As she draws little figures in the dirt, they begin to glow and sparkle different colors. She draws two groupings of stick figures and draws a line between them. One one side is green and the other, blue. I'm a little caught up in watching the sparkle show so I don't immediately notice they're moving. But when I do, I nearly leap backward off my log, but catch myself at the last moment. "What are they doing!?" I may sound a little harried, but like, who wouldn't right now? "Watch, watch," Belzepha says, gesturing at the figures. The little blue guys walk away from the drawn line, the blue glow fading more and more with time...but //one// of the figures, remains a bright blue. The little light-less blue people who are now just dully outlined in blue instead of glowing and sparkling with it, all line up together while the glowing one stands apart. "You see, there are actually //two// kinds of humans but as one kind tries to kill us on sight," she shrugs and throws her hands up. "We can't exactly ask them for a representative on the Council. So this one..." She gestures at the blue human. "Must represent not only their own interests, but that of the other human group, as well." "You would let people who hate you and want to kill you on the council if they'd agree?" I sure as hell wouldn't. "Oh no!" Belzepha chuckles beautifully. "But if they simply wished to live without magic, then yes, absolutely." [[Continue|1-1.22]]

"Okay but what does representing them mean if they hate magic and I don't..." I'm hitting a stop sign here in my brain. "No no, look." She gestures and two of the light-less beings become outlined in black instead of blue. They walk away from the lightless ones, to stand between them and the glowing blue one. "These are the Crusaders. They are their own group that we do not acknowledge in the Council." "Oh good," I nod. "So we represent the people...like me?" "Like you were yesterday," Grandma says. "Yes. People who are unaware, and those who if made aware, might want to forgo magic or forget its existence entirely." "I don't understand, though..." Partly because people not wanting magic makes absolutely no sense to me but also- "Why would they need representing at all?" "Oh it isn't simply presiding over a council made up of Aetherials, Lovebug." Grandma shakes her head. "Aetherials change the very fabric of time, space and other natural forces. Anything decided upon and implemented in the world at large goes through a rigorous process of investigation to determine whether it would have any detriment-- so as to not inconvenience those outside of ourselves." "So I mean...you don't like, choose when spring and winter begin and end, right?" Please tell me the weather is not dependent on magic and that losing it totally wouldn't cause armageddon because that's beginning to freak me out. [[Continue|1-1.23]]

Belzepha waves that off with a smile and a laugh. "We are the architechts of the world's design but we do not //control// it. We will things into being-- the bigger the things, the more people and concentration and power it would take." "So that small bit of magic you just did now?" I gesture at the still-glowing pictures. "How big are we talking before you'd need help?" She purses her lips and tilts her head. "For other Fae it would likely be much more than I myself can do. You see, I am ill." She explains. "I have had a condition since my birth that makes it more difficult for me in all aspects of my life and so most of the time, a good deal of my magical energy is dedicated to keeping myself as pain-free and mobile as possible." "So you treat your illness with magic?" I ask, perking up instantly. "Can magic heal or treat any kind of illness?" She smiles and pats my hand on my knee. "It can try-- and it can certainly lessen symptoms and prolong your life in cases of terminal illness. But it cannot completely eradicate it, or make your life as easy as everyone else's. Even with others to help, there is really only so much you can do." "That's confusing, but thank you for answering me." I reply honestly. She giggles. "I know, isn't it? Seems like it should be easy to simply get together, wave your hands and fix all the world's ills." She sighs wistfully. "But illness, mutation and disability have existed as long as life has. It is simply another form of it and as much pain as I am sometimes in-- this is //my// body. I like it." [[I like it too|1-1.23B][$bodylike = true]] [[Continue|1-1.24]]

"Me too," just kind of pops out of my mouth. And I feel. Instantly like I should curl up in a ball and die. Belzepha grins crookedly. "Well that //is// good to know." The mischievous look sparkling in her eyes is almost like looking directly into a really hot sun that's smiling at you. That made //no// sense. I think my brain shut off. Grandma seems like she's trying not to laugh at me. Coughing, clearing her throat and hiding her mouth behind her hand. And so my humiliation is complete. I can't believe I just hit on a girl in front of my //grandma//. I didn't mean to do that! "I-" I can feel my whole body temperature raising like ten degrees. "I..." "Oh I take no offense!" Belzepha seems surprised by my embarrassment. "I like yours as well." And then grins at me, like //that// again and I think my brain really is melting. [[Continue|1-1.24][$flirt_Bel += 1]]

<<if $bodylike>> Grandma clears her throat and segues into the next part. Oh thank god. Any longer and I might've actually swallowed my tongue. <<else>> "I guess I can understand that," I say. "I hate having an anxiety disorder but it's also just kind of who I am and I don't know who'd I be without it." Grandma and Belzepha both smile at me in a way that seems proud and I feel a little warm. <</if>> "Ah! and over here," Grandma points at the green stick figures and they also begin to move. They split apart into distinct groups and begin turning other colors. Orange, red, green, purple, etc. There's a whole rainbow of stick figures all clustered together. "These are the Aetherial courts," she explains. "All Aetherial, all different but also the same. I told you we're two but also one? That was concerning Aetherials and humans. Concerning other Aetherials-- we are one but many. I'm not sure the concept is translating correctly." "Translating from what?" I ask. "The language that Aetherials speak," Belzepha chimes in. "We all have our own variations on the language, but the words are always the same. The inflections and context give different results." "Okay...do I need to learn that, too?" I'd have to assume so, if I'm going to be working in like, magical politics. ...what even is my life right now. [[Continue|1-1.25]]

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"You can if you want to," Grandma says. "It isn't required. After all, Aetherials all understand every human language that has ever been constructed. It's part of being so linked to magic. Words are simply a way to convey emotion and complex meanings-- and you can do that without speaking at all if you have magic." "So, wait...I could understand all human languages ever if I learn magic?" Oh my god, that's the coolest thing I've ever heard! "Yes, of course!" Belzepha smiles dazzlingly. "We first constructed our language as a way for humans who could not use magic to understand us. A way to bridge the gap between our people. But if you want to be able to communicate, you must learn the language regardless because..." I instantly deflate, "because people without magic don't have the same power." "Yes," Grandma hugs me tightly to her side. "But think of how this will allow greater understanding between you and others! That will make it much easier to find ways to help them to understand you, in turn." Learning every language ever by becoming magical is probably not the superpower other people would get excited about but I'm practically humming with nervous energy. "When can I start learning?" I ask. [[Continue|1-1.26]]

"As soon as possible!" Grandma laughs. "But first I would need to take you to Aetheria. So...are you ready?" @@#options; <> <<link "Hell Yes">> <<replace "#options">> Go to the extremely cool, magical world of wonder and supernatural beings that I've been dreaming about since I was old enough to know what having a dream even was? "Hell yes!" I stand up and pop my fist a little. Feeling embarrassed but powering through it. "Let's go!" "Yes," Belzepha hooks my arm through hers. "Everyone is so excited to meet you!" That takes some of the wind out of my sails for a moment. "Everyone...who?" "Everyone on the council, which you've just met," Grandma explains. "As well as their own Attendants." Grandma and Belzepha walk me through the forest, chattering about how everyone's looking forward to meeting my grandmother's family and welcome me to the council and... I realize this is the only time in my entire life when people have actually wanted to know me. It seems like any time I've ever tried to make friends or connect to others, it went sour or...faded away. I won't let that happen this time. [[Continue|1-1.27]] <</replace>> <</link>> <<link "How many people would I have to talk to?">> <<replace "#options">> Belzepha's said that other people want to meet me. Besides the ones I've already seen today? "Um...how many people, would I have to talk to?" I ask, nervously anticipating a response that will exhaust me just thinking about it. "Oh you just met everyone on the council," Grandma says. Smiling and standing to take my hand. "Now all that's left is all the other attendants. It's a room full but some are as quiet as you, so you've nothing to fear if you're feeling withdrawn. They will understand." Well that's a relief... "We'll just go around, introduce you to everyone, it'll be fine!" Belzepha chirps. Leading the way through the forest, back the way we came. I've never been all that sociable, but I'll make an effort for this. Which will be exhausting but I'm hoping even if this does turn out to be just a dream...well, at least I'll remember all this and be able to cherish the memory of when I dreamt the world was magical. [[Continue|1-1.27]] <</replace>> <</link>> <<link "What do I need to know before we get there?">> <<replace "#options">> Okay so I'm walking into a totally alien situation, no idea where we're going or what we're going to find there...and I don't know anything about these people... "What do I need to know about Aetheria and Aetherials before we get there?" I ask and stand up. "Is there a special etiquette for things or maybe some kind of rules I have to remember?" "Aetheria isn't so treacherous you would need to remember rules to stay alive," Belzepha says. A glimmer of amusement in her eyes. "It is nothing at all like a Faerie mound." "Fae mounds are real?" I'm actually surprised. Belzepha laughs. "In a manner of speaking. Though usually the only Fae that employ those rules are often not all that fond of humans as a whole, or the particular humans they've invited have somehow displeased them. Otherwise there are simply rules of etiquette you must learn in order to not offend anyone and cause a curse on your house for ten generations." "Riiiight," I say. A little intrigued but mostly kind of flummoxed. We make our way through the woods as Grandma and Belzepha inform me that everyone is looking forward to meeting my Grandmother's family and I wonder all of a sudden if I'll meet their expectations. I wonder if they'll be disappointed. [[Continue|1-1.27]] <</replace>> <</link>> <>\ @@\

Grandma and Belzepha walk on either side of me, each holding onto one of my arms as we get close to a copse of trees. "Now just stay calm, and breathe," Grandma advises. "This will feel strange, but when it's over, you will be, in //Aetheria//." The trees are getting really close and my body wants to stop before I hit them, but Grandma wouldn't purposefully walk me straight into a tree. So I take a deep breath and close my eyes right as I'm about to walk into it- And nothing happens. So I open my eyes as we walk and...and... "Holy shit..." I breathe. Grandma and Belzepha stop walking and I don't know if it's because I did or because they're giving me a chance to take it all in, but...either way I'm glad I'm not being dragged along behind them. The trees have parted into a great, open clearing-- into a...a marketplace? But not any ordinary marketplace. One filled with vibrant color, shimmering with it! And people-- magical people, everywhere! A few look almost human except for the way they glimmer or a pair of horns or... "Come come," Grandma tugs on my arm. "The council chambers are at the far end of this place. I'll show you there." [[Continue|1-1.28]]

"Did we walk through the tree?" I ask breathlessly as they lead me on. Grandma chuckles, "oh Lovebug, we //are// the tree. Aetherials are one with nature and weave themselves into every space between. The trees are where we live, the rivers and plains as well." Why is she talking like that? "What, there's Aetherials in the grass?" I ask incredulously. Grandma chuckles, "yes. Naga particularly love plains and rolling hills, far from human settlements and cities." "Why does that sound familiar?" I ask and wrack my brain. "Wait, snake people? Like...that guy from the clearing?" "Cobalt," Grandma explains. Smiling brightly. <<if $bluehaze>> Grandma said that earlier, didn't she? Something about how Cobalt is a fetching color or something? When I was talking about that blue haze from my dream... <<else>> Huh. <</if>> "What are the rest called?" I ask. Grandma grins as Belzepha rushes forward, towards a looming sort of...castle-like structure and opens the door. "I'll introduce you as soon as we're inside." And when we are finally across that threshold, I have to stop again and...just //breathe//. [[Continue|1-1.29]]

The interior of the castle-like building is done up in all different colors in different sections. A reading nook over there is sumptuous and comfy and in shades of deep purple and dark reddish brown. There's a fireplace over there with a red leather recliner and black sofa in front of it. And running down the middle is a hallway that goes wayy further back than it had at first seemed to-- with doors splitting off into many rooms. All the doors a different color with different symbols on them. "Where did they run off to?" Grandma asks Belzepha as they tug me along with them. Not even seeming to notice my gaping, which is so nice of them because if I weren't so filled to the brim with awe and disbelief I might've been embarrassed. "Everyone runs off to Mel's room at first, and then Navi and Cobalt break off to hang out in either of //their// rooms...and Symphony goes running off into his own to hide when there's no work to be discussed..." Belzepha says while ticking them off on her fingers. "Let's start in //your// office, and they can meet Lavalle first," Grandma says. Smiling kindly. "I do love that sweet child, I'm sure she'll be a perfect way for $fname to dip their feet in the Aetherial pond, as it were." "Of course!" Belzepha declares and bounces off toward a door more toward the center of the giant hallway, colored bright purple with the symbol of a...some kind of flower? Wait, isn't that the same flower in her hair? Her hair looking like clouds means I have no idea how it stays in there, but that is definitely the same flower. Maybe it's some kind of logo? [[Continue|1-1.30]]

The door opens and as we step inside, I take another look at the symbol on the door. It's not only the same flower, it seems to have been painted to match whatever material the flower in her hair is made of. Which seems to be some kind of gemstone? But that's...is that possible? How... And that's about the time I realize someone else is in the room with us. When I see them my brain does the same wibbly little dance it did before when I saw the snake person and the vampire-not-a-vampire dude. Not to forget the fish man. How could anyone forget the fish man! "Lavalle, come and meet $fname!" Belzepha chirps. She jolts and turns from what looks like a tablet computer... As beautiful and strange as all the rest, really-- Lavalle is like something out of my wildest and most imaginative daydreams about wood nymphs. Skin a light green, hair like moss tumbling over her shoulders with flowers growing all over it-- and wide eyes the color of amber-- like solid amber. "I-" her flowers close up a little as she seems to realize all eyes in the room are on her. [[You're so beautiful...|1-1.31][$LavBeauty = true]] [[Continue|1-1.31]]

<<if $LavBeauty>> "You're so beautiful..." Everyone glances back at me, Lavalle's little flowers closing up a little more as she bashfully looks at her feet. Grandma grinning and trying not to look like she's having a laugh at my expense. Belzepha looks oddly...excited. "Lavalle, say hello! You'll probably be working with $fname very soon. If they want to be their Grandmother's Attendant, you and they will be working together the most!" I feel so bad. I didn't even realize I'd said it aloud until everyone was looking at me. I probably embarrassed her. "I'm happy to meet you," I offer and flush up to my hair follicles-- and I know because I can feel my scalp itch. I hate it when that happens. "But we have to meet lots of people so we should probably go and, do that." The best gift I can give to another socially awkward person is to go away and let them regain their composure, after all. Lavalle nods politely and responds in a very quiet, sweet voice. "It was good to meet you as well..." "Yes, very good point," Grandma says and takes me by the shoulders, steering me back out. "Now that we've warmed up, what do you think, Belzepha? Symphony next?" Belzepha puts her fists on her hips and gives grandma a very stern look. "Let's not traumatize the poor thing //too// soon, they just got here." [[Continue|1-1.32][$flirtLav += 1]] <<else>> Wow, I know what that's like... "Say hello to $fname, Lavalle!" Belzepha says. "You'll likely be working closely with them if they accept the Attendant position with their grandmother." She seems to shrink on herself even further. "Hello..." "Hey...uh...well it was nice meeting you," I say. "But we've got a lot of people to meet so we should probably go do that now." Grandma and Belzepha turn their attention to me, and I could swear that Lavalle is sending me a grateful look as she shrinks back and sits at a desk, mostly hidden from view with a fall of ivy from the stone ceiling. The ceiling which isn't even cracked to let any Ivy through and I have no idea how it's even sprouting up there. Grandma smiles at Belzepha and asks teasingly, "Symphony next?" "If you want their first hour in Aetheria to be spent in taciturn silence while he glares at them for existing too near him, certainly." Belzepha deadpans. [[Continue|1-1.32]] <</if>>

And so Grandma and Belzepha both lead me further down the hall, to the opposite side, where a door in placid earth tones has some kind of...Hummingbird head symbol on it? Painted to look like it's made of another kind of gemstone, it looks like. <<if $blur>> Wait...something about that stylized hummingbird head seems...familiar. <<else>> I wonder if this is like a family coat of arms thing or something. <</if>> "Melicanthe!" Grandma calls and knocks on the door. "Are you in?" That blonde lady with the pearlescent skin opens the door and smiles at us. "We're having a nice tea and some lunch if you'd like to join!" "We came to introduce $fname around officially, one at a time. I'll assume Melicanthe is in there with you?" Grandma asks. The blonde lady laughs and steps back into the room, gesturing us all inside. "Of course! I'd never invade someone's room when they weren't around just to drink //tea//!" "Oh of course not," a silken voice replies as we enter the room. "We're both of a much higher class of mischief than //that//." And uh. There's the dragon man, again. And another one. [[Continue|1-1.33]]

"$fname, this is Shayeri. She's the Queen of the Shifter Court," Grandma says, gesturing at the blond woman with the... <<if $maelstrom>> Wait. The last time I saw her, I thought that skull crown was all small animal skulls, but at the front is a sort of gemstone in the shape of a Scarab beetle. It's beautiful. How did I not notice that before? <<else>> Braided fur outfit and animal skull crown...wait. What's that at the front, like a jewel? It's in the shape of a Scarab beetle. Is that some kind of gemstone? <</if>> "Wonderful to meet you, //Deswon//," Shayeri greets. "How are you finding your first day in Aetheria?" "A lot," I respond. The dragon man from earlier that I think is the guy Grandma keeps calling Melicanthe, walks over. "I'll bet. Been to see Navisdan and Cobalt yet?" "We started with Lavalle," Belzepha says. "I wouldn't want to overwhelm them with intensity before the day is over." They didn't want to introduce me to a lot of people before I'd had the chance to acclimatize. Exactly how intense and standoffish //are// these people? Well it's not like it's a big deal. People sometimes say //I'm// intense and think I'm stuck-up because I don't talk a lot. It could be like that. Fingers crossed... [[Continue|1-1.34]]

"Oh Navi isn't //that// intense," the other dragon-person in the room says. "Also, since nobody is interested in introducing the small-fry-" They gesture to themselves. "Boethiah." Then point at two others I hadn't noticed, on the other side of the room. Sitting at a small table. "The woman with the sword and shield is Wilsa. The guy looking all intense is Mleno." "I was getting to you all," Grandma huffs. "Don't refer to yourself that way." "As small-fry?" they ask, quirking a brow. "It's what we are, isn't it? At least until we take your jobs when you retire. No shame in admitting reality." "Well my children aren't //small fry//," Shayeri counters with a pout. "Wilsa can knock any well-trained fighter on their ass and she writes beautiful poetry." "Mother," Wilsa sighs. "Just let it go." "We were discussing something important before you interrupted, and I'd rather not give our mother and Melicanthe the opportunity to dodge the issue," Mleno speaks up. He sounds bored and irritable at the same time. Shayeri makes a face, "you're so serious, Mleno. I will take care of that dispute later, when we're not hosting guests." His eyes cut to me and the message behind them is very obviously 'please get the fuck out'. And if a guy's eyes //politely// scream at you to leave, you just do. [[Continue|1-1.35]]

"Uh...we do need to meet more people," I say while backing out of the room. No matter who you are, or where you're visiting, if one of the occupants says or implies it's time for you to go...it's just polite to take the hint. "Of course," Belzepha follows after me, a hand delicately pressing into the bend of my spine. And doesn't that just make my spine tingle. "We can go and acquaint you with Navisdan, Symphony and Cobalt, now!" Does she not realize she's having this effect or is she torturing me on purpose? Navisdan, Cobalt and Symphony...great, all the super intense people that nobody wanted to introduce me to like five minutes ago. This'll be fun. Grandma follows behind both of us, saying final goodbyes and exchanging cheek kisses with Shayeri and Melicanthe before leaving. When she catches up, we've moved down the hall a bit more, and found a door that appears to be made of some kind of deep mahogany with...is that an Elephant? Vampire dude, Snake dude, Fish dude....why would any of those people have an Elephant as a Symbol on their door!? "Na~vis~dan!" Belzepha sing-songs as she knocks on the door. "We've brought someone to meet you and Vani!" [[Continue|1-1.36]]

The door opens and my head tilts down, cause the person opening it is a lot smaller than I was expecting. In fact I think they're the smallest person I've seen while I've been here. "Daddy's not here," they tell us. Looking like the cutest fucking thing I've ever seen in a sweatervest over a puffy shirt with a little flower in their hair and...it's one of those gemstone symbols again, on their little tie. A...is that the head of a seahorse? As a tie-clip? I give up on figuring out what these things mean. I'll ask Grandma later. "Oh hello, Vanisdan," Grandma greets the vampiric child. "Where would he be?" "He went to fight with uncle Blue," they respond. They are a dead wringer for that vampire guy from earlier. Like...same nearly translucent complexion, bat ears and claws-- well. Their claws are painted bright colors instead of black but still. And their hair, what perfect little curls! <<if $goth>> "Your look is interesting, what do you call it?" I ask. They smile and spread their arms as if presenting their outfit for inspection. "It's pretty!" "Very pretty," grandma smiles. <<else>> "I //love// your hair! How did you get it to curl so perfectly?" I ask. They look up at me as if a bit surprised but smile with a mouth full of sharp teeth, just like their...father? "Daddy does my hair for me, until I learn to do it myself." They reply. And that's...kind of heart-meltingly adorable. <</if>> [[Continue|1-1.37]]

"They'll be out on the grounds, then," Belzepha mutters to herself. "I suppose we're headed to meet Symphony next." "Can I come?" Vani asks. "I want to give him the papers." "Of course, I'm sure he'd be glad to see you," Grandma agrees. I give her a look and then fall back a little when Vani rushes back into their father's...office? to get whatever papers they need. "Wasn't Symphony that guy you said was surly and you were worried about...ignoring and glaring at me?" I ask Belzepha in an undertone. She giggles a little. "Just watch." So I do. When the kid comes walking out with a little shoulder bag that's filled with files, we walk together down the hall. They walk up to a door done in sunset colors-- and the symbol on the front is some kind of...boar head? And again, painted to look like a gemstone. <<if $raindrop>> Hang on. Wait...I've seen that boar head gem-looking symbol before. That Fish guy, he had his arms crossed and there was this...gemstone thing on his... I think it was some kinda gauntlet or bracelet thing? I think that's what the gemstone thing was. A boar's head. <<else>> Okay...a boar. What the fuck does that mean. <</if>> [[Continue|1-1.38]]

Vani knocks on the door and calls out, "Uncle Song! I need in." It opens with barely a pause, and the fish guy from earlier is standing there. He really is a beautiful spectrum of sunset colors. His head tilts as he stares down at Vani. "What is it?" "I brought you papers," they reply. "And Granny Bee brought somebody." His galaxy eyes roll, "and I'll assume your daddy took off to play with swords and left you in his office again. Did he at least remember your toys this time?" "I have work to do," they reply seriously. And then take the paper files out of their little shoulder bag. "Daddy said you need the papers." He kneels down to take them off of their hands and flips through them. "They're even all the right files this time. Good job, bite-size." And pats them on the head. They grin with their full set of really sharp teeth and duck out from under his grasp to run back toward that office again. "I've got more work to do!" "I'm sure you do," he rumbles as he stands back to his full height. "Symphony!" Grandma walks over and-- doesn't touch him. But almost does. Her hands frame the air around his face. "You must meet my grandchild, $fname! Come and say hello!" He sighs. "Lady $lname, I've no interest in socializing outside of work. You know this." He sounds so //weary//, like they've had this conversation a thousand times before. [[Continue|1-1.39]]

"Well you'll likely end up working together," she counters. Pursing her lips and dropping her hands. "After all, if they want to be my Attendant, you'll all have to work together at one time or another." He glances past her to me. Wow, okay. Now I know what it feels like to be stared daggers at. "Symphony..." Belzepha has a warning tone to her voice. He sighs. "I'm Symphony. You're apparently $fname. Are we done?" "For now," Grandma says. "But as I said, if they accept the position of my Attendant, this won't be the last you speak. At least try to leave a good impression?" He steps backwards just once and closes the door. "No thanks." Well okay then. "I know he's rude," Belzepha says. Smiling at me. "But eventually you get used to him. He never goes beyond glaring, refusing to spend time with us outside work and being kind of snappish when he's in a bad mood. So you don't have to worry about him being mean to you or anything. I know people probably assume he's an ass when they first meet him." "Just seems closed-off to me," I reply. "So...who's next?" "Well, if Harmony wasn't in there with him, she's probably out in the markets mingling and talking to people. And Navisdan and Cobalt are probably at the training grounds..." Belzepha ticks off on her fingers. "Ruby's probably watching, she loves cheering her big brother on." [[Continue|1-1.40]]

"So I suppose we'll head outside and see who we can find!" Grandma says. And so we leave the giant ass castle with all the colorful doors, and I feel kind of...put off that I didn't get to explore. Maybe it's the kind of castle with secret passages. That would be //so// cool... A part of me will always be a little kid searching for wall passages and underground clubhouses. "The training grounds are a bit far, so let's head to the market first," Belzepha takes my arm and leads me toward a mass of Aetherials and...a couple of humans, actually. "How many humans are aware of Aetheria?" I ask. Grandma hums, "well at last count, the Human court was about a hundred-fifty strong in this district. There are others all over the world, though." Hundreds of humans in every country? All aware of this. "Why are they still in hiding?" I ask. "If there's so many-" "Because there are more of //them// than there are of us," Belzepha reveals in a hushed tone. "We will reveal all that to you in a bit, for now, let yourself enjoy this time of wonder and new beginnings." That sounds...//really// ominous, and now I'm anxious. "Ah! Harmony, there you are," Grandma calls out. "Come and meet my grandchild!" [[Continue|1-1.41]]

Another fish person, only this one is in light shades of green and blue instead of sunset colors. "Oh!" She turns to face us and smile with teeth not unlike a shark's. Did that other guy have these super sharp teeth, too? He didnt smile, so I guess I didn't see. "Lady $lname! I'm glad I caught up with you, I needed to consult you on something." "What's happened?" Grandma asks with surprise. "I didn't get any notices this morning." "Just a small thing," she replies. "A human was saved from a shipwreck and now must be inducted in or erased, and he won't discuss the issue with anyone. He seems to be determined to ignore us." "I see," grandma sighs. "I don't, just leave him alone," I interject. "And what does //erase// mean?" Please don't let this dream turn into a nightmare so fast. "Oh it's a choice, that we give everyone who finds out about Aetherials," Grandma replies. "To remember and join us, or to have their memory erased." "And if they don't want their memory erased but they don't want to join you either?" I ask, nervously. "Hasn't really happened often," Belzepha replies. Looking troubled. "But when it does, it is because they fear us and want to know we're 'lurking' out there in the world. It's never good." [[Continue|1-1.42]]

"I was asking about what you //do// with them," I clarify. Guts shrinking more and more by the second. "Oh Lovebug," Grandma reaches for me- But I backpedal. "You tell me you don't kill people or nonconsensually erase their memories for choosing what you think is wrong, //right now//." I'm about to have a panic attack. "Of course we don't do that!" Harmony looks scandalized. "We only want to speak with him to be certain he wouldn't rather choose something else. Some people are afraid until things have been explained. Others leap upon the chance to forget." Grandma has her hands tightly clenched together as she stares at me with sadness in her eyes. "I know everything the world has told you about magic is that it's evil, but you really must-" "Who's talking about magic!?" I burst. "You're some kind of //government// aren't you?" Belzepha makes a snorting sound and covers her mouth, trying to hold her laughter at bay. "Lady $lname, I really don't believe the magic was the part they had a problem with," Harmony soothes my Grandma and pats her shoulder. "Perhaps you should explain in greater depth exactly what it is we do, before you expect their unquestioning acceptance, yes?" Grandma sighs, "I hadn't anticipated the need to explain all this so soon." "Really?" I squeak a little. "You didn't think I'd need to know exactly what my job would be before I agreed to take it?" [[Continue|1-1.43]]

"They have a point," Belzepha sounds like she's choking. "Well, as we've a long walk to the training yard, regardless...let's make it educational." She seems to be pulling herself together. But I think she's still giggling a little as we go. "Well you're the one who said you didn't want to know everything all at once," Grandma says as we start walking, Harmony following along. "I said //short version// not //no version//," I reply. "Well yes, I suppose you did," Grandma sighs. "I'm so afraid of saying too much and overwhelming you. Or saying the wrong thing and frightening you." <<if $goth>> "Grandma, I've been into monsters and ghosts since I was like nine years old. I think scaring me is pretty damn hard when discussing things of a supernatural nature. I only really got scared when I thought you were acting like a shady goverment organization trying to keep a secret." I roll my eyes. "So just. Tell me the things I need to know and leave all the rest for later." <<else>> "Just tell me what I need to know to do the job and I'll decide if I can handle it. It'd be a hell of an inconvenience to you and everyone else if what you didn't tell me popped up and ended up being too much for me, right?" I can't blame her for getting confused, especially since I'm famously bad at communicating my thoughts to people. At least in the context of absolutes. Probably should've explained earlier, but well. Hindsight is twenty-twenty. <</if>> Grandma sighs, "as you wish. But if I miss something you can't be angry with me. I'm new to this situation as well. I don't normally get personally involved in bringing those from the outside into the fold." "I can promise that I can at least give you the benefit of the doubt," I reply. "Alright, then...well, I suppose you'd say we're peacekeepers. Not like the police, though. We don't go out and track down criminals and such. If there's someone threatening the peace, that goes to the Clan of Dan. As for our job...well, if someone steals from someone else, it has to be settled somehow." [[Continue|1-1.44]]

"Like...going to jail?" I ask. "Oh no," Harmony gasps. "We don't incarcerate people! The worst kinds of people are executed by the Clan of Dan. Everyone else just has to make up for what they stole or broke..." "Executed?" I ask, a little aghast. "Which...kinds of people get executed?" "The very worst," Grandma says, grave. "Murder, rape, harming a child in any way-- these crimes are all very serious. If it's determined that a person is guilty, beyond a shadow of a doubt, they are executed. If there is any doubt at all, then the investigation goes on. But if the culprit isn't found and we only have one suspect..." she shrugs. "Aetherials decided long ago they would rather kill one innocent man every once in a great while, rather than let a hundred guilty ones go free." Well that sounds...kind of grim and terrible for people wrongfully accused and framed. But also... "How often does that kind of thing happen?" I ask. "Oh hardly ever," Harmony says. Making a flicking motion with her wrist as if to shoo the idea away. "Last time was...what, twenty years ago?" "How is that even possible?" I'm a little...I have no words for how I am feeling right now. "Oh you're thinking about doing it the Human way, Lovebug," Grandma says. "While they may soon be at the magical level with their technology, at the moment they aren't quite there yet. With Magic, many things are possible that wouldn't be without it." [[Continue|1-1.45]]

"So the...clan of...Dan? Usually uses magic to find the clues to solve the cases that'd usually be handled by human cops?" I wonder if they have different divisions like cops do? Belepha giggles, "I dunno what you're imagining but it's actually very easy to at least find signs and follow a trail if you're in touch with your powers. The Clan of Dan goes a step beyond that. They are the bridge between light and shadow, life and death and of course, pain and pleasure." I can feel my face scrunch, but I don't...really see how those things go together. "Uh...life and death, I get. Because...blood. Light and shadow because Grandma said there's Shadow Aetherials...but pain and pleasure?" "Blood Aetherials have dominion over life and pain," Harmony says. "Shadow Aetherials have dominion over death and shadow." "So where does the light and pleasure come from?" I ask. "It is something they must seek, not something they are naturally inclined to." Grandma smiles. "This is true for all of us, of course. But in magic, and with Aetherials, things are always a bit more complex than for humans." "In this case, meaning?" I am not letting this go. This is //fascinating//. "Meaning that they might be born with a natural affinity for life and pain, death and shadow-- but they must work hard to attain skill in light and pleasure to attain balance. It is the same for the Ubi and Fae." Belzepha explains. "I had to learn to balance my inherent nature of mischief and sly calculation with compassion and restraint." [[Continue|1-1.46]]

"So what about..." I look at Harmony and gesture at her. "Uh...merpeople?" "That is acceptable," she says with a sharp-toothed smile. "Also Merfolk. You humans come up with just the most delightful names. Always so filled with meaning." "Right, well...what about Merpeople's natures?" I ask. "Oh it's not dependent on their place of birth or type of magic so much as it is their upbringing. Most of the Clan of Dan has the same upbringing in Blood and Shadow Courts respectively. So they have much the same traits across families. But you do get the odd one out here and there, like little Vanisdan." Grandma explains. "They exude light and life. Their father is somewhat at a loss for teaching them the balance of pain and shadow." "He's afraid of corrupting them," Belzepha says sadly. "He doesn't trust himself in a lot of ways anymore. I don't know what happened, but...well. Concerning the Merfolk," she segues. "I believe Symphony is the odd one out there, and Harmony is more the example for the rest of the folk you'd need to look at." "Our balance is more between that of erratic emotion and behavior and...control," she grimaces. "It's hard to explain. But the sea is ever-changing as well as quiet and placid in places where it's deepest and darkest. We have to find a balance between chaos and order within ourselves. Symphony...I do not know what side of his nature he struggles with, but he does not feel in balance." "Okay...and that guy...uh. Melicanthe?" I ask. We're nearing some kind of huge arena ringed by trees-- I can see that there's steps carved down into a big round shape in the ground. [[Continue|1-1.47]]

"Melicanthe's a bit of an oddball himself," Belzepha says with amusment glimmering off her. "His people usually have to find some way to balance out the need for pleasure and hedonism with some sort of self control or restraint but...Melicanthe's never seemed to really struggle with any of that." "He does seem a bit distant, doesn't he?" Grandma questions with a weary sigh. "No matter how charming he might be, it seems he doesn't let anyone close. I've never been able to figure out why." "Who's next!" Harmony declares and hums, fingertip to her chin, thinking deeply on it. "Oh I know! Cobalt and Shayeri's peoples!" "Those are really two sides of the same coin," Grandma says. "Being so close to nature that you take on the form of one of the animals that walks the earth. Though in the Naga people's case it's more a matter of adapting to your environment rather than a spiritual connection to the land." "I've never once seen Cobalt struggle for balance between instinct and free will," Belzepha notes. "Or Shayeri for that matter." "They both have to have the same balances?" I ask. "Why aren't they the same court like the...the Succubi and Incubi?" "The Ubi," Grandma says with a smile. "Simple reason, really. They didn't want to be one people. The Ubi did. Not only because of their two different natures being so similar but in reverse-- but also because they had many in the middle of the spectrum who weren't represented in their own government. They conjoined the two in order to make it easier to create this new place for the people in between. Like Boethiah." "You mean for nonbinary people like me?" I ask as we begin to descend the stairs. There's two figures down there definitely going at it but they're moving so fast, I can't... [[Continue|1-1.48]]

"No, no!" Harmony laughs. "What you call nonbinary is just simply...not applicable to Aetherials who were not once human. We are born genderless and can choose a gender or not when we are older. Mostly only because humans do and we became a bit enamored of the practice. We do not have genders as you understand them and we use whatever pronouns fit us best." So all Aetherials are technically trans, nonbinary or agender by human standards, but by their own, those standards don't exist. "No you see, Succubus and Incubus refer to a role, not a gender." Grandma grasps hold of my arm as we descend further down the arena stairs. God, there's a lot of steps. This place is huge. "The Succubi are those that feel more soft and nurturing and submissive to their leaders. They can be both men and women, or neither or both. And the Incubi are more take-charge and playful in a more...dangerous sort of way. It's hard to explain a distinction that's so..." Grandma struggles to find words. "They both have aspects of the other, but-" "So it's like a spectrum?" I ask. "Yes!" Grandma grins. "The Ubi title is for all its people but it was first created for the people who did not feel like either, or who were both Succubi and Incubi." "That is...incredibly cool," I say as we reach the bottom row of steps. Grandma stops me and gestures at the two figures sparring. "Well? What do you think of Navisdan and Cobalt?" [[Watch Navisdan|1-1.49][$wnavi = true]] [[Watch Cobalt|1-1.49][$wcobalt = true]]

<<if $wnavi>> So I turn my attention completely to the two competitors before me. The Naga whom grandma called Cobalt is very graceful and quick but the...Navisdan, is brutal and efficient in his attacks. He goes for vital areas like the throat, stomach and underarms with single-minded determination. Or at least it //seems// single-minded until he dips into a roll, comes up behind Cobalt and drops his sword in order to lock his arms and legs around Cobalt's torso. Cobalt roars and thrashes, "you really think that's gonna work!?" And I think for a moment that he's right-- that he isn't able to totally hold him still because his entire tail is free, but then- Cobalt stills and sighs in defeat. "I didn't even see you draw that." And then drops his own weapon. A...spear? Navisdan has a very small blade pressed to the curve of Cobalt's throat. "If this were a real fight, you'd already be dead. Either from the cut itself or the poison on my blade." And because he'd immobilized his arms with his legs, he wasn't able to stop him in time. So that's why he didn't worry about his tail. By the time he could've shaken him off or slammed him into the ground, the fight was already won. Navisdan hops down off of Cobalt's upper body with a deadly grace that's kind of spine-tingling to watch. He's...//beautiful//. Like most of the Aetherial's I've seen, but now it's even more apparent up close. "You did nearly have me," Navisdan compliments Cobalt. "At home, you may have the advantage. Just as I do, here." [[Continue|1-1.50][$flirt_Nav += 1]] <<elseif $wcobalt>> The Vampire dude, uh...Navisdan, I think they called him-- he's really fucking brutal and goes for the throat like a wolf leaping into the kill but...Cobalt, wasn't it? Cobalt is quick, graceful and fluid. He dashes across the ground so quickly that it seems Navisdan is having a hard time keeping up, but does so anyway which is just incredibly mind-boggling considering Cobalt is snake-like and therefore predisposed toward speed on flat, even surfaces like this. Navisdan jumps and rolls around Cobalt and Cobalt twists to follow him but is startled by Navisdan dropping his sword. Cobalt attempts to twist again to put Navisdan back in his sights but Navisdan grasps hold of his back before he can and he thrashes as he tries to escape the hold Navisdan is putting him into. Because he only wears a strap over his torso and a sort of kilt around his waist, I can see the way the muscles of his chest and stomach ripple and strain with the effort he puts into escaping the hold. But it's apparently useless to resist. Cobalt sighs and sags a bit, revealing that Navisdan has a small blade to his throat. And then Cobalt drops what looks like a spear? "If it weren't for that knife, I'd have had you," Cobalt muses as Navisdan leaps off his back. "I had every advantage and you still managed to turn it on me." Navisdan chuckles, "if we were on your home terrain, I've a feeling it would go differently." [[Continue|1-1.50][$flirt_Cob += 1]] <</if>>

"Both of you come and meet my grandchild!" Grandma calls out as the two men clasp forearms. They look up. Cobalt with a swish of his tail behind him and Navisdan with a curious expression. And then another Naga comes slithering up next to us from a nearby set of stairs. "Aww, I wanted to watch another bout." "Ruby, darling, come meet my $fname," Grandma greets the newcomer. "They might be taking over my Attendant position soon. So you may be working together in the future." The beautifully red-scaled Naga comes closer and I'm struck by how small and dainty she appears. "How old are you?" I ask. She grins, mouth displaying a pair of fangs but no teeth. "Sixteen this past summer, and almost old enough to start combat training!" "Yes but for now she must console herself merely with endurance and strength training," Cobalt says. In a tone that conveys sarcastic sympathy. "I just want to learn to use the Javelin, too!" Ruby declares. "Why //can't// I start now?" "If you started now, you might hurt someone," Cobalt counters. "You don't have the discipline or control you need, yet. Be patient." She groans and flops on a stair like you'd expect a teenager to do. Okay so this day has been...informative. Apparently Aetherial teenagers are just as eager to grow up and do dangerous shit as human ones are. [[Continue|1-1.51]]

"$fname, meet Navisdan and Cobalt." Grandma introduces the two men who are now close enough to touch and the temptation to do so is nigh unbearable. Navisdan's bleeding-looking hair is styled in an undercut that's long all down the middle of his head and he's got it braided up in what looks like a really complicated style. Similar to celtic knots... And his outfit is...black leather armor vest, over a sleeveless white shirt. Black, leather armored pants, and belts. He's got a sort of...punk rock vampire lumberjack vibe. How do those things even go together? Point is, he's gorgeous and slightly glowing from his exertions-- as is Cobalt. And Cobalt's entire chest and stomach are exposed so I'm torn between looking at his torso and Navisdan's //arms// and I- "Delighted to meet you," Navisdan says with a muted sense of amusement radiating off of him. I wouldn't say he's smirking at me, but he's definitely thinking 'smirk' in my general direction. "Indeed, I was hoping we would see you again," Cobalt purrs. I don't think he means to? He just naturally seems to be the purring voice kind of guy. I'm so gay for almost everyone I've met here and it's just day one. [[Continue|1-1.52]]

"Navisdan, you left poor Vani all alone in the office?" Belzepha pouts Navisdan rolls his eyes. I think? "Vanisdan is reaching a very independent age, and I'll not stifle their growth." He sighs and stretches his shoulders, treating me to a display of the muscles in his arms moving under his skin. And what a treat it is. Cobalt snorts and elbows Navisdan in the side. "I'll bet Symphony loves that." "I will never understand that man's obsession with keeping children confined to playtime as if it is all they should ever do," Navisdan laments. "Well, now you've met everyone!" Grandma declares and turns to smile at me. "And now you know what we do-" "Uh no, I don't." I cut her off, waving a hand up next to my face. "You said something about theft and deciding what happens but not...much else." "Oh that's right!" Belzepha says. "We got sidetracked telling her what the Dan Clan does. We forgot to fill in all the spaces." "You and Lady $lname are the most easily distracted people I've ever met," Cobalt comments. Navisdan makes a noise that seems amused and disbelieving. "That title should go to Melicanthe, don't you think?" [[Continue|1-1.53]]

"Aaand now you two are doing it," I observe. They both look at me and then each other, then snicker a little as Grandma claps her hands once to get everyone's attention. She smiles when everyone's eyes are on her and clears her throat. "Well. Suffice to say, we on the council represent our people in the matter of governance in the district in which we serve as well as resolving disputes between us. If a human is involved, I am consulted. If it is a matter between Blood Aetherials and Merfolk, then they would consult Symphony and Navisdan." "The person who perpetrated the harm against the other is the one who is represented and punished by their own council member. The other council member simply approves or asks for a reconsideration depending on whether they think the punishment fits the crime." Belzepha continues for her. "Doesn't that make it like really easy for people to bail out their own people in disputes?" I ask. Navisdan cuts in on that question to answer with, "it would if we didn't have rules and guidelines that make it almost impossible to do so with any regularity without being deposed or disciplined. If your determinations are too soft or show a bias, you're put on probation until it's decided whether it was on purpose or simply a whim that needed to be corrected. Then if it is proven that you did so on purpose, you are deposed and your Attendant takes your spot." "Though only if they're old enough," Grandma adds. "If they're still a child, then of course a new Councilor is chosen and they choose their new Attendant or take on the one that belonged to their predecessor." [[Continue|1-1.54]]

"So if we resolve disputes...is that all we do? Besides the governance thing which still hasn't been explained to me at all..." I mutter that last part as a little aside to myself but from the way everyone is giving me amused looks, I'm guessing they all heard it. "We do not rule, like you might think," Cobalt says. "The Council organizes things that have already been decided upon by the people. And also organizes which things are decided and when. We get many singular petitions for laws that people want, but unless a good number of the populace is in support of it-" he shrugs. "It doesn't even come into consideration." "So you don't make laws, you're just a framework for people to vote for the laws //they// want?" I ask, speaking slowly as I puzzle it out for myself. It's not that it's hard to understand, really, it's just... "Yes, and the rulers of the respective clans, kingdoms, etcetera are the ones who enforce those laws with the help of their own personal forces of guardsmen. But of course they're for patrolling and keeping the peace within borders." Belzepha explains. "The clan of Dan investigates anything that isn't immediately resolved and passes judgement on issues that are considered above the level of the normal Aetherial guardsmen's ability to judge or carry out." "Like execution," I say. Recalling that part of our discussion. "We very rarely make that determination," Navisdan says. Voice low. "We experience an extremely low crime rate to begin with-- but execution-worthy crime, happens even more rarely." [[Continue|1-1.55]]

"I think I'm getting the gist of this," I say. "So...if I take this job...what will //I// be doing, personally?" Grandma smiles. "Everything I'll be doing, but much more slowly with much less of a workload until I'm certain you can handle everything I do as much as I do it. And you'll also spend some time training with each of the other Councilors." I blink and glance around at the others gathered in our little grouping. "Uh...training...for what?" "With magic!" Grandma says. "Oh and weapons as well if you wish. Or perhaps even herbal practices. Healing and the like, too. Whatever it is you think you would enjoy and excel at." "It's more of a cultural practice than a job requirement," Belzepha fills me in. "All the councilors train with new Attendants to forge a bond for a while after they come into their position. After all, you never know when someone's seat will come open, either through retirement or death." She smiles mutedly. "We also have a bonding activity between new Councilors and the ones already sitting on the Council but we haven't had anyone new since I got here." "Thank goodness," Harmony mutters to herself. "Do you know enough now to make a decision?" Cobalt asks in his decadent voice, god I could listen to that for //days//. Oh! But he asked me a question and I'm just standing here silent. Grandma puts a hand on my shoulder. "You can take your time-" "I want the job."