Meddlesome Gods: Mataya visits the Mermaids
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The most recent addition to Mataya's is the mermaid haven. Entering the mermaid haven can be a bit jarring since it is a huge difference from Mataya's House, after all. On the island, near the beach, Mataya sits. She seems to be conversing with the mermaids, without saying a word. Likely visions and the mermaids responding vocally. Something seems odd about the Second God, though. The crimson god glow surrounding her is very weak, as if dying out. The Goddess even seems a little faded herself. There is only one time Mataya has looked like this and it is when she resurrected all the mortals. Something must be going on with the Second God, right?
The almost unexplainable 'interior' of this temple never failed to bring immense confusion to Jesse's face whenever they would arrive to pray. That said, they learned to get over the dissonance and appreciate it for what it was, enjoying the sights and sounds abundant. There was never a good place to kneel without getting the Guard's uniform all messed, so this time, Jesse gravitated towards the mermaids that they would never understand, flashes a timid little smile accompanied by a slight tinge to their cheek, and clasped their hands together in prayer. However, Jesse's attention is broken and the Guardsperson does a double-take to finally notice Mataya and Her faded visage, bringing first a surprised gasp and wide eyes, but that soon fades to a concerned frown of a person destined to try and help. Very cautiously, they navigate towards the 'conversing', but patiently waits for those voices to fade before bringing their own concerns to voice, hands clasped at the uniform's waist with slender fingers intertwining with twitching of nervousness; after all, it's not every day they get to encounter a God - aside from the other day, anyway.
Mataya leaves, heading towards the House of God Mataya [HMA].
Mataya has left.
Mataya arrives from the House of God Mataya.
Mataya has arrived.
Tristan leaves, heading towards the House of God Mataya [HMA].
Tristan has left.
Tristan arrives from the House of God Mataya.
Tristan has arrived.
Its hard to say exactly why Tristan finds himself here, deep inside Mataya's temple. The young man is prone to wandering with his head in the clouds, so perhaps that's what has brought him to this strange indoor sea. Emerging into the false outdoors, the young prince blinks his eyes a couple of times, a little look of wonder on his face as he looks around, a slight smile on his lips.
The mermaids speak in an unknown tongue, though, at this point it has probably been heard of by most. A few can speak Mystic Tongue, after all, and it is known praying to the Gods or finding someone to teach it can result in learning it (you can 100% page me a prayer to Hilal, Larthin, or Mataya; Soleil, Attia, and Ossian need to be a request, if you think you would IC learn it). The mermaids break off their speaking when they notice arrivals and scatter. The Second God's attention shifts to Jesse first as they are the first Mataya notices to arrive. Her light might be dim but the smile she gives is as warm and kind as one would expect from the God who resurrected the mortals. Over Jesse is bid by a lift of the hand and a questioning tilt of the head is given. Tristan is noted next and is also given a welcoming smile and inviting gesture. He is studied a moment longer by the Goddess before she shifts to settle in a way she can look at both.
Given that the introduction to Mataya is not as fiery as their previous deific encounter, Jesse is less trembling and more flushed actually when Her warm smile finds its target, the fair cheeks turning slightly. There's a genuine one given in turn, but the eyes are far from happy; the Guard's eyes, sharpened by finding out-of-place things, at least perceive enough to tell that something's wrong and worry starts to fill. If something can cause the Second God to fade, surely it could pose deadly to a mortal's concerns. Jesse would not dare to lead with the question straight away, of course, only shuffling forward and offering the proper respect at first. "It is a pleasure to be in Your company today, I apologize if I have interrupted.." Now Jesse's a little more self-conscious about the scattering mermaids, twitching their fingers in almost embarrassment. Their eyes eventually follow Mataya's attention back to Tristan, and a nervous smile flickers to the prince, giving a respectful but unfamiliar bow of their head.
As surprising as this strange mermaid sanctuary is, Tristan certainly didn't expect to see a god- his eyes widen a little bit more before he notices Jesse as well. He overs them a little wave in return for the bow of their head before his attention is drawn away by Mataya. A look of consideration crosses his face before he rolls his shoulders in a bit of a shrug and offers a little nod of affirmation in the divine being's direction.
A hand lifts to gently pat JEsse's arm to soothe their nerves. There is a reason Mataya is considered the kindest of Gods. The sand she sits upon is woken to to invite both to join her. Her head tilts a touch at Jesse before her gaze slides to Tristan and there her eyes linger for a long time. It wouldn't be amiss to assume she was sending him something. None of the Seers of Mataya's clergy come intot he mermaid haven so it is clear she is not summoning them.
The Second God's reassuring hand does wonders to calm Jesse, who exhales more evenly as if some peace was brought to them by touch, and their lips quiver and form an endearing expression. Her gesture is more than enough to convince Jesse to take a seat upon the indicated place in the sands, not seeming to care too much about the muss that would be made of the browns of the uniform. Before saying any more though, emerald eyes once again follow the look back to the prince, and they reach over to the other part of sand right next to them and give it an encouraging pat as if further trying to invite him over. Jesse goes to open their mouth, but snaps it shut, figuring that there might be sending and not wanting to interrupt that at least.
Tristan's eyes close for the briefest of moments and he purses his lips together, before he once more gives another lazy roll of his shoulders, his eyes fluttering open a somewhat dreamy look in them. "Ah, yes, okay," he finally says, his voice soft. He makes his way toward the spot in the sand, carefully sitting himself down, his legs crossed in front of him. "So.. ah, she-," he tips his head in Mataya's direction, "Says you can ask any questions you might have.. no worries."
To Jesse the gaze of Matay slides and her hand lifts to urge the Guard to speak as they will, confirming the words of the Prince. Her hand then passes over the ground between her and the two mortals to cause a small table with food and drink to appear. Her light shimmers a little, fading very slightly more. On it is a wide variety of food and drink, no doubt better than even royals would eat. It is all created by divine power, after all.
Jesse first tips their head to the side a little too much, in utter confusion of Tristan's ability to understand that which they did not. "Oh!" they hesitantly chirp, "so you can hear Her? That is an amazing gift!" Of course, their eyes tell that they have no idea whatsoever how that works, but the praise is still abound for it. Jesse seems content when the Prince joins them at the sands, but they admit rather sheepishly, "I do not mean to reduce you to a translator, mind. You might have as many questions as I do! Though first on my mind was.. well.." The Guard looks over Mataya once more, and lets the worry well just a bit while they ask, "Wholly unfamiliar am I to the Gods' extent of power, and please do not take this the wrong way, but I notice something.." Jesse struggles for the appropriate word, "..less vibrant around You. I only say this because I have recently seen Soleil and I didn't notice anything similar and.." There's a point where Jesse seems to realize they are rambling, and they instead cast emerald eyes upon the Prince like they're searching for advice. "Do you see it too?"
The Luminat prince doesn't seem to be in any hurry to eat or drink- he still has that dreamy look on his face. Still, he offers the godess a little smile in exchange for the repast- "Thank you," he says, his voice still soft as he turns his gaze towards Jesse, considering them for a moment before he shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know.. I'm not really an expert in that sort of thing."
A thoughtful tilt is given by Mataya before the Second God says, "Conduit." The single word causes the sand around them to flare out in a circle, leaving them in a small pity. It is pretty clear to why the Go doesn't speak often with that. Though the single word doesn't fully clear up anything it does, some how, make it clear she is speaking through Tristan. Jesse's question just continues to earn them a gentle smile. Around Tristan's wrist the fingers of the goddess curls and when her hand falls away he finds a bracelet designed to his exact taste around his wrist. It is complete perfection and adorned with the finest of gems. It is made in such a way that is is clearly god made. No doubt a gift for acting as her 'voice'.
It would appear that the Divinus Guard just realizes that a table full of items were provided, and they flush some more, echoing the thankfulness that the Prince gives out. When the sand moves by a single word of command, Jesse's startled but has since learned to settle down a little earlier and so calms down. They watch as the arm extends to bestow the divinely crafted bracelet upon the Prince, and Jesse bristles with vicarious joy. "It appears that you are doing wonderfully, so perhaps you're an expert where it counts" the Guard says in an encouraging tone to Tristan, perhaps spiked with a hint of good-natured amusement in those eyes. But then they settle as if waiting for such a response to that question. "What do you happen to be an expert in?"
A day full of suprises- Tristan's eyes widen a little bit when his wrist is grabbed, though he doesn't seem all that alarmed. "Oh, I'm not really an expert in -anything-.. more of a dabbler in all sorts of things," he responds in that affected tone of his. His smile brightens a little bit when he sees the gift left on his wrist, and he once more nods his thanks to the goddess, before his eye close once more- no doubt receiving more insight. They stay closed for some time- tears welling a little bit behind his lids, before they open- and he looks concenered towards Mataya. "Oh." Its quiet. "You are dying? Or.. my brother is dying?"
"Possibilities." explains Mataya to Tristan first, waving her hand a little to urge him to explain clearer to Jesse. She gives a smile to JEsse at their enthusiasm about everything. At least as she sees it. One hand moves to lightly rest on Tristan's arm, soothing him now. She's aware of the impact visions from her can have.
Jesse's certainly a bundle of enthusiasm, so Mataya is right in that perspective. But Tristan's eyes and following words cause the Guard to spring into some concern of their own, leaning more towards the Prince's side with a similar hint of worry. "Dying?" they gasp out. Then the God's singular word of explanation comes out and Jesse tracks back to Tristan, looking like they're about to reach over in their own show of comfort, but it takes the Guard quite a bit of restraint to stop that and make a gesture that isn't so refined of them. "Are you okay?"
"Oh." Its just one word and it hangs there for a long moment, as the wheels in Tristan's head grind out his thoughts. "Oh. I see." He then turns his direction toward Jesse. "She isn't dying. Not exactly. Just... something is happening? And Ozymandias, my brother and her son.. will have to make a choice. And it might.. uh.. kill one of them, or it might elevate Ozymandias?" He looks toward the goddess for clarification, "Did I get that right?"
"Mostly." says Mataya in response. She must be satisfied with his response for she doesn't correct him. "Tasks." she adds in her not always helpful one word responses. IT wouldn't be amiss to assume she means he needs to do his Children of Gods tasks. Finally she stands up, brushing a hand against both JEsse and Tristan's arms before she starts to walk off, slowly fading into a bright light.
A frown takes Jesse's lips, the intricate weaving of family now causing them to break from that careful reservation and instead reach over to try and pat at the Prince's arm, the opposite one of which the Goddess had graced. "That sounds awful, perhaps there's something we could do?" Already Jesse's injecting themselves subconsciously, perhaps drawn by that desire to help. "It sounds quite personal, but if there's aught to be done.."
Tristan doesn't seem to mind being touched, offering Jesse a little smile in return. "Maybe. It seems like my brother needs to do something. Perhaps something he hasnt started. Maybe he needs to be motivaed! I don't know him all that well though."
There's a moment where Jesse tenses up some, and they repeat from before, "Ozymandias.. Your brother, then, needs help with their path, it would seem! Now, I'm less of an expert on this one than you are, but if it involves something this profound, I'll try at least something!" Jesse seems to bristle with a sense of pride, unintentionally grasping the arm a little heavier, which has them flush in embarrassment and withdraw the hand. "So, maybe you, or we can talk to him? See what he'll need?"
"Yes. I suppose we can talk to him. I don't know him very well. He's uh.. a priest, I think, so he doesn't spend a lot of time in Luminat. But yes, should at least see if he's avoiding what he needs to do," the young prince says with a little bit of a shrug. He doesn't seem to mind being grabbed, or at least he doesn't make any comment on it.
Jesse eventually gives an agreeable nod, flashing a more reassured smile over to the Prince. "Sorry, sometimes I get a little jumpy when people are in danger.." they admit sheepishly, rubbing a heel into the sand rougher than necessary. A moment of thought, then they stop a downcast look and meet the Prince's gaze level - as much as someone as short as Jesse can emulate. "I never really got to know you, by the way, which may be a shame as to Her, you seem so important! I'm Jesse," and then they gesture to the insignia upon their military uniform, "I work in the Divinus Guard. It's a pleasure to meet you, though perhaps I would wish under better circumstances. Guess we will just have to make them better!" At least the voice sparks with confidence now.
Jesse has partially disconnected.
Tristan is quite tall, but he's seated so it shouldn't be too difficult. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Jesse," he says, giving a little nod of his head in greeting, "I'm Tristan Luminat. I uh.. well, I guess I don't really work. Being a guard must be very exciting though."
The Guard's brow creases some after Tristan's claim, chewing on their lip in thought before replying, "We all work in ways, I believe, and all of it is valuable, from the bottom to the top." A more focused eye graces over Tristan, "I know not your place, but I assume you are just being humble beyond measure.. and it would not take too much inference due to your family ties; you're royalty, are you not?" Jesse's eyes widen just a little, a hint of reverence in them. "And here I have been, acting untoward and fretting too much."
A little color darkens Tristan's fair skin, and he nods his head -while- shruging his shoulders. "You're not wrong. My father is King Jaden," he says, offering Jesse a somewhat dreamy smile, his gaze distant for a moment, "Oh, don't worry about being untoward or anything. Its..uh.. fine."
While the Prince may not seem to regard it with weight, Jesse introduces all the formality needed, and then some. That slender figure rises from their seat upon the sands, offers an elegant, trained bend at the knees and bowing of their head at the same time. After the curtsey is wrapped up, they address softly, "That would make you a Prince then, Your Highness." It would seem this Guard is intent on showing proper reverence. "It would be untoward not to show you at least that honor. I must do so, unless it truly bothers you?" Then the Guard looks about, "And I should suggest that, were it to please you, I accompany you at least to your manor when you feel it is time to retire, especially in this early hour. It would be in your safety's interest, after all."
Tristan laughs a little bit at that, nodding his head. "I mean, yes, I am a prince. At it doesn't bother me if you want to curtsey, of course. But it's just the two of us here.. except for the mermaids, of course." Some more laughter. "So don't feel you -have- to stand on ceremony." At the offer of an escort, the young man's skin darkens again, though he offers no comment.
There's a hint of confusion that rests in Jesse's eyes when Tristan's laugh comes out, but slowly and surely it seems to disarm that hard edge of formality, and Jesse eventually provides a relieved huff of breath. "If you say so, I will gladly accommodate your wants for address, if they be reasonable. But it seems I have little to worry in that regard." There's a shaking of shoulders in some form of amusement soon after, seemingly a little more comfortable with showing that side after the nonchalant attitude about the gestures in a closed quarters. "By your face, I hope I am not still being untoward!"
Tristan gives another shake of his head as he leans back on his hands, a wisp of white hair floating in front of his face. "Ah, no, you are not being untoward, not at all," he murmers, "You are very curtesou in fact." He offers a reassuring smile.
"Tis so gracious of you to say" Jesse starts off, still standing in that position after the curtsey was done before. "However, I should still suggest my offer. Depending on where the thread of your morn will end and you will need proper rest. Until then, I am more than comfortable sitting here!" The Guard nods their head firmly, sneaking in a smile somewhere in there. "Or perhaps the 'scenery' here attracts your eye the most?" they then ask with that thread of amusement continuing from before.
Tristan tilts his eyes toward the sand, "You can sit you know. If you want," he suggests, before laughing softly, "I dont know if I -need- an escort, but I guess it would be rude to turn you down, no?"
The Divinus Guard glances down, then back up to the Prince with a sheepish shuffling, and then comes to ground once more and enjoys a seated posture. Jesse assures, "It is entirely at your pleasure, of course. You may choose to decline, and I would not consider it rude." This part is quoted as if writ in a book that was overzealously studied. A sense of liveliness arrives in their voice afterwards. "It is a good opportunity to get to know of you, though, which is always appreciated as learning should be."