[GP/EP] You're not clear of story out here

[st_arkcrowblack]

Even before she knew for certain that it was the first of a month, Snow’s body had started bracing for it. She was wary and tense, preparing to cope with yet more people in the space of the hotel. It seemed that no sooner had she adjusted to whoever had showed up the last time, there was someone new again.

She didn’t want anything to do with the lot of it. That was what those busy women on the welcome committee were for. She didn’t think the committee was a stupid thing, not at all. Focusing on settling new people in kept the lot of them busy and away from her, and that was where she wanted them. They terrified her.

Snow White had only come into the main building to forage for food. The original plan was of course to turn right back around and escape before the expected rush (small or large) of new people to flood in.

But that was of course not what happened. When a universe was a pocket, it had less to focus on and fewer people to fuck with, and so Snow was entirely certain it was fucking with her when she was the one in the lobby when a new face came through the door.

Comments

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

"Likewise, and she can. I only narrowly escaped having to give her a lecture on my world's cosmology during our first real conversation." Ignis shook his head, amused rather than rueful. "I'd intended to say nothing at all about it. A talent of hers, I think."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

"I was in the process of giving her a lengthy explanation of my religious beliefs, when Jack showed up," Alcuin said, a small smile making his voice sound fond.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

"Well, now I'm curious." Ignis's own religious beliefs weren't exactly beliefs per se. He knew his gods too well to believe in them, especially after having participated to a greater or lesser extent in killing three of them. "Miss Fisher doesn't strike me as a particularly religious person."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

"No, I don't think so, though she seemed quite interested in precepts of mine," Alcuin said with another little smile. "Would you like the long version, or a shorter one?"

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

"Whichever you're more inclined to give." Had he mentioned how pleasant he thought Alcuin's voice was, or only thought it? Best to be safe and not mention it now.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

"Well I suppose I can give you the whole tale from the start..." Alcuin said, and then began much the same way he had with Phryne. With Elua's birth, his journey, the angels that helped him, the founding of Terre d'Ange, and the single precept he left for his people. And as with Phryne, he ended with alluding to Naamah's service without going into great detail.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

"Hmm." That was... unexpected. And, all in all, a religion that sounded much pleasanter than one that involved a god creating a magical disease turning people into daemons, for which the only cure was an Oracle acting as a bulwark or, if there was no Oracle, a king offering himself up to be sacrificed to bring daylight back. Certainly neither Alcuin's Elua nor any of the Companions would use great waves to smash a city for daring to awaken them.

And as for Naamah's service... it made a good deal of sense in context, and Ignis didn't miss the implications as far as Alcuin was concerned. "That sounds quite peaceful. Your gods, it seems, earned their status."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

Alcuin relaxed as soon as Ignis spoke, and then he said, "I wish you could see my smile at that. Thank you. I think you're right."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

Ignis wished he could see it, too, but at least he could hear the smile in Alcuin's voice. It wasn't nothing. "One of my gods," he said, inconsequentially, "created a magical disease that turned humans into daemons and eventually blacked out the sun. Another tried to murder my... friend, Noctis." His friend, his king, his responsibility. "A third smashed a city with a tidal wave because she was annoyed at being awoken. And a fourth... stole Noctis for ten years while daemons took over the earth, until he accepted being sacrificed to end it. I have very little respect for my gods."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

Alcuin's eyes went slightly wide, and then he laid a hand on Ignis' arm. "That's terrible," he said, genuinely empathetic. "And I am so sorry about your friend."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

"Thank you." After a bare second, Ignis laid his own hand on top of Alcuin's. "I don't actually know what ended up happening to him, as I was brought here before any proof either way." No sunrise, yet.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

Alcuin thought how he would feel if he had seen Anafiel dying... but hadn't seen him die, before he was brought here. Some hope, perhaps, but also the agonizing uncertainty.

He turned a bit his chair, and then pulled Ignis into a hug, sliding his hand up his arm as he did so, so that the increased contact did not come as a complete surprise. He realized that he still didn't completely understand the cultural norms here, but it was natural for him to want to provide physical comfort in response to someone's pain.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

Ignis froze, very briefly. Small touches to indicate direction were becoming commonplace, at least from Alcuin and Miss Fisher. The hand sliding up his arm evoked memories of Valentine's and broken dishes, but the hug itself was pure shock for a second or two. People had never, in general, even tried to hug him; no doubt they'd assumed that someone like him - cool, reserved, formal - wouldn't welcome it.

But he did, at least as soon as the shock passed. His arms slid around Alcuin in turn, holding him as closely as he was being held.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

Alcuin was relieved when Ignis welcomed the embrace.

"It is so hard to understand the fates that cast us here," he said softly.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

"I'm at a loss," he agreed. Not that there weren't pleasant aspects to the Inn - certainly Ignis had found a higher concentration of non-pitying people who were also pleasant company, but... ruined or not, however much grief and pain it contained, Insomnia was home.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

Alcuin brushed his lips to Ignis' cheek as he pulled away from the embrace, though kept a grasp on one of his hands. "I hope that the pain we have been through has some purpose," he said quietly.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

Greatly daring (or at least it felt that way), Ignis tilted his head to brush his own lips on Alcuin's cheek in passing. Alcuin was clearly the affectionate sort - no wonder, given what he'd said of his homeland and religion - and it seemed wrong to receive those gestures without returning them. "And I hope we find out what it is."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

The gesture was appreciated, and it made Alcuin feel closer to him.

He sighed a little and dropped his head. And then made a confession, that he had not voiced to anyone.

"Elua is not vengeful," he said quietly. "But I also... I committed blasphemy. I was absolved of it, I thought, but still I cannot help but wonder... once I should finally know real love, that it was snatched away from me so quickly. It feels like punishment."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

Blasphemy, in a religion that held 'love as thou wilt' highest. There were only a few things that could look like, reasonably, and none of the were pleasant to contemplate. Without quite deciding to consciously, Ignis raised his free hand to where he judged Alcuin's head would be and stroked his hair.

It was soft, and longer than he'd expected, but Ignis did his best to ignore that. It was comfort for Alcuin, hopefully at least. "Just from what you've told me, I think the blasphemy might have been its own punishment. And I can't imagine a non-vengeful god would do this to you on top of that."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

Alcuin closed his eyes and let himself lean slightly into that touch.

"Ignis, you've been so kind to me. I... I should tell you something about myself."

He really did not think that Phryne would tell anyone about his past, nor did he expect Jack to. But he knew that it would still feel like a weight between him and Ignis, not knowing how he might react.

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

Ignsi kept stroking his hair, slow and gentle. Why not, if it seemed to be welcome? "Go ahead."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_unning]

Alcuin took a little breath and said, "I was in Naamah's service. I'm not ashamed of that, but it was still... complicated." Before Ignis could react he added hastily, "I know that cultural norms towards sex are different here. I've already worked that out. And from books I've read here, I can tell that there is a terrible stigma around..." He winced. He didn't know a better word. "Whores. But I - I do not think it is the same."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

"No, your service was religious, I think?" It was true, prostitution tended to be a profession of last resort, in Gralea almost certainly, but in Insomnia... well, the profession of last resort tended to be farming. Going outside of town, among the monsters, to grow things the wildlife may or may not allow you to harvest. "Perhaps I was sheltered or too much alone," or both, in turns, "but I see neither a reason to judge you nor a reason to let 'cultural norms' cost one of the few friends I have here."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[alcuin]

Perhaps Alcuin should be glad that Ignis could not see the relief that flooded his face. "Thank you," he said in a breath. "I did not think you would judge me, not really, but I did not want you to think I was keeping such a truth from you purposefully."

Re: Alcuin (and then Jack)

[st_eadfast]

"I understand that, and appreciate your honesty." With some regret, Ignis left off stroking Alcuin's hair. The emotional moment seemed to have passed, and continuing was just enjoying the sensation, uninvited. "Even if you had kept it to yourself, I understand."