< Mango Soda | Logs | Fighting Ahlat >
venus{A} looks up, "So.. what now?"
Serpent "I think we knock on the door."
Autumn{v} is dressed like a Marukani cowboy, with spurs on his long leather boots and knocks on the door to the Bull God's large manor in Yu-Shan. "Helloooo! We're here to see the guy with the horns! (which I'm sure are totally not about what his brides do behind his back!)"
venus{A} looks up at the door. "Oh... well. Here goes." She makes sure her bow is seated properly across her back, and fingers her spear, taking a deep breath. She knocks on the door.
Autumn{v} looks at Serpent and Vee, "Don't worry, I am not going to embarass you in there."
pigeon There is no immediate reply.
Serpent tilts his head to the side, blinks at Autumn, and adjusts his crown of rusty iron swords.
Serpent "Damn thing keeps slipping..."
Autumn{v} picks the big ring and strikes louder at the door. His castemark shines. "We are Chosen of Fate, Venus and Saturn here to meet Ahlat and discuss an important topic with him. One would hope for his Serenity. Now open up."
pigeon The door finally creaks open and a butler-god sticks his head out, divine brow creased in irritation. "The Master is not at home today, sir. Would you care to leave your card?"
venus{A} is wearing crimson and crystal armor that refracts the light into multiple rainbows as she moves, her cocoa skin showing through in an ever-changing kaleidoscope that intrigues while simultaneously hiding. There is a stylized circle with two sweeping horns done in gold on her chest, and rubies and the occasional sapphire highlight her form.
Autumn{v} "My good butler! Of course I will not leave my card!" He pushes the door open and strides in, patting the man on the face! "We are here to meet the grand bull god, and if he is not here, we will wait for him, and it shall be a great honor!"
Serpent hands the butler a card and at the same time, slips him a few glittering orbs of Ambrosia. "When the mater arrives you may announce us in this manner."
pigeon The butler looks impressed despite himself, weighing the visitors anew. He handles the card with a solemn air, raising an eyebrow, and heads back into the depths of the manse, leaving the party in the foyer.
Autumn{v} snaps his fingers and walks in, dancing to the music of the snapping, "See? We are good at first impressions." He nods, then looks over his shoulder at Serpent... "Good one with the Ambrosia, too!"
Serpent The card is a sliver of yellow...something translucent and springy, reading in neat script, "Elora and Co., Convention Concerning the Elemental Pole of Earth, Excellent Destiny Maintenance & Catering."
Serpent "Please Consider us for your Next Festive Occasion."
venus{A} has pulled herself together, reminding herself of all the occasions back on Creation where she was actually the best fighter around, and that she has won many battles, and slain enemies (or at least knocked them out.)
Autumn{v} "So, do we start by raiding his cellar or banging his brides?"
venus{A} "What? Why would you do that?"
Autumn{v} "We need to do something while we wait!"
venus{A} "I..guess."
pigeon A perhaps unexpected tromping, as of enormous hooves, resounds from the central staircase.
Autumn{v} looks up
venus{A} stands, trying to radiate strength and confidence, and hide her shaking knees. She awaits his entrance.
Ahlat , the Bull God, the God of War, descends the staircase, resplendent in jade and silk. He surveys the gathered visitors with confidence and disinterest.
Ahlat "You wish to see me?"
Serpent "I guess. You Ahlat?"
Ahlat "I have that honor. You are Elora?"
Serpent "I...am."
venus{A} steps forward, and bows, dropping to one knee. "Ahlat, my Father, I have come to seek your blessing."
Autumn{v} tips his cowboy hat to the God. "We did, yes. And I am Smiling Autumn! We come here to you with a message from fa..." And venus speaks "... that being that! Congratulations!"
Autumn{v} There is something in his words, and his scarves that float about Venus, highlighting the crystal... the power, the pride. He should be congratulated by having a daughter so might, puissant and beautiful, shouldn't he?
Ahlat surveys the kneeling woman before him with a cold dispassion, suddenly tempered by a certain admiration, then speaks.
Ahlat "And what blessing do you seek of mine, O warrior woman?"
venus{A} "I wish to be recognized as your daughter, and take the Strength of the Bull with me wherever I go. I will bring the Glory of Ahlat to the world with my deeds."
Ahlat There is a pause.
Ahlat "You ask much, woman. You may be powerful of arm, but I hesitate to grant my strength and my standard to those who do not worship me."
Autumn{v} "If you have doubts about it, Ahlat, then see her strength. See her use the bow and hunt your game as it is her birthright. See her use the spear and knock aside a bride of yours', as is her birthright! See her manners as one of your daughters, and her poise before armies! Set the challenges and witness as she walts through them!"
venus{A} sputters, "I have worshipped you for years! Ever since I found out who you were." She silently curses Elora.
Ahlat "Years? I have not heard your prayers."
Ahlat looks to Autumn, weighing his thoughts, and nods.
venus{A} "I..prayed, like they taught me."
Ahlat "Will you, then, prove your worth to me, O warrior woman?"
venus{A} "I will," she says, eagerly.
Autumn{v} pokes Serpent on the shoulder, "Come here, Elora, I got to have a word... let us give them a moment of fraternal bonding, shall we?" He says, dragging serpent!
Ahlat "Then come with me." He opens the Chiaroscuran doors that lead out onto the grounds, and proceeds outwards.
venus{A} follows Ahlat, keeping her shoulders straight and fingering her spear again.
Ahlat Behind Ahlat's manse, an enormous coliseum descends into the ground, the floor covered with sand of black, white and gold.
Ahlat Ahlat proceeds into the royal box, gesturing towards the floor with a pointed glance at Venus.
venus{A} swallows, and proceeds to the center of the ring. She bows to Ahlat, and awaits her trial
Serpent gets dragged along
Autumn{v} "That thing you did with Elora. Private talk. Can you do it with me?"
Serpent shrugs eloquently. =I guess.=
Autumn{v} snaps his fingers in reply =Good! So, we'd better rig Fate for our dear. I can count on you?=
Serpent =More or less.=
Serpent =I mean, yes.= Serpent makes a dismissive wave.
Autumn{v} walks a little out of Ahlat's sight, and takes a blank, glossy azure paper out of his Green Jade prayer strip case! Blue light explodes about him, and he touches ink... the same ink he used the first day he met Venus. The one he put back from her face. Their fluids, their blood, blue ink consecrated to venus.
Autumn{v} And quickly he wrote, a petition to Her... she who understands Lovers. She who understands Households. Move the Star of the Little Venus, Named-After-Her, On-Her-Honor, she whose every sigh and whimper was dedicated to Serenity... so she shines bright before her father, may Serenity conquer War! Let the Venus of Autumn conquer the Bull!
Autumn{v} And then, he gives it to Serpent. =Sign up for it, then!=
Autumn{v} ... gives it to serpent with a grand gesture!
Serpent scrawls six names on the prayer strip.
Serpent scratches his chin. "Wait." He pours white sand on the names and brushes them away, and then, with his good writing brush, writes his/her six names properly, each one linked into the other like a fragment of chain mail.
Autumn{v} smiles, a smile that says it all ==We fucking rule, Serpent==
Ahlat Ahlat gazes down upon the twinkling sands, serene.
Ahlat He raises one hand, and the north gate opens -- and an enormous Haltan bull, three hundred pounds of pure rage, charges out of the enclosure it has just been freed from, making straight for Harmony.
Autumn{v} looks up at the stars from the window... the light of the sun and the moon on the dome, and reaches up, plucking a handful of his fate and light. And then he walks back, juggling invisible strands on his hand, the fate of the Venus of Autumn. He struts back into the room, clicking his spurs, and in a second where Ahlat looks at the Bulls, a playing swat strikes Venus' back. "Fate got you, baby. Go forth and kick a
venus{A} spins to face the bull, and grits her teeth, setting the spear to take the brunt of his charge. Her blood sings in her ears, and she bellows a challenge at the creature!
Autumn{v} "Fate got you, baby. Go forth and kick ass in her name!"
venus{A} sways for a second as something strange comes over her. She blinks, and suddenly Ahlat doesn't seem so intimidating after all. She stands taller, prouder, and every detail about her, from her breathtaking looks, to the way she holds her weapon is somehow more impressive. More warlike. Exactly what Ahlat looks for.
Ahlat raises an eyebrow in surprise.
venus{A} can't tell if the thunder in her ears is the hooves, or her heartbeat as she thrusts the spear into the bull's neck, feeling the ground tremble beneath her feet as she leaps out of the way.
Ahlat The spear rips through the bull's flesh, and it snorts, even more enraged, as it attempts to set its horns to -- and through -- Harmony's body.
venus{A} is well practiced at avoiding "horns", and twists away sideways, leaping an impressive distance away, as she pulls her bow from her back, already strung and ready.
venus{A} glances up at Ahlat for a second to make sure He's watching as she fluidly nocks an arrow to her bowstring, takes two heartbeats to sight it on the Bull's eye, and releases.
venus{A} grins at the Bull's thunderous approach and a second arrow follows the first before he has crossed the distance between them.
Ahlat The arrows sink into the Bull without slowing him down.
venus{A} turns so the sunlight catches the rubies, flashing red into the Bull's eyes as he runs towards her, and she dives away again, laughing with exhiliaration.
Serpent claps politely.
Autumn{v} claps, jumps up from his seat!
venus{A} grins at Serpent, and gives Autumn a special smile, and a wink, slipping behind the bull to fire at it from behind. She looks more beautiful than ever, full of confidence and life, as if she were born to fight - and indeed she was. An arrow is drawn, and again, flies towards the bull's thick hide.
venus{A} shouts as the bull stumbles to his knees, and falls, the momentum of several tons of meat plowing a deep furrow into the ground for several yards. She looks startled for a second, then grins, and turns to Ahlat, an arrow pointing directly at him. "Father, have I proven my worth yet?" She releases the arrow and it buries itself in the ground at his feet.
Ahlat "I have no daughters. But I would be honored to call you my Bride."
venus{A} considers for a bit, before dropping back to one knee and answering, "You do me a great honor, Ahlat, but I cannot stay here. I have work to do elsewhere." she touches her collar, "And I am sworn to another."
Ahlat furrows his great brow. "Why, then, did you come?"
venus{A} "I needed to prove myself to you. And to myself. I ask a boon of you, that you will raise me up. Make me stronger, so that I can help to save the world from all that stand against it."
Ahlat "Stronger?"
Ahlat "You have won my respect, and my home is open to you if you should choose to worship."
Ahlat "Anything else you desire, you must win in battle."
venus{A} nods, and bows to him. "I will return when the battles are won then."
Ahlat "If you prefer, you may face me now, and take what you wish."
Ahlat stands up, the royal box creaking unsteadily.
venus{A} rises, glancing over at her companions, then back at Ahlat. "Then, enter the ring."
Autumn{v} "A moment!" He raises his hand! "I must discuss something with venus first. I am sure your fight can wait for a moment, mighty god of war!"
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