mythopoeics

This again...Hmm...At least I know myself this time.

Hmmm...Theseuuusss? Where are you? My clothes are different. I asked someone where I could get different clothes. No one seemed to have any ideas...

All of my dresses are yellow and red and orange. Who gave me these dresses? Who decided these colors? I think it was meant to torture me. Torture me with colors of daytime when all I want are blues and silvers and dark purples.

Also floral print everywhere. I don't want all these flowers. I have boob flowers...

[It came out of no where, zipping past his hands while he had been writing. He'd jumped up with a curse and looked for what he had presumed was some bug that didn't know it was too chilly to be playing like it was still a summer night. And then he saw it, something curiously orange (it was the night) and one of his highlighters. Before he could even get out the words 'don't you dare', it made a mad dash and streaked his papers with the bright yellow. It moved so quickly that he resorted to picking up a book and waving it without real hope or aim. When he heard the satisfying 'thwap' against the book and saw the body sail across the table, he felt the tension leave him.

Until he saw it get up and turn red.]

I'm officially a crazy person to say this but I've got a fairy in here. And it's really, really mad. And I'm not going to lie, I'm in my locked bedroom now and I think it's trying to break in. Or just wreck the place. It already tried to stab me with one of my pens.

Someone tell me I'm not actually awake. No, if this is a dream that my dream might have someone tell me I'm not awake. Or that I am. I don't trust my brain. I don't trust this place. I don't

I don't have a fucking clue what to do.

[Filter: Percival]

Please tell me you're alive.

[Filter: Galahad]

Baby, I love you, I do, but mommy's going to lose her mind now. Look away. LOOK AWAY.

[Filter: Public]

I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO COPE WITH THIS RIGHT NOW
I AM MARRIED TO A MAN WHO DOES NOT LIKE ME BUT LLIKED ME
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN
THREE IF I DO NOT GO HOME SOON


WHAT IF I GO HOME LIKE THIS? OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD




I can't even DRINK. This is hell. This is hell, isn't it? Trying to breathe now. BREATHING NOW. ALL THE BREATHING TECHNIQUES. ALL OF THEM.

[Some moments were just priceless. His Admiral, with aid from the Babylonian Marshal and their men, had come through for him. For Ryugu-jo. It was something not to be forgotten in the long run. Soon, he would have that wretched girl back and then he would show everyone why you could not wrong the Ryugunese.]

[Filter: Current Citizens of Ryugu-jo]

The princess and the man who aided her escape have been caught. Expect the trials this week as well as punishment. We will not drag this out.

[Filter: Current Leaders of the World]

The job is done. Any Ryugunese military will be pulling out of Babylon immediately. We thank you for your absolute support.

( it was a brief brilliant miracle dive )

[Filter: Athena]

What are the front reports?

[Filter: Selene]

My socks are missing.

[Filter: Soldiers of Iriy & high ranks]

I know that for a long time a few of us saw this war as a possibility, but it is now a reality. In this following conflict, no death is meaningless, each one is a sacrifice to bring a better future to Iriy, free from the threat of Niflheim.


May God give us the strength to face our enemies and defend out region.

[Filter: Athena]

I'm still not very good at speeches.

[Filter: leaders + high ranks of every region]

I feel it should be known to all that the body was not that of my daughter as rumours say. I have been informed by one of my men that he has spoken to my daughter and she lives. She is just incredibly thoughtless, however, but I suppose that is no grand surprise. The fact there appears to be another woman missing, however, is strange but could be entirely unconnected. Just a point.

Morpheus, please retrieve the body regardless. If she was a Ryugunese woman, we'll still have her properly buried.

Camelot, you have my sympathies on your recent troubles.

[He refrains from saying that the death of one of Heimdall's family members would not have been so bad. The man could care less how that made him sound.]

[It had been slightly belated but he had seen the post and had reacted less than elegantly. Something expensive had been shattered, words highly unpleasant had been spat out and, on his way out of the room, someone had been roughly pushed aside.

His daughter's death belonged to him - if that was her. If. He loathed the mystery and loathed more than if it was not his daughter that she had said nothing at all to assuage the concern. But, then, he knew her to be deeply selfish already and that she was more focused on living out some romantic life with that fucking Camelotian than worrying about the feelings of her father.]

[Filter: Iriyian & Babylonian High Ranks + their leaders (visible to Ryugunese High Ranks)]

If that is my daughter's body, I want I would like to have it. In fact, if it would not be a burden, I would prefer to obtain the body regardless of who it may be. I can send one of my men to examine and return with the body.

Thank you.

[Filter: Fuujin]

Do not come near me until I say so.

[Filter: Sigyn]

If you
No.

[Filter: Mordred]

Old friend.

[Filter: Set]

Marshal, as per our discussion, my army will be moving across the border to engage Niflheim.

[Filter: Eve]

Are you well?


[Filter: Percival]

[Filter: Iriy high ranks]

We will cross the border with Babylon and keep south, until we engage Niflheim.

A question: if the loss of one life stops the loss of a great many lives, does that make the first death acceptable?

Obviously there are no right answers, but I'm interested to hear what all of you think, and more importantly why. I'm not even sure where I stand.

[ filter; iriyian soldiers & high-ranks ]
There is no forgiveness for anyone who has wronged us as we've been wronged. War once was simply an option, but now it's become our only solution. We will show no mercy to those who would not return the same courtesy.

[ filter; hera and lilith ]
We'll be in Iriy by tomorrow morning. How has Iriy fared in our absence?

[ filter; ares ]
I'm returning with the Czar in the morning.

[ filter; angrboda ]
Behaving?

[There is no denying that Galahad has been under a lot of stress, preparing the borders, soldiers and what not. Keeping an eye on things- and despite all of this he has never been a careless man. He doesn't misplace his things - from his guns to his boots. Nothing is ever misplaced.

The first few times could be chalked up to coincidence. Accident. Carelessness.

However by now, Galahad is starting to feel a little bit suspicious. He doesn't have much time to get to the heart of the matter, and he's not particularly amused, what if he runs out? Impossible to have the monarch of a kingdom running out of something as trivial as this.

And yet...

Who was taking all of his socks?]

I've been enjoying my job lately, the family who I nanny for has two lovely children who both have been rather enthusiastic about the games I've introduced them to. The boy is at that age where he enjoys seeing the soldiers, and has spent more than a few hours telling me all about how one day he'll be one of them. The girl just wants to be a princess.

At least the weather has been nice, for what it's worth.

Ah, the life of the Queens' consort can be so busy. People may not believe that, but I'm far more than just a pretty face. I wield a mean broadsword as well if I need to.

Then there's my diplomatic duties, such as visiting my beloved sister and her family. I sometimes imagine what I'd be like as a father, but with the Queen being so busy that could simply be the pipe dreams of a feverish mind. I must say, I am an excellent uncle, as my twin can attest to. It's a point of pride, truly.

Now then, what shall I do with myself today?

[Filter: Iriyian high ranks]

The Emperor of Ryugu-jo and I are negotiating. While, I would much rather fight Niflheim head-on without any aid, it would be foolish to think that could work, especially with Camelot who may interfere on behalf of Niflheim.

Your opinions?

[Filter: Eve]

Are you well?

[Iriy or Niflheim? Both had advantages and disadvantages. With Niflheim at his side, they could be unstoppable. They could have Iriyian oil and other resources by force and even its land. However, history considered, Niflheim may not want any of Iriy to be handed over to them.

If that were the case, he would favour Iriy, the land that had a Czar who offered them oil and a chance to be the top power if victory was theirs. Land as well plus the unwavering word of support. Ryujin still turned his nose up at the other but Ryugu-jo needed support badly if Camelot was to be as firm on not handing over the man responsible for all this mess.

They could carry the blame for the many lives hurt when there could have only been one.]

[Filter: Kaiserin of Niflheim]

A moment of your time, Kaiserin. I would like to speak with you about a pressing matter of mine.

[Filter: Czar of Iriy]

We'll need a few more days. But tell me something. You spoke of land before. Whose land would you offer to me if there was victory?

[Filter: Emperor Ryujin]

May we speak?

There's very little like going for a ride to get one's blood pumping in the mornings. And to think, there are some who feel our weather would never be conducive to such activities. Shows what they know.

[PRIVATE]
All this waiting around is making me want to kill someone.

[PRIVATE; GALAHAD]
Being that my position and temperament does not allow me much involvement in whatever talks may be going on, I would like to ride out to the border and check on the men. If you require nothing more of me, of course.

[PRIVATE; APHRODITE]
Are you busy tonight?

[filter; isis]
Chancellor, it is urgent that we speak. Athena, of Iriy.

[filter; angrboda]
Flipped any tables today, sister?


EDIT, AFTER ISIS
[filter; galahad]
I have spoken with the Chancellor, but she must appeal to her Sultan before any decisions can be made.

[Filter: Iriy; high ranks]

Camelot has given no signs of getting involved. Do we know where Babylon stands? There will be no choice but to put a final end to this. Till either me or her is dead

They will move soon, our winters are harsh and we know how to move better in those conditions. However, whatever- whenever - it happens, our response must be swift and decisive.

Drawing them in and then cutting the supply lines when they're too far in. Then we kill them all.

[Filter: Medb]

You should stop this before there is no way back.

Free day! That's what I'm talking about. Seriously, one more day chopping up wood without rest and I'd have to go insane. Wacko. In short of one's mental abilities :( it'd just be bad. Then I would definitely be unable to work and no money would come home.

But then free day comes and what do I do?

Play with the neighbor's kids.

:( I think I might be taken too easily by those...

Theseus...someone left the butter on the counter again...oh wait. That might have been me. Nevermind

I think I finally found the right fabric for these curtains. I have a visit to make I tested quite a few before I found it, though. I might have made a mess...

[She'd moved on from Rome. Her children alive and well was all that mattered in the end and she could forget what happened, that Merlin had been her child. What an offense thing to do, to relate her to that monster. No matter how he manipulated and wove his little spells, he was nothing more than a nasty man.

Sophie had been given her evening bath and had been sent off to bed before Morgause tended to herself with a long cool shower. Flipping wet hair over one shoulder, she sat down at her computer, nails lightly clicking against the surface. There was someone she wanted to speak with but how to open to him the right way was eluding her.

Finally, she decided to just do it.]

[Filter: Galahad]

I wonder if it's at all surprising to hear from me for you.

It's a little disheartening to realize how much I've missed normalcy.

[filter; family]
Are we all safely home, now?

[filter; galahad]
...how are you?

[filter; gwynevere]
I know this might seem strange, but I'm sorry.

[Words couldn't begin to describe the emotions that swelled in Percival upon waking up in a strange bed in a strange room that wasn't the arena. He was alive. He was alive. Suddenly nothing seemed more important to him than feeling for his wounds, establishing just how alive he really was.

Alive and well. Stitched up, it seemed, but he could breathe, he could move.

And then the memories of the arena dawned on him. Fighting Galahad. Kissing and being kissed by Galahad. Being stabbed. Too much, way too much. He needed to speak with him. Now.]

[ txt to galahad ]
where are you?

[ filter; public ]
i don't even know what to say.

[Filter: Percival]

I'm sorry.

[Filter: Elaine]

I really need to talk to someone-

[Filter: Lancelot]

Father what would you do-

[Filter: Mordred]

What would you do?

[Filter: Private]

Maybe if I pray hard enough, this time He will hear-

[Filter: Lancelot]

Mother is now my sister. Percival is- well-

Father.

[Filter: Morgause]

Mom? - Mo- Lady-

[Filter: Mordred]

Do you know how disturbing it is that you own me- I think your current wife is a-

[Filter: Elaine]

If I ask you to go away that makes me a poor son but I-

[Filter: Public]

That is some nice weather we're having.

Weeks like these make me glad I put a cot in the back of the pub.

[filter; private]
It was swell for the first few days but I can't fool myself into thinking any of that is real.

[It had been a nightmare from the beginning, reflecting everything that Galahad had never wanted to face. Reflecting a yearning for things he shouldn't. Love, praise, family- it felt like an indulgence. A weakness. The perfect knight could only want one thing, the Grail.

Yet that was also there, resting on his mantlepiece as if it had never been anywhere else. His mother and his father loved him, praised him and knew him. Mordred was happy, contently reading on his couch.

And Percival...

Percival was affectionate and warm; he touched him. He could touch and touch back, until it stopped being Galahad and Percival but just them.]

Seconding what Echo said -- this was nice until it got real weird. Having so many people around after a couple of days is kinda strange. They never leave, either.

[filter; galahad]
You're here, too.

Good thing about working in a pub? They think it's all bar tricks.

Until someone spits out a frog.


[filter; arthur]
I think the time it's about time we talked.

[filter; galahad]
Want to do something with your old man one of these days? Horseback riding is probably out of the question until this bullshit clears up but I'd like to spend some father-son time with you.

[filter; gwynevere]
Still like archery?

[ Galahad didn't much want to get involved with Elaine, but his duty dictated that he ought to at least go check on her. The fact that she had been lacking as a mother did not mean he should be lacking as a son- that would be something that would be on his concience. He didn't want to sin when being a son should not be a chore.

It was though.

He knocked twice on the door (rapping the wood with his knuckles to avoid doing something to the door) of the address he had committed to memory and waited.

Nothing was allowed to be touched unless she wanted another snapping turtle on her hands. Elaine was doing better, truth be told, but she was still deeply frustrated because going to work was impossible. And then Hermes had come along and said the wrong things at first and she felt not shame but annoyance.

And when the knock on the door came, Baldric yipped, Rhett lifted his head to observe and Elaine went to the door. Once seeing who it was through the peep hole she took a step back. And before touching anything, she took several deep breaths and then swiftly unlocked it, yanking it open.

"I didn't expect you."

Galahad tilted his head a little, betraying that he was a little bit confused as that sort of greeting but said nothing of what he was actually thinking. "No, I suppose not. I was merely passing by to see if you were doing fine. To see if you required something." Nothing more than a duty of a son to his (somewhat deranged) mother.

Galahad didn't seemed annoyed at having to do this, he might have felt so but his duty had never been something that annoyed him. Doing things out of duty was too natural for him.

Deranged was just a flavour she could provide. ...not that it was a good thing. She knew that. She nodded to his reply and took a step back, her nerves threatening to overtake her. Elaine wasn't a fool about what the state of her relationship was with her son. She had something to accomplish and she did. Then it was all on him to do what he was meant to do. That was the way it was. No warm fuzzies, no coddling or sweet tuck-ins at night. She was his container and he the answer to their problem.

Yet sometimes, she just wanted to grab him and tell him what a fat baby he had been and it had hurt like hell getting him out. "Do you want to come in? Please? Just for a moment?"

"Sure." Galahad would not refuse most of the requests his mother made of him, but he remembered now- so clearly, the loving whispers of Morgause against his brow when she came to check up on him during night. He remembered the encouragement of her words, the conviction that he was the right choice for the throne. Things not easily forgotten or dismissed. He missed being loved as a son.

"Is there anything you need?" He closed the door behind him with a nudge of his shoulder not wanting to risk anything again.

Morgause had been a true mother to her children, to all five sons. Even the one that turned on her later. Elaine could never even claim to be one-tenth that maternal. Babies were adorable but raising them...perhaps there were some good books about that somewhere.

With Galahad here and her building generally safe enough, she left the door unlocked for now. Closed was good enough. "Me? I'd like to go to work, that's all. Idleness isn't for me," she admitted. "I saw that your Bible was taken from you. I'm sorry. And I'd offer you something to drink but..." Well, they both knew why that wasn't possible.

Which would've been fine had Galahad not experienced Morgause's mothering. Now there was a bigger elephant in the room between them. "Please do not concern yourself." Politeness was always his default mode for dealing with most situations. Most. "I came to see if you required help with something, I believe I might have less trouble than you handling things." He lifted one hand, staring at his palm in thought and then curled his fingers. "If you find that acceptable."

Lord, his politeness would slay her one day. There was only so much a woman could take before she cracked a man over the head with something heavy. But today would not be that day. She nodded once more and then said, "You might end up changing something as well if you touch it so I'm not sure how much help you can give but...I think it's just nice that you came. Even for a bit."

Galahad rubbed the bridge of his nose, a sign that there was the vaguest hint of annoyance lurking. "It is no problem, I shall stay here for a little longer, in case you find something you urgently need and cannot grab yourself, yes?" He didn't really wait for a yes or no, instead he strode over to the couch and sat down. It was not a relaxed posture, he sat straight, looking at the coffee table and whatever had been left on it. Well, he had never been much of a talker in general. Now? Now it was just the same.

Except he felt like he couldn't even approach Percival without sinning. It bothered him. Galahad suppressed the urge to sigh, it wasn't like Elaine would be any comfort to him. Not then, not now, not in future.

And then Baldric attacked his shoes.]

What is this fuckery.

I meant to turn on the video but I am not going to change it over now because I'm terrified to touch anything. But tell me, am I going mad? Am I stuck in some bizarre dream or is this another game? Because I was going to go to bed when Baldric insisted he needed to go out immediately. And, annoyed, I went to get his leash.

[something is shaken and it's certainly not a leash] And that, the moment I grabbed it, turned into silk flowers! And after he took care of himself on my kitchen floor, I grabbed the mop and it turned into butterflies. Good lord, butterflies! And after that, my struggle to not screech down the whole apartment building and then ridiculous concern I had swallowed one of the butterflies, I managed to make myself tea after five tries.

[a subtle groan is offered then] Please tell me I'm not alone in this. Please tell me something is going on with everyone and I am not mad. I am not.

Please?

There are a lot of you I need to see, because I have a lot of things to say, and I don't know where to start. Words have never been my thing.

[filter; galahad]
Galahad?

[filter; echo]
Tell me you're alright.

[Some part of his brain is telling him that whatever happened in Zurvan was real and not a passing dream. It was most emphatically not a hallucination induced by Mordred slipping something into his drink at a bar. It would've perhaps been more acceptable to be drugged than the knowledge that they're playthings of a God. That whole thing sounds like fuckery. And Galahad?

(You can't even make him accept that this whole thing is actually the way it is- you really can't). He might not stab you in the eye with a hot french fry, but that does not mean the urge is lacking. Somewhere among the depth of his so-pure knightly instincts is the urge to put an end to the whole thing.

Galahad does not support this fuckery. Really, he doesn't. At all. (Most importantly) You can't make him.]

[Memory was a powerful thing.

Despite using copious amounts of alcohol to attempt to forget, the past two months were wearing on Mordred far more than he felt anyone had any right to know. Between knowing he shagged his half-brother to falling in love with Iseult, planning children and a future with her, fighting alongside Percival and Tristan, and finally down to being killed by Deiphobus, there were far too many things that even an orderly mind like his couldn't reconcile.

Daytime was filled with phantom pains from where a sword ran him through and nighttime was filled with fevered remembrances of a blonde-haired goddess among women writhing under his skillful touch - with thoughts like that plaguing his brain it was no wonder Mordred was imposing a willful insomnia on himself that was doing nothing to improve his attitude. Thoughts of what had and what could have been made him more irritable and surly than usual. Had he truly fell in love with his brothers' little piece on the side? Craved children and stability? These were questions he refused to entertain except in those moments of weakness he wished he never had.

There were very few people he hadn't snarled at in his more drunken moments, to the point where his mother had (politely, oh so politely) asked him to take his leave. The first thing he did upon making it home was to boot up his computer and stare at the screen. What to write...?]

Rumours of my demise... None of tha...

I believe there are a few people inquiring as to my whereabouts?

[Filter: Glastheim faction]

Fire and poison in our home. Before that it was murder.

I love my country, and this is what drives me to finally speak up. Coincidence that such a big mishap happened after letting a Svargan whore on the throne? I think not.

My king, your people are restless and in need of guidance.

[filtered to tristan and echo]
This morning our dog snarled at me, and so I tied him to the nearest tree to our home. He doesn't usually behave this way. Can he sense or see something that I can't?

[filter; public]
The waves and wind are stronger than usual today. I'd recommend anyone who decided on a swim today to abandon your plans.

[Filter: Morgause]

Mother.

After watching the usurping Svargan whore, she seems to share the same weakness as her father. Temptations. I will speak with Heimdall, not on this but see.

[Filter: Heimdall]

Cousin.

[Filter: Percival]

How is your stray pet?

[She is never vulgar enough to show her truest of thoughts in public. Never the sort of run her hands over the throne and not foolish enough to accidentally say the wrong thing. Or even to feign disinterest or behave as if she hadn't a thought in her head. That is equally damaging. Balance could give someone the right cover.

Morgause is effortlessly cool, minding herself with her own duties as a faction member, as aunt to the king. The silent, secret plans are not meant to obvious indicate herself or Galahad. They are meant to be fate. It wouldn't be hard at all. Heimdall now has a bride who had come in and created some displeasure. A bride from the region where his father's murderer came from supposedly.

But no one can read her mind. And in the middle of the night, she can see her son on the throne, creating a Glastheim that would surpass all regions. Even the present Glastheim. Her perfect child.]

[Filter: Galahad]

Tell me what you would have done differently. If it had been your father.

[Filter: Public]

When I was younger and unmarried, someone once came to me as asked me which of my senses I could afford to lose and which I could not. I was shocked then, considering my station and such boldness. But I suppose the question was meant to provoke thought opposed to surprise. It was a good question.

Which of your sense can you afford to lose? And which can you not?

There was a scraggly street dog who followed me home and won't seem to leave me alone. I'm going to keep him, but my sister will have to name him. I would settle for 'Scrappy' if it wasn't so obvious a name.

Nimue, I have something to give you. It isn't the dog, to be clear.

There's been a lot going on lately! I envy the people who got to go to that wedding and do all sorts of traveling. Must be nice... My brother and I mostly keep to ourselves but I know he works hard for both of us. I do what I can, but I'm not sure what I'd do if anything happened to him...

It's funny, I've finally gotten a rare moment to myself so that I could jot down some thoughts, and I can't think of a thing worth writing. Isn't that always the case?