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Post by Brynne on Feb 9, 2014 17:38:49 GMT -6
This realm was timeless. It had no beginning, no end. She supposed most other gods that came to be, whether those she knew or those that travelled elsewhere, found solace in such a concept. It described them well as beings.. It was fitting. But as Brynne stood at the balcony of a most glorious, ethereal structure of beige stone and vinery - a castle of her own floating within the wonderous clouds - with large, silken maroon curtains etched with gold lifting slowly in the catching wind at either side of the large entrance archway.. she could not help but think that perhaps it was very different for her. No, she knew it was very different. This held no weight to her shoulders. There was no lack of godhood in it - in fact, she lifted her chin only barely to the air with pride at her unique wants to measure as mortals. This realm was timeless. It had no beginning, no end. So the goddess measured in other ways. Her emerald eyes caught the light of the sun that existed in this place, a different side of the same star, shining with life and one of her 'ways'. Sadness. Yes... she measured in sadness. Though one of the most powerful measurements of all to feel within her chest, it was by far not her most favored. Yet sometimes it was necessary. Though her gaze met the clouds, her attention drew so much further.. a scene so visible, so grotesque and horrifying to her heart on the mortal world beneath in the nation she cared so abundantly for. The commanded end of an innocent life, of an honest man who'd risen from darkness to face the light and who had been seen by the eyes of 'just' forces as one guilty of commiting acts of crime and violence. No... he had made mistakes, he had stumbled, but he was not the one that deserved his tied hands to a post and the bullets in his chest. By brightest light, the star reached the line of the horizon, electricuting the sky with an orange burst of both life and death.. the light he would see as his last as it set further down into the sky. Brynne's hand lifted, fingers only barely clutching at the pure white tunic above her heart. How it ached so... ached for him, cried for him. She could do nothing but measure - measure his sadness, his despair, his fear. Within her ears she could hear it. Her eyes could see it, her nose could smell the very horror rising from his skin and panting from his lungs... Until they breathed no longer... The darkness did not suit him. Justice did him wrong; and she was no goddess of mistrial. This man, this golden heart covered by the soot of others' lies and deceit, would serve her so well. And so the second chance would be his to have. He understood the pain of love and fear alike. To adore a people as she did that he did not strike against them in their verdict. This would be her speaker.. A mortal man remade. As his heart stopped beating within his chest and his lids shut to the fading sun, sky now dead in its pale navy, his skin chilling in the air - her hand lifted from her heart over the balcony railing and reached for his soul. The closer it became, the warmer her fingers grew until she held it in the palm of her hand. A very rare and sorrow'd tear fell from the side of one of her bright eyes and down her cheek - mourning his loss and celebrating his salvation all-in-one. "..Oh... my treasured child.. Now? I will measure you in life."Her palm opened to the floor, soul dropping against the marble that decorated her balcony, and she lifted her fingers to pull it upwards in length with new form. And thus, his second life was beginning. |
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Post by Grayson on Feb 9, 2014 22:23:10 GMT -6
This wasn't fair. Maybe it was to the families of the dead and beaten guards, seeing those deemed responsible for what they had done punished. His eyes flitted over faces before him. This wasn't fair for him. He hadn't touched either of the patrol guards, and he definitely hadn't been the one to pull the trigger and take a life. That wasn't something he would ever do. It wasn't in his nature to kill. He knew he had made a lot of mistakes in his life. It wasn't easy to grow up in an orphanage only to decide that living on the streets of Hyrst was better than the orphanage.
Grayson's arms were arching, the ropes cutting into his wrists. He turned his head, bright eyes landing on the two others bound and restrained along with him. He was guilty by association, sentenced to death because he had been there. He had surrendered immediately. Just had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He shouldn't have taken the job in the first place. Grayson's gaze found Flynn, and anger flashed in his blue eyes as he looked away, staring at the ground at his feet instead. Flynn was the one who had gotten him the job, and then had denied having anything to do with the crime. He could have helped him. Flynn could have gotten him out of prison, off of death row. But he didn't. And for the first time in his life, Grayson felt a burning hatred towards the man who betrayed him.
The leader of the squad stepped forward, gaining Grayson's attention. Even though he was much taller than the other, Grayson felt so small as hoods were placed over the heads of the other two men. Grayson stood up taller, pulling away as the squad leader approached him. He wasn't guilty; he wasn't going to hide. The squad leader sneered at him but complied. Grayson kept his eyes on the leader as he returned to the firing squad.
He was shaking, wishing that there was something that he could say to save himself, but there was nothing. He left an impression on one of the men in uniform, however, when he had refused the hood. "Just close your eyes, kid. This won't hurt a bit." Grayson's eyebrows came together and he shook his head ever so slightly, the movement barely noticeable. Taking a deep breath, Grayson was thankful that his legs were still holding him up. He shifted, applying more pressure on the rope around his wrists, the pain shooting up his arms. Staring ahead, Grayson exhaled as the firing squad pulled the triggers.
The two bullets entered his chest at the same time; one tearing through a lung while the second lodged itself in his sternum between two ribs. Neither were killing shots, and Grayson dropped to his knees, struggling to breathe. The firing squad reloaded, and fired again. This time, the shots rang true, one striking his heart center and the other hitting the top of the already damaged lung. Now it was near impossible for him to breathe. Left lung destroyed, heart punctured, the only thing keeping Grayson upright was the wooden post behind him. His body sagged against the post, blue eyes wide and staring straight ahead. A convulsion ran down his spine causing his body to shudder. His eyes fluttered shut, and he attempted to take another breath but was unsuccessful.
It didn't take long for the life to leave his body. No more pain, no more injustice. Only darkness. And he found this darkness frightening. He was lost, and alone, disposable in life and now abandoned in death.
...oh ...my treasured child.. The voice surrounded him, enveloping him in unknown yet familiar warmth. Grayson didn't understand, what was this? Now? I will measure you in life. Grayson felt his body contort, pain shooting through his core and his limbs.
The first thing he noticed was how dark it was, how very alone he felt. Then light spilled into his field of view, his bright blue eyes adjusting quickly to this light. He saw a woman in white, and she was beautiful. "Who are you?"
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Post by Brynne on Feb 9, 2014 23:45:45 GMT -6
'Who are you'.Many things. Few things. One thing. All things. That was a very difficult question to ask... and so human. She, however, saw no fault in this and it caused her to smile only barely. With a tender hand she cupped his cheek - touch like silk - and began to search the fogs of his mind. His death had taken many memories from him.. memories that were broken and missing, shattered, untied, dead-ended. It was dangerous. He would only grow with pain and questions of confusion. It would harm him.. and she wanted only to heal his spirit. By unseen powers, the fog of memories lifted and started anew. "I am The Protector. I am born of the thundering stone," she reassured, lifting her other hand to cup his other cheek and pull his head forward to place a loving kiss upon his forehead. With the touch of her lips - a life would bloom with immediate resonance into his being. His skin and bones fit together, healing all as one with the reversal of time... and becoming immortal in frozen and timeless states - just as this realm. Just as her. He would retain the knowledge of his skills with new ones gained as well. She bestowed upon him the talents necessary to protect her people---.. no.. --- their people with great haste and other worldly ability. The gifts of a speaker. Her speaker. Her right-hand, her partner, her ally, her friend... her family. For in him was a part of her. The empty pieces of what once made him mortal filled with pieces and fragments of her own spirit. And now... to see how quickly his mind was healing. Brynne put her hands on his shoulders and stepped back to hold him at arms' length. "I know you. I have you. You are home. Tell me... do you yet know your name again?"
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Post by Grayson on Feb 10, 2014 22:10:33 GMT -6
I am The Protector. I am born of the thundering stone. The hand on his cheek was comforting, the faint whisper of a smile on the woman in white's lips sparked something deep within him. He thought about her words, mind spinning, trying to comprehend what she was telling him. "What do you protect?" he asked, hearing his own voice for the first time, even though he had spoken only moments before. He didn't remember anything, only the darkness and then the light of the woman in white. "What is a thundering stone?"
Pain played along the edges of his mind, and he became aware of a crippling ache in his chest. He put a hand to his torso just as the woman in white brought her other hand up to his face, looking at him intently. He couldn't look away, even if he wanted to, he was certain it was impossible. Brynne. The name came to him, from the corners of his mind, of this space, of everything. She was Brynne. Her lips made contact with his skin, and everything vanished, the pain, the fear, everything. He remained in her presence. It was as if something had shocked him, an electrical current running throughout his body, from his head down to his feet. But it wasn't painful...just...different. Unknown.
Looking down, he saw his body, flawless, painless, and absolutely perfect. Just like her. He rose his eyes to meet hers. He knew things, he knew how to do things. He didn't know where this knowledge came from, but he didn't question it. Not now. He blinked as the woman in white stepped away from him, putting distance between the two of them but still remaining connected with her hands on his shoulders. I know you. I have you. You are home. He simply nodded. This was home. Wherever she was, that was home. She had him, he was safe in her presence. Then she asked him something. Tell me... do you yet know your name again? He looked away, thinking, searching the depths of his shallow memory for anything that he could use as identification. A panicked look crossed his face when he came up empty. Who was he? His breathing quickened, growing short and sporadic as he stood there, ashamed that he didn't know who he was. The only movement from him was the slow shaking of his head. "No," he said after some time. "I don't know."
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Post by Brynne on Feb 10, 2014 22:56:10 GMT -6
Within her hands she could feel the life take away his death, measuring again in a different way. There was no mortal word for the feelings she could sense with this - the journey of his recreation. A warmth of happiness filled her chest at the notice that his pain had lifted free of him and away out of her place - unwelcome here in her presence.
Brynne smiled so thankfully to the lack of darkness within him, the void that was filled with her light and the light of this new life. All that was dirtied, all that was fear and pain, all that was unjust... it fled him like free-flying birds that rushed away in droves from the sounds of an oncoming hunter. She was that hunter. Destroyer of the shadows unworthy of her children.
His questions were expected until she'd filled the holes within him, simply happy that he was in health once more. His mortal memories that she had allowed to stay - the ones that wouldn't harm him - would come soon.. His name, the fact that he had been born elsewhere but that he was now born of her. That she had given him the powers to become a speaker.
His nervous breath made her brows slightly furrow and her heart ache with worry. He was scared.. he was frightened. Confused. She leaned in closer at the shaking of his head and declaration that he hadn't the slightest clue, and gave him a tight and gentle hug.
"Shhh... hush. Hush... all is well. I have you. You are home," she repeated, resting there a moment to calm him in her embrace with a hand to the back of his head - even as he slightly towered above her. "You know who you are- I know you do.." Brynne whispered into his ear, speeding up the time of his mind's train of thought. "You know what you are.." another reminder, a call to her speaker, commanding the healing process within his head by her grace. "And you are safe."
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Post by Grayson on Feb 15, 2014 20:47:39 GMT -6
Things slowly crept into his mind, and he didn't know what to do with the new information. It was as if he had learned an entire lifetime of skills in a matter of moments. The specs for various weapons went through his mind, even though he had no idea what they were. He knew them, but at the same time he didn't. It was overwhelming and he felt like his legs wouldn't hold him up for much longer.
You know who you are - I know you do. You know what you are. He listened to her words, finding her voice soothing,
"Grayson," he whispered quietly as he bent some to be able to rest his forehead on the woman in white's shoulder. "That's my name. Grayson. And you're Brynne. ...right?" he wanted to make sure that he was right. He wanted to know, he needed to know. Something in him told him that he was right, that the names were correct. But he had to be sure. "And what do you want me to do?" His words were slow, spaced out in thought and chosen carefully. "Please explain, so that I know."
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Post by Brynne on Feb 19, 2014 13:08:47 GMT -6
A warm sense of wholeness filled her heart when the man, her child, set his forehead upon her shoulder for comfort. She could feel how fast his mind was moving and forming. It must be difficult for him.. Even with her godhood, she couldn't imagine how it must have felt to a mortal man to be gifted with her grace and immortality. Her own light. Her own life. "Grayson. That's my name. Grayson. And you're Brynne. ...right?" "That is right," she nodded softly against him, putting a hand to the back of his head and running her fingers through his thick hair. "That is your name.. and Brynne is mine."The man took a moment to think, comprehending all of the information that flooded through his mind. The facts and knowledge were already perfectly organized and were filing themselves to his memory for future use.
"And what do you want me to do? Please explain, so that I know." "Of course.." she smiled kindly and took a slow step back from him - sure to keep a hand on his shoulder to ensure that she wasn't going anywhere far - and guided him towards the balcony's edge. "Look down. Far past what your eyes can see," she told him - allowing him to feel and see the people of Hryst in the world below as she did. "They are our's. We will protect them together. I will tell you how.." her head barely nodded, white strands dancing in the small breeze and falling gently back down to her shoulders as she looked over to him. "Do you understand, Grayson?" |
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Post by Grayson on Mar 3, 2014 13:32:19 GMT -6
The woman in white confirmed what he had said, that he was in fact Grayson, and that she was Brynne. He looked away from her, eyes not focusing on anything as he tried to think about what that meant to him. What having a name meant to someone. Sure, it was a form of identification, but what else? Especially when he didn't know anything else about himself. He had been created for a specific purpose, he was sure. But what purpose? The fingers through his hair brought his bright blue eyes back onto Brynne, flitting away and watching the strands of her hair blow in the gentle breeze.
She explained his job to him, telling him to look over the edge of the balcony. When he did, he saw hundreds, maybe even thousands of people. They are ours. We will protect them together. I will tell you how.
He nodded when she asked him if he understood. Keep the people safe - that seemed like quite the burden to give to a man who hadn't known his own name until about five minutes ago. How would he be able to do that?
Why had she chosen him? What made him so special? Had she simply spoke him into being, or was he one of them? One of the ones that she commanded him to protect...he couldn't help but wonder if he had been alive before.
[[OOC: You can end it. I've got nothing else really.]]
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