Children Learn Lessons Well (Geist 13)
Content Warnings:
WOW! Nadine chappy time! We have sass, and walking on grass, and thinking about how everyone is kinda acting silly. Then a cutie yells at a pickled-badger and then goes through a door to say hi to an absentieee father figure and THEN meets some cuties that love her very much. WOW!
"She stepped in it again, Tiffany. Really shouldn't be surprised but I guess I assumed that Ascending would have tempered her, given her the confidence to pause and think things through instead of reacting in desperate panic." I slam the stamping die down to emphasise my irritation, the moonsliver sheet crumpling around the small formed star.
Watcher. What a stupid term. Way too easy to lead the foolish into thinking about the ones that watch. I'll stick to the term I found in the Archive.
"Do you think... I should go talk to Verbess?" I ask my love.
"I think someone should talk to it, and that someone is Miss Xafra. But... She has a busy day and won't be able to for a while." Tiffany huffs while staring out the window at the... Well not storm clouds. But something, on the horizon.
Sure feels like a bad front rolling in though.
"They really should have seen this coming, honestly..." She whispers. "The girl is a bundle of nerves today. And the Goreways were a bad idea to use before studying them more. Like giving one of the little ones a new sharp toy and being all surprised when they stab their next problem with it.”
"You're right, but not a single one of them is a functional adult. Just a bunch of emotionally stunted teenagers, despite their years. So wrapped up in everything that not even a Witch dropping from the Moon to warn them gave them pause. They need a bloody minder, love... Actually. There's a thought." I pull the star out of the press and toss it into the glass mold, before moving the sheet of moonsliver over to stamp again.
"And the only Pack members who can adult... really really don't want to." She chuckles, moving to carefully wrap about me from behind while watching my work. "But what's this thought you claim to have? Think it's the start of a good idea?”
I hold her arms around me and simply enjoy feeling her warmth while I figure out the words. "I should reach out to Jezrial. Get her to be more involved, especially with these talks. She's experienced, and has no grievances with anyone alive that we know of. A solid voice of reason to help brace these disaster lesbians.”
"That... huh. Despite herself, everyone does seem to trust her." She muses into my neck. "But she'll need a body. One like she had in life to pass any examinations or scrutiny. I'm guessing. Which will cause some uncomfortable conversations about her magic to bubble up. But... Yeah. This could be a good idea.”
"Easy enough to accommodate, honestly. If our little goddess can turn bone to shellgem and flesh to amber, she can turn living stone to flesh. The bigger worry for us at least is Infestation. Gonna need to sooth the younger ones and make sure everyone is aware that He is likely gonna be going from a passive observer to someone offering another spin at life to those here. Are you willing to work at that while I bully Jezrial?" I ask, hoping to avoid another public speech.
"Oh Lynette is going to love that." Tiffany sighs and pulls back. "She already only just let those Sun-Blessed onto the grounds. Having Him involved in her Xafra's Driftdream might... cause her to crack. At least a little. But she likes you. If you get the chance you should see if you can't poke at her to explain the limit of her tolerances. She's avoided telling anyone anything that matters, and is basically doing what Xafra's doing... but slower. And maybe stupider. I think. But I'll do the rounds and see if I can't talk through some things with the others. Sure. Had some errands to run anyway.”
"Yeah... I'll talk to her as well then if I can. Stupid girls with abandonment issues. He's Right Bloody There, You Can Talk To Him. Not like I can talk to my father anymore." I let out a scream of frustration before taking a deep breath and turning to my love. "Sorry. Lots on my mind. I guess I'll figure out how to mass produce this new currency of Xafra's after my impromptu meetings, because you know that it's going to become more valuable than Jade, as well as a source of Divinity for our goddess.”
She steps up and pulls me into another hug. This one much tighter than the other. Holds me for a while before whispering. "No need to apologize. This is... a lot. Feel free to step back and let these disasters figure out things on their own if it gets too much. Or... or come snatch me if you need some support during all that. Otherwise I'll do my rounds and come find you?”
"Sounds good. Thank you, Tiffany. I couldn't do this without you." I whisper back before giving her a quick kiss, grabbing my deadblow mallet, and striding out the door to see a wriggler about a mother.
Lining myself up with the stormfront, I close my eyes and swing the mallet forwards, cracking the distance into submission, before taking a step forwards then opening them again in front of Krahe. "Heya. Could use a favor if you have a moment.”
The girl is... tangled. In a hole mess of something. Like threads if they were made of dark sand or the empty sky. And behind her the stormfront is... weird. More like a messy painting of a storm lit up at night over shattered glass.
She's also breathing heavy, cracked to full Frame's size, like she's been dragging that storm behind her by those threads. Which… Is it even a storm? Up close it seems to calm for that. More like… if the night sky was an ocean being pulled to rise along the should of Xafra’s Driftdream?
At my words she glances up and tilts head. Quills humming and radiating sounds like what a that thing behind her should be making. "Nadine? Right? Depends on the favour. Kinda... keeping one of my little Birbs from drifting too far. But I could poke at a Sister to help out if it's urgent.”
"Need you to manifest me in the real. Gonna get y'all some help to try and stop this from happening again. We're also getting things prepared here for Infestation, which should help with Verbess' stability as well." I answer.
"Bitch tits." She grins. "It... I'm kinda snoozin' in that one's arms at the moment. Using its songs as an anchor to mine. But I got my Birb now. Just gotta keep myself planted. We can... probably... try to..."
And with a crack of Quill and Will I'm snapped from the Driftdream to stand on the grass of the grounds just inside the main exit.
"Greetings, Anchored Spirit." A voice whispers from behind me. Turn to see Infection curled about Krahe's sleeping Frame like some big snek. It's full body of Quills seeming to absorb and amplify its Sister's. "Krahe says...You should have three hundred paces from us before dissipation and your leash to the Dream tugs you back. If that is not enough, she can reach out and call for any to come to you.”
"That should be sufficient. Thanks. Oh, and if you would, give the old man a heads up about the Driftdream so He doesn't accidentally flood us this evening when you get woven in." I respond, quickly heading to the nearest Spire.
"Jezrial, You old Bitty, get yer ass down here!" I shout from the entrance.
It takes roughly two dozen heartbeats, but eventually Jezrial comes down the steps and meets me on the grass. "Nadine? What... absolute mess has led you to manifest on this side of the Driftdream and shout me from a Spire?" She asks, glancing about in confusion at the lack of Pack Sister maintaining my form.
I point to Krahe by the Estate entrance in answer to her unspoken question. "Limited range, otherwise I'd have come upstairs. Your daughter is... a delight. We all adore her. She's also at times dumber than the rocks she keeps eating.”
Jezrial raises an eyebrow at my words as her gaze settles on Krahe. "Ah. Yes. Two absent mothers will do that to a girl, as will a few decades of acute abuse. So... What flavour of ill-advised action is she up to now? And why gossip to me about it?”
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"In the last fifteen minutes, she has, in order, demonstrated divine powers to both Threshers and Envoys, destabilised the entire Driftdream, abducted a Grove Envoy, dollified said Envoy, revolutionised Dollcraft, and is about to have a Thresher friend of Rufus's as well as another Grove Envoy, who knows Elevar from her ugly days, come visit inside the Estate grounds. I strongly feel that your... guidance would be helpful in this situation.”
She blinks, then turns to me as if she means to speak, but instead only blinks again. Then takes three good heartbeats to say in a steady tone that does not match the furious spark in her eyes. "I was not even informed that these talks were happening today. Thought they'd have at least a few nights to rest and consider and plan. But... By the Mother Moon's Glaring Spite, it sounds like she's brought us all to balance dangerously between open conflict and an easy peace. Did she at least Dollify the Envoy in a way that is defensible to the Threshers?”
"They weren't supposed to start until tomorrow. Letters were thrown over the gate by the thresher captain in charge suggesting an early introduction to set minds at ease. And, that depends on what you mean by that. Currently, both the Envoy and her personal combat Dolls are about to arrive in the Estate, and the plan is to pretend they never saw them, apparently. Jezrial, it's a mess and that's just the immediate issues. She's also found one of the missing Pack sisters... Who is a Sun-blessed now, and is going to weave her into the Pack again this evening, so Tiffany is getting things prepared for that. Oh and your daughter can rip holes in reality. So that's probably going to be an issue as well." I say with exhaustion. "She needs her mother to keep her in line. Gods know Elevar does too, and you're her mother-in-law so…”
Jezrial lets out a snort. "I'll do my best to nudge Xafra into smarter motions, even Elevar if she starts to warm up to me. But... That Witch has a history of two extreme types of relationships with older women. Spiteful and neglectful with her first mothers it seems, and... well, my read on it all is that she came to Yselda younger than she's willing to admit. And don't even get me started on Lynette. Girl is more unstable than a bag of hissing graklers. But... Merciful Dead Moon help us all… I'll try.”
"Don't worry about Lynette, that's who I have to talk to next, if you'd be willing to send her my way when you go." I offer.
She nods and lets out a sigh of visible relief. "Oh, wonderful. Good luck with her. And... Thank you. For coming and asking for my help in this. I'll do what I can.”
"One more thing. And you're not going to like it, which is why I waited until the end." I stop her, as she begins to walk towards Krahe and Infestation.
She pauses and glances back with a quirked eyebrow. "Next time do it the opposite way. Worst first, then work backwards. But go ahead. How else can I help?”
"Oh it's not the worst by far, just the most unpleasant. The new Doll. She was the old Matron of Dollcraft, and directly responsible for harming a number of the Dolls here, including Adaline. I want you to ask Xafra for her, and have her as your own personal Doll." I state tonelessly.
She considers that for a long moment, then nods. "That... will probably be for the best. Yes. Good observation, Nadine.”
"Thank you. I'll wait here for Lynette. Don't forget to ask Xafra to speed up your flesh conversion if you're interested in joining the talks proper, as that Captain insists on checking for anomalies." I mention, taking a seat against the wall of the Spire.
"Of course." She agrees, then leaves me.
I close my eyes and rest for a while, thankful that our conversation went significantly better than I expected.
This was a good idea. I'm making a difference. We can improve and have Our Xafra improve as well.
I wake up to someone calling my name. Once. Twice. And on a third call I look up to see Lynette standing over me.
"You needed something?" She asks. "I'd impress upon you the need for brevity but... You seem quite the well-informed Geist. The Envoy and Klevik are taking longer than expected, and Adaline will tell us when they're returned.”
"Yes. I need to talk to you about tonight. Specifically about Infestation, and what adding it to the Pack Bond will mean." I start, standing up to have this conversation.
"Well, isn't that the prickly topic to have mid-disaster?" She replies, tendrils tittering mild anxious annoyance. "But I suppose it might as well happen here with you first, being a gerl who calls that place home. Did you have questions? Objections? Wouldn't that save us all another mess to keep an eye on…”
"Not at all. Primarily I needed to check on your... Stability, as I have things being arranged on the Driftdream side already, and I worry that you may not be fully aware of the ramifications.”
"My stability? After everything? I'm the unstable one? Not the horrid weeping..." She trails off and glares off and away, tip-tapping a nail on her hip. "It won't matter. I won't be returning to the Driftdream once it happens. Not... not even at night. Elevar is free to though. So as long as He keeps to the barest hint of civility He can watch all He likes. I'd never deny this Pack more Sisters just... He needs to keep his nonsense away from my gerls. I don't care if He tricks them or any of you, but He can't have them. Or me. If Xafra wants to invite horrid sorts into her Dream I'll not stop her. Can't, if I'm being honest.”
"He's insane, not unstable, Matron Lynette. We're planning on figuring out a way of keeping certain things... separate. Because to be blunt, He'll be able to invite Geists to join his embrace, as Infestation will give him a direct link in. And that is going to cause more than a few of us some distress.”
"Oh... Moonshite." She goes still while wincing, then nods carefully. "I didn't parse that. Many of your number lost family to His Sun-Blessed, yes? And... I use the word 'lost' very deliberately, Nadine. Because there is a fair chance that many people you gerls knew have been swirling within His blaze for a very very long time.”
"Many?” I snap, barely keeping my voice level. “Try every bloody one of us 48 originals. We were in the Tiefenfelder girl's home specifically because we had lost family and loved ones to the soul-blighting denizens. And yes, I know the situation is complicated, and there was reasons for their attacks, but you know what? So was being locked into the back of our blessed lady's mind for SIXTEEN THOUSAND YEARS. So, when I ask about your stability, do not presume it is out of pity or a belief that you are weak. It is because You, Lynette, are integral to the survival of my girlfriend and friends, my goddess, and honestly, because I care about you even if you are a prickle-badger. Now, I need you to deal with your trauma. Soon.” A pause, then I huff out. “Please.”
Lynette, surprisingly, only raises an eyebrow at my outburst. Even her tendrils still to complete silence as stares for a few good heartbeats before... the edge of her lip quirks ever so slightly. Eye’s sparkling in… no amusement. Something else I can’t parse. "You're a sweet gerl, Nadine. I think you get told that too often by people who only see your softer side. Sharp too. Critical and brave in ways I should have been at a much younger age. And... Well, if you are ever willing to find a home outside our Xafra's Driftdream, I'd love to offer you a job you'd be well-suited to. Otherwise I will… tend to my trauma, as you put it.”
"Okay. Good. And I... Won't deny that I'm interested. Need to ensure that my charges are well in hand first. So... If you ever need to talk, I'll be available. Now go deal with... everything else, and I'll do my best to keep things manageable on our end." I start heading back to Krahe and the freshly arrived gaggle of disasters, expecting that Lynette will follow.
When I arrive Jezrial is holding the new, still unconscious, Doll in her arms.
"It could ruin us if anyone saw her approaching our Root Path and remembers her not returning, yes." Elevar is replying to her. "But this actually lets me solve future problems. Once Rokals and this Thresher are away we can wake her up and find out where all her little traps got laid elseways. Deal with them like Rufus'. And unlike with him I've no patience with lies or falsehoods. I'm going to use our Tone and she will share this with us.”
"And if they did see her? Or she told others to wait while she spoke with you?" Jezrial presses.
"Then we'll adjust. Deal with them as we need to. Of course." Elevar replies, but... almost as if she's said this before?
"Not impulsively, mind you. Cracked and Riven Moon," Lynette echoes, walking past me to stand before Xafra, anything like amusement she felt at my words gone and replaced with a serious focus. "This almost went so poorly. We need to use our most valuable resources. This incredibly secure home, our mobility, and time. We've more than they do and can be patient.”
Not touching that with the full weight of my Forge.
"I'm ready to head back now, Infection. Also, if I could have Rufus come visit when things calm down, it would be appreciated." I state, doing my best to not intrude more than I have.
Xafra looks quite thoroughly harangued, and gives a small wave.
Infection buzzes in agreement, then I feel myself falling backways and landing back within Xafra's Driftdream in front of Krahe again.
"Bitch Tits." She repeats from before, now sitting on the grass. Still absolutely covered in those sandy coloured threads but... less exhausted looking. Still cracked to full Frame though. "Thanks Nadine. Jezrial seems to be setting 'em straight. And... I'll have Warden help me keep a mental note about poking at Rufus for ya. Need anything else?”
"No, not for now. Thank you very much. Good luck with Verbess." I respond as politely as I can manage before swinging my mallet once more to return home.
At my Forge, I breathe deeply once more, knowing what I'm about to do can't be undone, but... There's no more time. My lies of omission will catch up eventually, even if I hate it so. I close the door and lock it twice, setting the mallet against the door as well for further security. Can't have Tiffany walking in at the worst moment. With trepidation, I head to the back room, and move aside the tapestry that hides the proof of my lies. "Oh Lynette, you think you're so very unique. I wish you were." I murmur to myself as I walk right through the sealed vinewoven door. Inside there are three passages, as I knew there would be, two unfamiliar, distorted and painful to look at, but one, one just like the narrow path through the woods outside the forge where I compangioned so long ago, dappled sunlight streaming through the trees, His Nomos washing away what remains of my human guise as I shake in revulsion.
In Dreams, if you believe something hard enough, it becomes real.
At least… For a time.
My skin shifts to a pale green as scarlet thorns erupt from my arms and nettles replace my hair. I never looked like this in life, of course, the spores never progressed that far through my body but... Once you accept the spores in your soul, whether through fear of death or genuine consent, you are His.
I make my way down the path to a small clearing where I once found an almost human skeleton being reclaimed by the wild. I look up, lock eyes with the Blaze and speak. "Hello Girra. We need to talk.”
There's a part of me that expected the sky to crack open and Girra to start cackling as He bathed in my blood while I sobbed but... Tiffany always said I have a habit of overdramatizing things.
Instead, I feel them, and I do cry. because even being connected to all of the other Geists pales in comparison to the sheer volume of other... people? No, that's too confining a term for the voices and overwhelming feelings of affection and concern and simple joy at my very existence. How can I not cry to learn that like so many other things I was taught, my fear kept me from accepting this part of myself that I can't imagine ever turning my back on again.
I can feel them watching but not only watching, offering a window through where I can see their lives just as clearly, those in a myriad of different forms as well as those that yet linger in His embrace. I... Oh, my Goddess, keep me anchored for the more I look, the more I see. Family, so much family, and... Acceptance of all of me, my flaws, and burrs and spiteful thoughts and... Horror beyond horror there I am. My deepest betrayal of my love, nestled close within His embrace and she loves me and forgives me as we become me once more, looking forward to the me I'll become.