Atavistic Dolls and New Chances (Girl)
Content Warnins:
WOW wriggly chappy time. A coinflip of identity into either being turned into a child, or remaining as itself and helping to raise said child. Imagery of severe bodily torture and maiming. Talking through a Doll to the cuties. Bad swamp smells.
I don't like Lynette dissolving! it's bad and sad and no good and no sense and we gotta make sure it doesn't happen again! I stomp around grumpily in the back of our mind while Sister Verbess shelters the little cutie with our Sisters.
But… then I stop mid stomp and giggle. Baybeee sister! Little Warden baybeeeeee... Gotta make sure that we get a lil Warden for the smol ones to grow up with them.
The Snek Doll has immediately stilled though. Is just... curled amidst the soft floor Lynette's body makes as Mistress Elevar holds her close. Slowly releases her ears, letting them perk up slowly and carefully. Looks around while tugging her discard plush close. Whispering as fur ripples and tail wraps about Elevar. "Are they... Is... is it just... Everyone of the right now? No more grumpy Sky or screaming monsters or... or old mean Mistress?"
"Yes, Miss Xafra and our Pack wove a bubble to keep them away from you." Elevar assures her.
"Oh." She mumbles, then starts to shake. Eyes jerking over to the places little weird almost hands of Lynette remain and work to repair her egg. "S- she... This one... The insides got so loud and the outsides started screaming and... and... and then Sister Sikkina she... she…"
"Your sister is fine, dear one. Just a bit of a broken shell. Easily repaired." Elevar promises, pulling her close and ending what would have been a spiral into panic. "Your Mo... My twin is seeing to fixing things back up. Good as new. Isn't even a little upset."
The snek Doll pauses at that. Goes very quiet as her eyes lock onto the bow Sikkina tied about her tail. Ears wibbling to focus completely on the gift.
I flex my thinking muscles and manifest an ethereal form so I can kneel down beside her. "Hi hi."
She glances up, but only with one ear and half of her focus. "Hallo. Miss Schatzi. Um... Is…"
"Mistress Lynette is outside but Mistress Elevar can talk for her as well if you need, just so you know." I offer. It's important that she's comfy before I suggest that she get another sister!
"Mhm. Mistress told this one that. To... listen to Miss Elevar and do what she says if Mistress is busy." She agrees immediately. "But... This one doesn't think she's outways or upways. It... it sounded like she went down? Hopefully to tell the loud grumblers there to be quiet so Sikkina can sleep good while her egg is fixed."
"Yeah. Your mum opened a big stinky old door and it let in a whole bunch of loud grumblers. She didn't think you'd hear them too or she would have been more careful. We have an issue though. The grumblers are being held back right now but we need a long term fix to help you, which means that we have to decide on that." I explain.
"Um... This... This one thinks it heard you wrong, at least a little. So just... give it a second to..." She pauses, then those big ears do an even bigger shake and a wiggle. Like she's trying to get gunk out of them before she lets them face me again with a relieved huff. "Because this one doesn't have a mother. Or... or hopes she doesn't. Wow. Because she'd hate it like the Sky does. Probably more! Don't even want to imagine that! Nope nope nope. Aaaand... the grumblers will get kicked till they stop by Sekrhús, it thinks it hears. And the angry inside voices should stop once it gets enough Empty Sky juices from this vine Mistress wrapped its tail in!"
"I dunno. If you're Schatzi's big sister, and Lynette is Sikkina's mum, then that makes her your mum too, I think? But anyway, the important thing is that we need you to decide if you're okay with mebe having another sister to help look over Sikkina and yourself." I avoid pressing that issue and swerve the conversation.
“Oh! Wow. Yes. Being a Big sister is wumberful but also scary and getting another to help it Function well and not mess up is probably a good idea.” She replies immediately, then furrows eyebrows as ears wiggle in worry. “But… Wait. Was this what Mistress was asking it? Because it… it can’t… it doesn’t know how to deal with stories and voices on the inside it’s supposed to listen to.”
"Mmhm. Kinda? But it doesn't need to be on the inside. We can give your new sister a body of her own of course."
She pauses to think about that for a few heartbeats. Then nods, speaks almost... more to herself than me this the end. "Okay. Okay okay. Two little sisters. This. One. Can. Do. This and that. Yes. What's... um... What's her name?"
I look back over to Xafra and she just smiles and nods, so I continue. "She doesn't have one yet. Do you wanna help name her?"
"This one... It... If..." She goes still, an ear wiggles to turn toward Elevar. Seems to calm as she asks in a more stiff voice. "If this one is allowed to want this too. Names are important for little sisters to have. Else they might forget who they are and what voices to ignore."
Mistress glances to me, but immediately and softly replies. "Of course you're allowed to want things. Your mother has been quite clear on that."
The little snek Doll shakes her ears again at the word. "Um... That..." Shakes them again, fur ripples and fribbles across as tail wriggles and moves to wrap about my Physis form despite being unable to touch me. "Names. Names names names. Um... Tell this one about this new little sister so It can maybe think of a good one? It has lots of words sitting still enough for this inside and can maybe catch one to give."
I think about that and smile. "Well, she's been waiting a long time to be a little one. She's kind, thoughtful, and creative, but doesn't think about her own needs enough. She likes making things and keeping busy, and ummm, she's rully cute"
"Oooooh... Hmmm..." She considers for a long few heartbeats. Tail flip-flopping over a few times in idle thought. "Yvettii? So she can be sturdy but not feel like taking her time to sprout is a bad thing. Or... Sia? To always know how to grow past even the hardest rocks and never lose anything too important while wriggling through. Mayhaps... Mebe... No. Nope. Those two are the best from the quietest worbs this one has!"
"Oh, Sia sounds like a lovely name. I think that will work out great. Now, if you'll give me just a moment, I have to chit and chat with my sisters to get little Sia ready for you." I giggle and wiggle backwards towards Xafra.
[What's the plan then, Schatzi?] Sister Xafra asks cautiously.
[I was thinking instead of a full core weave like you did, I can use this ribbon that Sikkina left as an anchor point, and we can let the new baybeeee Warden Sia decide on her own body?] I suggest to our Mistresses and the Pack.
[Would also give a great start to a Pack Bond if these little cuties want that.] Krahe adds. [Starting out with a gift Sikkina wove from her own... um... stuff? Dunno what that is. But it should be perfect. Especially if this place can help Sia forge her Form too.]
Verbess thrums, focusing to keep the base wibbles of the big Harmonic song Gore bubble thing stable. Even... trying to parse out the stuff it's blocking specifically for Lynette's Doll daughter.
Infection though, it wribbles in a little worry. [Will simply a physical link be enough for Sia to help this little one find peace? If not... it does not want a newborn to feel it failed at a difficult goal directly after sprouting.]
[Physical contact will let her prevent influence without in turn causing influence.] Xafra reassures the rest. [We just need Lynette's confirmation that this is acceptable.]
[Let me settle this little one and step out so I can ask. This bubbled weaving does seem to cut her off from me. Or... at least letting me hear her.] Elevar intones, then takes a few seconds to whisper soft words of gentle request to the snek Doll before pulling free and leaving her to snug the plush and the melted body of her mother.
Mistress steps free to move beside my Physis form and Sister Xafra. Asks so that we can all hear. [Alright, Lynette. This worked. And our Pack seems to agree that a weaving of Warden's child, Anchored to the ribbon Sikkina left, will allow her to protect this little one through physical connection. They will be Pack. But we'd like to know if you find this acceptable first?]
A slowly growing buzz echoes through the bond. Then is followed by...
::Caution | Forever Fire's Amusement has not always been different from His Fury | Cascading Soot Clouds bear the form of a storm but the weight of the ocean | To a hatchling the pain and anger of a parent directed at a threat doesn't feel different from—::
Then it feels like it would sound like when a person tears free of the water to take a big gulp of air. Or... like Mistress Elevar did when waking from a particularly bad nightmare.
[Sickness of word shaped thoughts... tangled. Infested Threads rebinding to Blossom.] Her first words are raw and precise. Almost... more like how Warden speaks when in Xafra's Driftdream. [Crack the bone and drink the marrow? Burrow through the ash to warmth?]
Mistress Lynette growls while thrumming really messy annoyance at herself, then reaches out to Cant with Elevar's Physis directly into Xafra. ::Acceptable/Warm Ashes::
[I think... Lynette was like that when she was first woven into me?] Elevar murmurs as her twin's communications still. [Don't recall it all but recognise the feel of it. I think she approves and understands. Is just... having to feel out the right thoughtpaths to communicate.]
[Understood. Will proceed with Coinflip Procedure.] Warden intones with a hint of wistfulness.
The Pack all watch as Warden splits into two identical copies, and one is reduced to a child mental state, separated from the Pack, and stripped of all extraneous knowledge past what she needs to serve her function and recognize her family. With Deft precision, Warden threads this new daughter-self into the ribbon of soulstuff that Sikkina left for her sister, and welcomes Sia to the world. [Hello little one. Please initiate Sister-Shield module so you can greet your mothers in person.]
[Oh! Um. Hello? Initiating Sister-Shield. How... Do I get a body? I'd like to be able to hug my sisters.] Sia responds in surprise.
Verbess and Infection twist the bubble, and after Krahe signals her approvals, let it shiver and sit on the edge of popping.
Not quite though. Mostly to check and see if Sia's Shield is holding true...
Snek Doll doesn't seem upset just... glancing about in curiosity to what we're doing. Not able to hear us over the bond. Ears wiggling quite a lot though.
[Greetings, Dear one.] Elevar replies while moving to sit next to Snek Doll and Sia once more. [What sort of body would you like? We've... so many options for the make. Endless for the shape.]
[Um... Something with scales and feathers? And arms. mmmhm. I think arms are important, yep. And how do I do the talking out loud so my sister can hear me?] Sia answers as the ribbon starts to flap leaving purple streaks.
[Well, any body we help you make will have the ability, or Physis can achieve the feat. And all those seem like good ideas. I think we can accommodate all of them quite easily.] Elevar chuckles and looks to our Pack. "Alright loves, let's weave this little one a new form so she can hug her sister."
"I think we drop the Null Beacon envelope first? So Lynette can participate directly, as I think Sia would prefer that." Xafra says with an amused smile.
Elevar nods, looks to our Pack Lead for the day. "I think that's a good idea. Go ahead, Krahe. If you please."
She obeys. Counter matching Verbess' work and having Infection safely absorb and contain any Nomos while it keeps the hiding Weave in place so Girra and it's Spore family won't go peeking into this private family thingums.
[Alright sister, the Nomos working is gone.] Elevar intones. [How about you bubble back up to us and help weave your daughters' newest sister her first body?]
A tendril of Elevar's Physis lifts and Cants for Lynette to us ::Bubbles/Warm Ashes/Lead By Example::
Which at first makes no sense. But... then we all feel this room grumble the kind of sound something large about to do a BIG stretch.
A loud crack sounds and some of the normally very still roots here begin to tear up from the ground and curl toward Elevar and Sia and Snek Doll. Dragging... Some weird. Something...Oh.
Well that's just a Doll Wiggler with neater parts!
And Lynette's second body seems to wiggle a pulse in tune and motion to our Packs song and Elevar's tendril clicks, but stays melted.
Then Lynette's weird melty form slerps around the roots and her energies wibble and start to extend small tendrils up to Sia. Cants a gentle ⟨New Shell⟩ with her Miasma to the little wiggling ribbon.
As the ribbon brushes the ground, a ball of scales and feathers forms, rolling around the Mistresses and the little ones, bouncing up and down. [Okay! Now what momma? I made the first part.] Sia chimes at Lynette in excitement.
Carefully, raw materials almost as dark as Sikkina was or this little one is are slerped into the space gloop down around the bouncing child. And the Doll wiggler roots twist to feed Ousia and Physis into the process. Miasma tendrils from Lynette forming shapes more like... hands. Gently lifting Sia as Glyphs etch into the roots and begin to thrum happily with Weavings.
⟨Excitement/First Shell/Endless Warm Ashes/Marrow-Rich Bones⟩ Lynette Cants as we all feel little packets of information get offered to Sia. Blueprints and schema and even... silly little stories of creatures that bore them. Examples of shapes and purposes. Endlessly complex. But... no more than this little one can handle.
The snek Doll wriggles over to cuddle up and watch all this with ears stretched to their full extent. Eyes wide and trying so hard to take in everything all at once as she whispers. "Oooooh. She's finding a new shell. Mhm. That makes sense."
The bouncing turns to tumbling as a dozen arms form around the round core then retract again uncertain. After a few heartbeats, Sia seems to settle on four arms and works on wriggling out a head shape with one big eye and a sharp toothed maw. "I... Did it! Do I need um.. feetsies or can I have a slidy tail like my big sister?"
Snek Doll goes so still. Ear's do another big shake as her fur ripples in such a big wave and eyes blink five times in quick succession.
Lynette's mumbling mess hesitates. Seems to wribble in... all the biggest melty emotions. Then she replies ⟨Warm Ashes/Perfect Shaped Shell/Excitement⟩
Sia continues to wiggle around in intense focus, giving herself small tufted ears and a short sliding tail before she stops still beside Snek Doll. "Big sister, you're rully pretty! Can I hug youuuu?"
"Aaaah you're all soft and sweet and wumberful and pretty too and and and..." The girl wiggles in delight and nods fiercely, pulling little Sia into a tight hug with her little plush smushed between them. Tail wrapping all about and around into the biggest hug snug.
Lynette's form pulses and ripples about them and us. As both like... snuggly grass below and a soft blanket if we wanted. I think. Doll Wiggler bits start to get tugged away. Wribbling to get buried once more into Sikkina's Sanctuary.
"Momma Lynette, Momma Xafra, come hug us!" Sia crows in joy, looking around curiously. "Is... is um. Is Miss Elevar also Momma?"
Sister Xafra immediately loses track of what she's doing to stare agog at the little ones in surprise and confusion, moving forward obediently.
"Hehehe, Yay! Schatzi plan is working perfectly." I giggle.
Mistress Elevar freezes at the question, and Sister Verbess finishes fully cracking and clicking and switching its sharp bits for my sharp bits. Settling to the back of our Frame to manage the flow of the Quill Song. Adjusts it to poke and prod and nudge and soothe worries and offer clean focus to Good Function.
So much that the rhythm seems to help untangle whatever emotions even our Mistress has. So she offers. "If... If you think you'd like me to be that. It isn't a bad idea to claim a few extra parents amidst the tangles of life."
Warden manifests its own ethereal form and crouches down beside Sia and her sisters. "Warden assents and is glad little Sia gets to be real. Sia deserves happiness and many mothers that love her."
"Thank you, Warden! I'll share experiences with you so Warden can become more real as well." Sia answers, gently bumping against the ethereal form of Warden with her head.
A crack and pop follows a word along the bond that feels like a spell, then... the big melty Lynette form slerps back together in a jolt. Kneeling behind and beside Sia and snek Doll but with one side of hands still over the holes in Sikkina's Sanctuary.
Eyes are so dull. Empty of the color they'd been gathering up since she first showed us that body. A sort of... pearly silver I've only seen on really polished insides of sea shells. Iris almost invisible now behind little streaks of very soft purples and greens.
Extra arms fold out to envelope her little ones and Xafra and Elevar and even Warden's Physis form and me with Verbess and Krahe and Infection and one also wriggles up to wrap about Adaline on the ceiling and tug her down into the mess.
After a few heartbeats, Xafra peels away as we all sense the presence of a Sekrhús…Doll… Thing lurking outside the room. "It seems we have someone to talk to, Sisters. How should we split up for now?"
Krahe's quills titter in thought as it absorbs her Harmonics. Then thrums.
Elevar glances up, looks between and is about to ask, but goes quiet as her twin reaches out and touches her arm.
Then Lynette makes a sound like a growl, but keeps it soft as she murmurs up to us. Voice the same but... odd. Shakey. Worried. But... trusting. So much more trusting than she's been before. "Don't burrow past the Warm Ashes, Dear Ones. No Marrow is worth getting trapped in cold heavy dirt over."
"Yes Momma, I remember. Can I help you as well?" Sia asks Mistress Lynette, offering a hand.
Lynette shivers, nods. Hugs her newest little one closer and unfolds a new hand to grip hers. "Not too much, only help parse the old echoes apart. Leave the storm to gnash at the sea. Don't regard the howls."
Sia holds her hand gently and a slow wave of purple flows over Mistress Lynette, not blocking out everything like she is for her sister but simply causing the memories to move slower.
"Alright. Little ones, be good for your emm heh. your other moms, and I'll be right back after my sisters and I talk to my niece." Xafra says with a faint blush to Sia, Snek Doll, and Sikkina still in her shell.
Waiting just outside Sikkina's Sanctuary is the Doll from the Loom. The same one I saw channel Sekrhús before. Cloaked in long Threads that trail off back toward the Undercroft. Eyes look to be of some kind of metal adjacent to iron or such. Frame made of old old porcelain. Covered with etchings that were not there before. Symbols and Runes and things that hurt to try and read and understand.
As we approach it kneels. But not gently, not... even roughly. Just like... A muppet with strings cut. Forehead cracking to the stone floor.
"This one comes bearing a message for your Grace and Care to hold." It speaks firmly but without emotion or inflection.
"From my Niece, Sekrhús?" Sister Xafra asks the empty vessel.
"Yes. Do you accept the offering?"
Xafra nods and agrees. "Yes."
Etchings all across its form alight with a vibrant yellowish glow, then it speaks in a voice like soft but strained silk. "For a Monument to Her Sín to be complete, it must honor the children wrought. And despite delays, distractions, and deadly droughts... The Temple Below to the First and even the Third is woven true. Her Eminence requests your visitations and approvals of Her Great Work."
Oh, this seems bad. Rather bad. I look back over to our Mistresses and other sisters and nod.
"Alright. I'm definitely interested in learning more about my mother and would like to meet with Sekrhús directly if that's an option. Not sure how much of a directly interfaceable facet she has..." Xafra answers to the hollow messenger.
"Within the Temple Below Her Eminence may share words and thoughts and even Dreams with ease. Weightless as a heavy root upon the ocean." It replies, runes across is returning to dull etchings. Voice once again still and emotionless. "She also wishes to speak with your Sister upon her return. Hopes to offer congratulations on Her Ascension alongside yours. Invites perceptions from the other Divine inscribed into that place's walls."
"That's... gonna be a much bigger ask. Last I saw Agusta she was... verging on self-destruction, specifically because of the nature of her ascension." Xafra responds quietly, knowledge that the Pack shares and the Mistresses have yet to learn.
"Her Eminence would weep at the loss of another Divine. Especially the one who carved Her final name across the Threads beneath. Gifted a path to new identities." It shivers, moves to sit rather than kneel. "But it speaks out of turn to Her Eminence's Goddess. Your answer will come in motions or the lack of such. This one will return to its Primary Entombment Location. The message is delivered and resting well in your Care and Grace."
Xafra hesitates, turning to the wretched shell. "Are you happy? Is there anything I can request of her for you, or provide for you myself?"
It rises and gives Xafra a... strange look. There is a smile there. But... one that conveys the opposite a smile should. Not sadness. Not anger. Something worse than all those but also softer. More withered and weary.
"No. But its happiness was petty and wretched and worse than those... Ignorant to the outcomes. This one will Function without." It replies with a deep bow before turning away to leave.
"I don't... like that. Not a bit. But not something for me to change either, I think." Xafra mutters, then starts to lead us downwards.
"Not yet anyways. After Sekrhús is free, there's a lot more things to change. Especially since if I counted right, you have... Three kids now, Sister Xafra?" I add smiling.
"Could always get caught by more yet. Just... snatched up and picked as a new parent." Krahe giggles, nudging at Xafra with her tails playfully. "But you'll do good. Got a wriggle of a Pack to help out with the mess."
"Nervous as anything. Blind Oracles, I'm nervous about that. Especially since Sia is legitimately a child, I didn't quite expect that but I think I understand the desire and the benefits." Xafra rambles. "I. And like... Am I being super prejudiced to say that it's going to be challenging to parent a daughter who doesn't have a name and refuses them? Worried that if I stick with one nickname or term for endearment for too long it will become uncomfortable, you know?"
"Hmmm... Not at all? Seems pretty reasonable to this one." Krahe replies, voice and tails and even Quills... stilling. Tones become a bit different. Almost more like I remember it being back in the Driftdream when we found her. An echo of the Big Sister who saved us back before our Dollification. "Kids who've gotten tugged through a bad early life are... Heh. Well, I'm dancing with a Chorus here, aren't I? But the only thing I knew to do was just keep asking what I'd need and want if I was in their shoes. Cuz I was. Barely survived. Messed up a lot. But... I hope my little kindness I got to offer helped the kids I took in. Even after I left. Still worry about them, ya know? Don't know how they turned out."
Quills and tails twist back to motion after a heartbeat. Sister Krahe's odd tone gone as she chuckles. "Save this one's little birbs. Got to hitch a ride on their back to see about them up close. But you'll do right by your little ones, Sister. Just poke Lynette to explain stuff better. Fill us in on what she's found out about their link. Go from there?"
"Heh. Yeah." She murmurs, a few tails wribbling out to wrap happily about my wrist as Quills hum to a focused melody of worry. "Gotta deal with the spooky first. Would love to say some of the Sun-Blessed we swarmed as a Pack were worse back in the day but... nah. This place is way more prickly."
"That raises an ethical question though, doesn't it? If we come across a Sun-blessed acting... unreasonable, we now know that killing them would only slightly slow them down. Would we have to imprison and re-educate them or..." I wonder, odd patterns tickling at my thoughts.
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"Well... from what Infection's shared they still have to find a cutie willing to host them outside the Blaze. So there is a good chance Xafra can poke and prod Girra to give them a good talking to. Otherwise... well..." Krahe pauses, letting out a huff that ripples through her Quills. "Yeah. We could just sit on their current body till they learn the good lesson. See if there are other Bloodprice-like thingies that could be used to make them promise-promise not to be a problem on purpose."
"True, though out of us, only Infection and... possibly Lynette can use those Arts. Something I've always been jealous of, really. A whole aspect of magic locked away from me, even after I once tried eating oh... A good dozen Sun-blessed at once. Which… Sekrhús, do you have any opinions on this? truthfully, Since I realized that you were alive, I've assumed you can hear us anywhere on the Estate and were simply being polite by pretending otherwise." Xafra mentions, tempting hidden horrors into speaking.
The Estate has no loud or noticeable opinions to share at this time. Only the slowly growing sense of... Weight, echoing through Quills more and more. Like a Lodestone pulling Xafra forward and us with her. Finding that as she seeks this Temple Below the path is hers to walk and find.
The pathway seems to match the one she took when she first wandered down here during our… Odd Dreaming. Tunnels seem to twist about in ways that feel wrongways till our feet find water. A small amount sitting very very still. Smelling of a swamp, and one quite filled with a rich sweet smell. "I recognize this smell," Xafra whispers. And within the water are reflections. Both of this Pack, but also... corpses. At first only a few. But not physically, instead reflecting bodies that simply aren't present around us. Maybe Betwixt or something?
Waiting at the end of this first passage, is another ancient Doll. Nothing adorning it, but its reflection is that of a grinning young woman. Then they bow together, her with grace and poise it like a muppet with dropped strings. Fully too. Forehead to the floor/surface of the water and hands laid flat.
"You know, you pull off the creepy vibe much better than my Sister. More practice, of course, but nonetheless well done." Xafra quips, despite her increasing nervousness that comes through her Quills.
"Her Eminence is humbled and maintained by your words, Divine Xafra. Blade and Strife rewoven, Severance knit into firm attachments. Firstborn of Sín." The Doll murmurs, voice heavy with emotions. "She asks if you will bless Her the gifts of perceptions without the need for a Penitent Vessel? Take final steps into the Temple Drowned and Rebuilt to honor the newly ascended two Divines? She promises your safety evermore. Despite and against all within. Including itself."
The Doll raises a shivering hand, while Sekrhús does the same beneath the water's reflections. An offer.
"Of course. I'm curious to see what you've done, and hoping to get a chance to discuss loosening your bonds enough for you to slip free soon enough." Xafra speaks directly to the reflection, offering a severe bow herself as well.
[Just don't start snipping without the Mistresses or Augusta] I intone to her in reminder.
The reflected Sekrhús twitches while the Doll jerks, then settles. Their offered mimicked hands are the only part of either to remain steady and unmoving. "She awaits the Harvest you would offer it. Your words a treasure to lay as seeds in soil rich with freshly spilled heart's blood."
No! Never again will I water those fields!
Before sister Xafra can take her hand, I reach out to our sister and stop her, my bestial form asserting itself, wings flaring, horns curling, voice hardening. "Return these ones through wound and weft to the Mistresses first, for your niece's tortured whisperers speak precisely in the manner she intends them to, and I refuse to play."
Verbess thrums in agreement and easy understanding like none others can. Gifting me all sorts of furious songs if I end up needing them here.
"Her Eminence agrees. All who enter this Temple with a Divine shall exit in the fashion they wish. No harm or barring of return to the Real it burrowed under will come to pass this day." The Hollow vessel offers. "Even should it break Her to keep this promise, Bonded Fury and Wroth bringer."
I hiss, barely keeping to the right side of propriety. "Insufficient. Sister Xafra, I wish to leave with Krahe, and return when you are done with your visit."
Our Pack Lead turns half her eye's focus to me, tails whirring in considerations as Quills try to understand my anger. "We're not leaving a Pack Sister to deal with this tangle alone. But this one getscha. You're making good points."
Then she turns full focus on Sekrhús. "Your words seem either muddy on purpose or just... careless. Not sure. We want promises of full non-aggression. Regardless of how we get where or when we arrive or who we're with. For our full Pack and Mistress and little ones and Dolls above, actually. Not just now but going forward. Or warnings if there are limits to that long before we might tumble into something problematic. Else we're walking away and making sure that next time Xafra thinks about talking it's with tooth and talon and fangs and more allies ready to tear their way free if you cause trouble."
The Doll hesitates, seems to shiver under a cold it doesn't feel as Sekrhús... fully trembles. "Agreed. Save for one. And she is not here. And you all and each will convey to it your perceptions and limits so She may adhere to your desires."
Krahe purses lips at that, "Which one?"
"The thing Anchored to the Corpse Pits. Who is bound to Her Eminence. She is wrapped in the shape and called Lynette." It replies.
Krahe's Quills thrum in worry and annoyance, but she glances back to me. "How's that? Or... Still not good enough?"
"I would... extend that offer the other way as well. I cannot oath for my Mistresses, but I promise that me and mine will not deliberately strike against you without provocation. I understand the situation with Lynette is more... complicated and would like to negotiate that later, if you're amenable." Xafra responds to Sekrhús as I consider.
"Yes, this is right and good. Thank you for your understanding, everyone." I conclude with a sigh before diminishing my presence, stepping mentally closer to the Driftdream while still keeping focus on the situation at hand.
Hate Hate Hate wordwrigglers that weave nooses with tongues.
"Course, little birb." Krahe grins and lets tails twist about to grip and squeeze my hand and wrist.
"Her Eminence understands that its form and Function is a provocation, and that penance is not its to refuse. Weeping wounds and infested scars are rewards for fulfillment of those ends. She would be a poor–" The Doll cuts off at it almost says those last few words. The Sekrhús beneath opening eyes to glare directly at the Frame across from her.
Silver eyes boring into it with annoyance and threats unending.
"I disagree entirely, but that's something I'd prefer to speak to her directly about, as it's clear there's a level of interpretation here I was unaware of. Regardless, I am ready." Xafra takes Krahe's hand in her own tail and offers a hand out to the broken toy.
It takes her hand, then...
It's all swapped to the upside down reflection. Feeling... just like stepping into Xafra's Driftdream.
Bare muppy walls that were just holding droopy vines now are adorned with... Dolls? No. Etchings of Dolls, layers and layers of them. And they're working together to hold a big long central stretch of wall that has carvings of events. Things that seem really familiar. But also... blurry.
There's images of my childhood that make me flinch. A sad little boy who didn't understand what it meant to hear a persistent voice in his head and worried that he would never be able to… No! None of that! My displeasure seems to resonate and the images alter, hiding away the wounds and showing the many things I've done as the Lady of Annihilation. Snips of Krahe's past, more complete than I think even she realizes with how Warden works, but definitely… Diminished from her first unlife. Scenes of Adaline, and Infection, and the rest of the Pack… All of the old Pack when we were… Alive… When did we die? Was it my fault? Were we ever truly alive even as a child? I could get lost in these thoughts and images if it wasn't for the looming presence of our host.
Up close... Sekrhús is nothing like I last saw her. Form isn't a twisty annoying reflection of Yselda or even the shorter lady she became when I asked. She's... more defined. Solid. Form gaunt with long dirty red hair that seems to fall down and past the water she kneels in. Wears a dirty and simple robe and... an odd bracelet covered with vibrant unpolished stones.
"Welcome, your Grace." Sekrhús speaks, voice a whisper, eyes wide to match her excited smile as she continues to kneel. Hand that is gripped by Xafra barely even touching her skin. "To your Monument and Temple. Already drowned and rebuilt. Only... needing the gifts of your perceptions to rise into place."
"Please, Sekrhús. We're family. I don't require any titles or obeisance from you." Xafra answers gently. "I'd be happy to see what you've been working on"
"You do, actually. But... You're right. 'Grace' is insufficient. Small. The kind of title petty sorts mantle themselves with. Will need to change that..." She replies, releasing Xafra's hand to grip the wall. Using it to rise as if… Oh.
Her ankles are a mangled mess. Long healed. But her feet are twisted all wrong and could barely support the weight of even a child, much less a fully grown adult.
Hobbling… How horrific. A form of punishment I haven't seen in hundreds of years.
"But you'll feel that soon enough." Sekrhús continues, as she gets upright she just kind of... floats. Toes remaining beneath the water. Drifting backwards and away. "It's all almost as perfect as I could make it, especially only seeing you once and then just through the perceptions of my Blossom. But all of you is refracted here! And in subtle ways too. And almost any mistake can be smothered and dredged up all over again still. So... don't worry about insulting me when you notice problems. It all needs to be perfect. Changing it after full rising is stupidly painful and sometimes basically impossible."
"I see, I don't necessarily agree. For others, certainly but... not family, despite my distaste for your mother. I... Never knew that you and your siblings were... Sapient. None of the common human folk did at least. But anyway, I'm glad to meet you in a less stressful situation and would adore seeing what you're working on. This realm is fascinating in its location. Is this temple and monuments the mooring lines?"
She's a touch still at Xafra's first words, but a smile alights at the last. "Partially. The Dolls in your Driftdream are guiding it to the right place, while I shove it from below. This will all arrive and settle soon. As the more... visitable aspect to the Temple that was already laid. What's there should be the lowest or back rooms. Private. This is the place all can visit. Even can tumble about the real during your chosen season, if you nudge it to that."
As Sekrhús drifts back, we are led through the hallways. Past more and more nearly living sculptures. "Passages to offer honest perceptions refracted from within themselves. The smell of mild Rot of your mother's Dreams to fertilize the idea of growth from old corpses. The well-etched structure to enforce both respect and awe with the comfort you want all to feel within your Dream's embrace... And... What else what else...?"
Not a trap but... Not a gift. Can't be, not with everything else... What is she planning? This one muses silently as I follow Xafra closely.
"It's... Idealistic... Why make this place?" Xafra asks in confusion. "What purpose does it serve?"
She pauses just as we're able to spot a big chamber ahead. Turns to look directly at Xafra. And... I notice more wounds across her. Things that seem to become clearer the longer we're here.
One eye is ruined and gone, the other half broken and seeming barely functional. Chafing scars about her throat from what was a horribly tight collar. Deep erratic bite marks all around that bracelet she's wearing. And... more. All over. Feels like a bottomless well to try and count or observe all but the largest and most obvious.
"Oh, I didn't make this place." She explains with a head tilt and smile. "I searched for and found it. Drowned and dead but... still full of love and care. Thought I've had to spend a few centuries like I did on the other two when they bubbled up but... your Driftdream pulls it up faster. Will let you claim it basically whenever. And the purpose is yours to decide. Which is why you coming here now is perfect. We can make it everything and anything you'd like before the stones are set."
"Are you injured, or is that your preferred appearance?" I interrupt, both needing to know and becoming even more concerned about the trap that has been set.
"I'm not..." She turns to eye me, seeming... confused, almost offended, by my question. "Schatzi, part of this place's purpose is to gift the dead and drowned a place to exist in harmony to their accumulated Strife. So... the part of me refracting here now, especially to explain, needs to manifest appropriately. Which is why I'm able to leave that Penitent Vessel outside and speak directly. Whatever damage you see is metaphorically adjacent to the mess you'd find across the grounds."
I stare pointedly at the wounds as Sister Xafra begins to radiate anger.
"That's... worse. Perhaps you don't realize that, but it is worse that this is a reflection of your true state instead of a choice you made. I've wondered about your names... Their Structure and Intent and... I do not like what has been done to you. Too many choices seem stripped from your initial design. Yet... We must Focus|Align|Crystalize purposes for the moment. This place is... Too Idealistic as I mentioned. It is what should be, not what is. Becoming is not a one and done thing but the Strife to continue forward and improve, develop, and experience all the colours of the world."
At first she seems confused by Xafra's words and anger, but at the end she's nodding. "All Divine see different aspects of each of their Names. And this is your place. Er... Well... Half yours. So we can fix this. Easily. As can... um... Your sister. If she wants. But you exerting authority here now is good. Will let her reweave from familiar perceptions."
Then she leads us to the big chamber. And inside are rows and rows of slabs and Doll cases. Each etched with Glyphs of creation and remaking. On the far wall is a big well or pool or... something. Carvings above it are of Xafra life motions. Depictions of her experiences.
But Sekrhús' state keeps worsening. Even her gown is falling to tatters. Revealing what looks to be a really fresh wound on her stomach. Like someone drove something up through her belly and ripped at and out the insides.
⟨Acceptance|Supplication⟩ Thrums from her. Making the chamber wibble in anticipation as Sekrhús perches herself to sit on a nearby slab.
"That makes sense." Xafra responds quietly before doing something so horribly... Her. She takes a few steps back while moving forward and splits a form off... The ruined near boneless body that remained after Elevar's surgery. The second Xafra doesn't seem to be alive, but not... dead either. more... A concept than a person. Oh that kinda makes sense now, if you're Xafra.
In front of the pool, a short bier forms up from the ground and the fake Xafra, Definitely fake, floats over and lays prone on it.
"This is me. I considered getting changing this form many times. Probably should have. But... This form is proof that I matter. That with my very bones offered up, I saved a woman I love. Looking at it, I feel that I have so much more I can offer, but... should never bring myself to such a weak point again. Because I cannot care for the ones I love by embracing oblivion. a funeral pyre could only keep them warm for so long."
Sekrhús watches in rapt silence. Taking in every word without even seeming to breathe. Her one ruined remaining eye locked on the scene and motions.
"I am a fool, dear niece, and much less worldly than some believe but... You could heal if you wanted to, I think. And... maybe I'm wrong and you can't relate to what I'm saying. That's possible. Yet, I get to make choices. bad, foolish, childish choices like this one. Because I saw today that... My daughters are already learning from my actions, and that means so very much to me." As Xafra speaks her hair grows and grows, flowing through the crack in the back of her skull like spools unravelling. The hair floats and weaves itself into a blanket similar to how Sikkina did, yet solid, tangible, and burnished silver in appearance. Eventually Xafra shifts one of her arms into the blade of her spearform and cuts the hair as the woven blanket completes before draping it around Sekrhús.
Sekrhús shivers under the weight of the gift. Confusion waring with surprise and delight across her features as fingers grip the edges of the cloth to pull it close. Then she whispers so quietly in a voice that sounds torn and weak. "I... Don't think it's childish to gift family things that bear weight behind them. Words can be nice. But... they don't last as long as flesh and bone and Names and wounds. Thank you, I... I hope this Temple Anchors you. Makes it so any oblivion tumbled into loses its grip quickly and forgets your face without tearing away too much."
"Thank you too. Now... How can we help you? Genuinely. I... If you wish, I could try to change one of your names. or... I don't know, honestly. I'm ironically, considering the location, a bit out of my depth."
"Help? That's... Well, finishing this Temple to become exactly the Monument you need would be perfect. As for my Names..." She pauses, looks down at that pristine but ancient looking bracelet. Eyes trailing over the bite marks all around it. "Your brother tried to muddle or adjust them. But it didn't stick like the one I helped him find did. Maybe... I think... There is one way. But I won't know if you can even try that until I see your Temple and understand it."
Odd. I want to hate her. Would be easier to hate her, but... she's just so broken.
"Okay. How do we... finish it then? If Augusta is also supposed to be part of it, I mean." Xafra questions.
"Treat this all like you would your favorite forms or Driftdream constructions." Sekrhús suggests, looking back up to Xafra and us. "Just reach out and take this place from me. I can keep it steady while you work. As for your sister's half... She'll probably enjoy what you'll weave over what I've done. Since you've gotten a good look at her. And it all can be adjusted later when she visits. Just don't let it bubble up to outside and there won't be a rush."
Xafra smiles and stands still as a statue as the weight of her presence increases, rippling through this pocket of voided dreams like how Dämmerung did during our communion. The other changes are subtle at first, seeming to be naught but a trick of the light, yet all too present. The shallow water we stand in fully seperates into three streams that grow deeper as the Temple we stand in shifts to accommodate, three holes form along the bottom of the wall adjacent to the... Offering Pool, I guess. The weirdest thing is each stream is... different. One is the color of blood under moonlight and travels from the pool and out the hole, another looks like simple water and goes from one of the holes out the entrance, and the third is... somehow desaturated, and travels across the room and up the opposite wall, exiting through a newly formed hole in the ceiling. With sudden gasping breath Xafra staggers and giggles. "Whew. Okay, that was harder than I thought. Probably broke a few rules, thinking about it, but that's... kinda my thing. Seemed important to start with though.”
Krahe buzzes with interest and pulses three melodies of twice folded
Even grows more to her Combat form for a heartbeat, but then settles more than even when we first entered as Verbess thrums...
"Whatcha weaving here, girl?" Krahe murmurs just after. "Tune us in a bit. This all rings with you but... also extra bits. Inspired notes tumbling through instead of out.”
"They are tributaries of some of the Conceptual Rivers. Cocytus, Lethe, and Urd. They uhm... Didn't exist in our Firmament until now. Had to give them a bit of a tug to connect us. Felt important to better ensure balance with how everything is developing. Three. Three is important. Urd, the waters of Fate for Reality. Lethe, the waters of Oblivion for Void. Cocytus, the waters of Lamentation for Dream. There was more but... No, three is right and rite. With myself and Augusta both primarily extant on the other edges of our Firmament from Girra, Sín, and Dämmerung, stability is important.”
Our current Pack Lead absorbs that. Quills and song and eyes settling to quiet curiosity. Not really understanding... but not worried about that. Takes in Xafra's songs with trust and acceptance.
Sekrhús however is completely still, one half working eye locked on the new waters of this place. Quietly mumbling to herself. "Will let the muck naturally erode with the cycles of the seasons. Plenty of room for all to flow into and out. Up and down. Even... maybe backways? At least once every twisting. Just like the day the Sky has to be Empty. Clever. Impossibly volatile but... in a way that will hold together through more big shifts if this all takes.”
"That's my hope. And I made sure that Urd is... very far from us. Nowhere near any of the Groves. Will probably cause some issues when it's found but on a smaller scale than the risk of the Firmament rupturing. I… I don't know how I know this all." Xafra begins confidently but trails off with concern.
"Senses without name or nerves or any spirit strangled attachments are like that." Sekrhús offers gently, gaze shifting back to Xafra. "Tracing them back to their sources is... a long and often richly wounding path that I'd happily recommend you walk as time permits.”
And as Xafra's gaze turns back to her niece... the final wounds seem to settle into place. The blanket covers most as that gown she wears is even more rotted away but... these last are sewn even across the flesh of her face. Nearly glow like brands freshly etched. None in languages I remember but all might as well shout their meanings.
Lies made Flesh, Broken Weave, Rotten Hatchling, Blighted Work's Reward, Her Greatest Shame, Misbegotten and Strangling Promise, Hagspawn, Defilement and... Guilty Home. That last word over and over and over as it binds all other things together like the threaded seams of a dress.
Her name. The last one given and laid into place. A glowing mark to any that hear it but more still as she is lets more of herself be seen. Warnings like how some places would mar the sick and criminal to warn others away. A pity. This is not right. It's not soft or simple or fun at all.
Krahe radiates confliction as she absorbs the sight. Wariness for Sekrhús warring with slowly realizing how bad her state is. The obvious marks of one enslaved for a very very long time. But thrums almost immediately,
"Okay. Okay. I think that's all I can do for now. But... Would be happy to return and keep working on it? In the meantime, what can I do for you, Sekrhús? I'd... really like to help you, especially on such a momentous day." Xafra presses.
"This is your place. A Temple to everything you are and want to be. I couldn't, and wouldn't, ever try to stop you from returning." She lets out such a laugh while leaning back to glance about the Temple, replies carefully though. Bubbling with thoughtful worry. "As for help? You just did. I... Got to break a promise today. And that's very rare for me. The Best. And if you're still wanting to try and crack up a name of mine? Well... you can't. But you could adjust one. Maybe. Depends on if your sister helps and you try from the right spot. But you need to focus on making sure she doesn't stop existing. Please? She's... Perfect. Easily my second favorite Divine. She... the name she gave me is expertly shorn across and through the others. Matches the wound struck in the following heartbeats. And the idea of losing another Divine would just... I don't want that to happen. Okay? Take care of her. Help her grow through whatever is strangling the Rot we exchanged.”
"Of course. I'm planning on keeping her. And you, If you'll have me as family. See you soon." With that, Xafra pulls us out of this Temple thing and back to solid Roots in front of the odd doll once more.
"Back to the little ones now?" I ask, desperate to feel less… concerned.
"Yup. Make sure everyone's still alright and... see what our Mistresses think of all this." Krahe agrees, once again locking a few tails about mine and Sister Xafra's wrists before tugging us along.
We wibble and wobble our way back up the grunky tunnels and sooner than latter return to Sikkina's Sanctuary. I immediately flop in Krahe's arms dramatically, declaring "Oh woe is us, Xafra did something weird again.”
Mistress Elevar watches us all with more than a little bit of worry but mostly relief.
More so as my Pack Sister Lead basically cocoons me in a big wrapping of almost all her tails, save the few she reaches out to the rest of our Pack with, before elaborating. "Turns out Sekrhús wanted to give Xafra a Temple. But... our girl had to like... help make it just right? But the Temple isn't here yet. In the Real I mean. But will be soon. From what I gathered. But... anyway, she wove some rivers through it that help keep something steady and also might be trying to fiddle with one of Sekrhús' names. But will need Augusta's help. Also... That girl's a mess. Like... Not sure how that's all gonna go. But I agree that it's a good idea."
Mistress Elevar blinks once, looks over to Lynette who's only just now looking to us from where she's been watching her two wiggly daughters chatter and even chitter back and forth. The snek Doll and Sia talking about things at speeds that make the insides of the discussion kinda hard to follow.
"What corpse did she wear to speak to you through?" Lynette asks carefully. Words slow and deliberate unlike her normal easily woven words. And she still doesn't seem incredibly happy with them.
"None? She used some Dolls, then we spoke in a different realm where she looked uhh. mostly like my old base form, with long red hair." Xafra says, bemused.
"Very much a deliberate family resemblance to both Xafra and Augusta, I think" I mumble, curling myself around Krahe more.
Lynette looks like she wants to say something, but hesitates as Elevar rests a hand on her knee. Asks the questions we can all feel bubbling across the bond. "I'm honestly just glad she didn't seem the grumpy ravenous beast I've always felt when linking up to the Threads at the Loom. Any threats? Not just open but even subtle things? Implied or otherwise? Even accidental things she may not have meant to offer? Or... Demands for us? Indications to why she offered this? Or what she means to do in the future?”
"No, actually. I was pretty surprised. Krahe even managed to get concessions from her for everyone here and all the Dolls above except Lynette..." Xafra responds.
"Xafra made her a blanket!" I shout, remembering. "It was really neat and weird because it was with her hair.”
Elevar smiles and almost chuckles at that. While even her twin can't help but smile gently at the words. Eyes drifting back to watch the little ones once more.
Then Lynette lets out a huff of a sigh and nods after three good heartbeats. Offering, "Cold Ashes. Like gifting marrow to sink traps. But... Clever. The Sympathetic Link is one only you can twist. And... the Beast Below let you reweave Leylines of stability she can't even use? Even the space between the promises are obvious and... a gift in and of themselves. Things it couldn't break without approvals it can't get. This... You've tugged us into warmer places. Safe burrows. And even I can't worry through the cold night at the dangers.”
"Leylines? Not sure what those are but, I just yoinked a few conceptual rivers into our layers of existence. she seemed... surprised mostly. Oh! She mentioned that she got to break a promise because of my actions. Don't know what that means, but she was happy about it. There was like... A vulnerability there. She seemed to keep expecting me to hurt her and it was... Sad. I gave her a blanket because I felt she needed something that wasn't painful, not as any trick or trap and won't use it as such." Xafra shakes her head. "I don't think she's good by any means, but neither am I. Just hope we can work this all out together.”
"She acted the same when Augusta named and struck her." Elevar agrees. "Good... seems something of a luxury for entities who aren't as bound as she is. If you can change Sekrhús' name then we can offer her that opportunity to find something better than just expecting pain from all those about. Did she offer any methods to that process? Or will that be a question for your departed sister on her return?”
"I uhmmm..." Xafra hesitates, not sure how to talk about Augusta properly.
Lynette looks back to us. Eyes locking on Xafra. "It's not often I get to hear the Beast flinch in worry, yet it did. Many times. Every voice stilled for a heartbeat in terror. Specifically when the threads bubbled with your sister's name. A ache and fear of cold lonely burrows. Is Augusta safe where she strides?”
"From all but herself." Xafra admits. "She's... Distressed with what she is. What her senses insist is true, and how her abilities function. I don't know how to help her yet, aside from... pressing against what reality dictates until it bends to our desires.”
"Forever Fire's weeping piss." Lynette curses, words seeming more like she normally talks as such self-focused anger bubbles up. "Stupid Half-Knit. Shouldn't have delayed my talks with her. She needs to take up her last name and grow from the corpse. I... Moonshite. I'm sorry.”
"Heh. Corpses are the problem. She doesn't share my... affinity with Dolls. To her Divinity, they are mere corpses with the souls locked away inside. She even mentioned that most have... something missing from them, that they're incomplete, whatever that means. All of ours except for Schatzi and Verbess, Infection, and Presephona. Krahe and Warden both register as something entirely different to her also.”
Lynette goes still, eyes dropping. Open guilt bleeding across the bond. "That... Yes. They would. She can hear the screams or lack of them rattling around. Doesn't know enough about Dollcraft to stumble into the answer. To ask the right questions. To know... Well, what she can probably help do to help those she loves. And I was too stupid and terrified what she'd notice about me if I told her."
Then she looks to her little ones, asks gently. "The Forever Fire is asleep for the night, if you'd both like to slither above and enjoy the Empty Sky?”
"Oooooh. Yes. Yes yes." The Snek Dolls explains excitedly, poking at her newest sister. "Will even have you pick which Spire we wribble up for your first night!”
"Yay! Can we um. mebe make it so Sikkina can also see? I don't want to leave her out." Sia asks.
"With your core anchor being woven of her will and gifts? Of course, Dear one." Lynette nods with a smile she can't hide. Settling more into familiar worb patterns that feel less strained and difficult for her to find. "But... be gentle, if you please. Offer her your harvested perceptions like you might to the sleeping to discover upon waking. Because that's what she need to be doing right now. Avoid... language as well. Too much can muddle things for her at this stage. Mayhaps establish a Cant with your youngest sibling?”
"Yes, Momma. I'll just offer the sight if she wants it." Sia responds dutifully.
"Perfect, thank you, dear ones. Love you both more than either can ever know." Her mother replies, pulling the two into such a big hug with more arms than the Pack has between our Frames.
"We should be up to join you in a little while, dear ones." Xafra mentions softly.
Lynette watches with a fading smile as the two slither out and up from Sikkina's Sanctuary. Sits quietly for a long time, no doubt to wait for the snek Doll to move well out of hearing range.
Then she begins to speak softly to our Pack and her twin "So... This topic is a caustic mess. And one I hate to even discuss. Because it is unmaking to even consider. Much less realize it holds truth for yourself or... and your child. So if anyone wishes to go join our little ones early to avoid having to imbibe this... I'd understand.”
"I need to know. I suspect but... I need to hear it." Adaline gently insists.
Mistress Elevar moves to hold her wife. Taking my Pack Sister into her arms as it's clear in her eyes and bond that she's been shared this and wants to help Adaline brace for the words.
Lynette nods, glances about to see if any others consider leaving. But the Quill Songs just hum with gentle support and curiosity and preparations, so she continues. Slowly, carefully, and voice as even as she can keep it.
"So... when a Doll is being crafted, the first thing the weaver does is sever the spine in three places with a precise but minor effort of Physis. Do any of you know... Well, I won't condescend the intelligence of this Pack. The common belief is that this is to allow clear pathways or other such nonsense for the energies to pass through cleanly. Which is nonsense. It's... It's because, in very extreme circumstances, the corpse can wake up after the Instillation. Not easily. But... The Flesh Forgotten can be one of a few varieties of horridly tragic. And the implications of each possibility is wretched. More so the farther you get from base humanity. That's, what I suspect, Augusta is sensing. Especially here. A place that keeps a Pit below full of weeping corpses whose spirits were torn away and woven into Dolls or othersuch."
"Ah. So she's an idiot like our Xafra. That's understandable. I mean, just look at the geists. Not a single one has Ousia or a soul, core or otherwise, yet they fully exist so clearly there's a whole nother bit to the nonsense... But it doesn't matter. I'm not lesser for being a Doll, even if there's bits of the old me elsewhere. I was always missing bits and I'm more me now than I ever was.. You're not lesser either, Mistress Lynette, and I'll bite anyone who disagrees. When Augusta gets back this one will talk sense back into her silly head until she understands properly." Adaline boldly claims.
Elevar can't help but bury an unsteady giggle into the back of her wife's back while pulling her closer. A wash of relief at Adaline's lack of worry bubbling across the bond. Fear that this knowledge would hurt her cracking away like thin ice under a warm pouring of water.
Her twin just... blinks at first. Stares at my Sister in wordless surprise. Then something seems to click-clack inside Mistress Lynette. Followed by her purring in a really unfairly sultry voice. "You are all so very unlucky that I am too tired, distracted, and within the Sanctuary of my child to move from this spot. Else I'd make a mess of each of you for how well you've handled today. But..." Then she sighs and looks to Krahe, Infection and myself. "Pass my first Doll into my arms, then I'd like you both to head up and gather up everything on our desk and bring it down here. This Pack can help us finish Adaline's Happy Witch Doll Day gift."
"Yes Mistress!" They chime together, then slide me into the waiting hold of Lynette before Krahe picks up Infection and darts off.
"Oh? Is sister Adaline getting an Implement?" I ask with a smile up at Lynette.
"She is, as is befitting a Witch of her skills and temperaments." Mistress nods as one of her many pairs of hands begin to idly dance gentle patterns through my hair.
"Long overdue, honestly." Elevar agrees while adjusting to sit next to Adaline. "But... better late than never. Even without her needing to extract marrow or blood we figured it would be more within our skills to provide this. Leave the knitting of large brimmed hats or flowing robes to the experts. We're going to weave her a needle of iron.”
"Oh wow. I um. gosh. Thank you." Adaline exclaims
"Oh, don't thank us till you see the gift." Elevar smugs just as Krahe and Infection zoom back into the room and settle into the space next to me.
*Wiggling to lay out a stack of books, two schema, and the cradle thingy that holds the wiggly Garrote they pulled from Mistress Elevar that was binding Lynette.*
"We mean to forge you something... impractically intricate." Lynette explains, reaching forward to lift and examine the cradle. "Iron from handle to spike, with an etched grip of chitin, and a core containing one of your Quills. And woven throughout with at least half a dozen Glyphs of channeling, focus, and stability. You'll be hard pressed to miscast with this tool."
"Which, yes. Seems impractical with how your Glyphs already work." Mistress Elevar adds. "But I suspect you'll only grow more ambitious with the Art of Frame-laden casting Glyphs. So... best to offer you a tool that'll assist you at all stages. Even grant you capacity to Weave beyond what you otherwise might in a heartbeat of need.”
Adaline chitters and immediately tugs out a quill from the back of her head with the smallest of winces. "Oh Xafra's silly actions! This is amazing.”
"I'm now getting oaths sworn by me. that feels... weird." Xafra interjects.
Mistress Lynette grins, while turning the cradle about in her hand and glancing over to Xafra. "You should get in front of that before the Dolls all across the World and Dreams start making up new and odd ones. Or just... Eindämmung."
The little ball with sharp edges cracks open at the suddenly snapped Einwandfrei, and almost immediately a string of glowing buzzing iron thread like a snek darts out and toward Elevar. But is caught at the tail and yanked back by at least six separate pairs of hands that unfold from Lynette and grip it firmly.
"...Wait and see what springs up. React as needed." She finishes. Starting to examine the wriggling length of iron and angry weavings. "Because that first one was adorable. I hope you get lots of soft oaths and curses paired with your name.”
"I hope so too, because I felt that." Xafra says quietly.
As the Mistresses continue to work, the Pack vibrates with Xafra's words in contemplation as she passes the sensations onward. "Huh. That's... Significant. Mistresses, We... I think we learned something very important here.”
"Oh? What's that?" Elevar asks between carefully weaving the cradle about the iron Lynette manages.
"It's not just the big stuff. We already knew Xafra needed a Temple to avoid her getting changed too much by others but... If a simple oath can resonate, then it's likely... the oaths against the Sín and her broken form have been, at the very least, unhelpful in regards to her returning. Hah, we need to change how we all speak, and try to spread that as well." Adaline laughs with a tinge of mania.
"So... How we tend to spit annoyance while mentioning the moon's current state actually needles her?" Lynette murmurs, while twisting the iron about the Quill Adaline holds up. Focus split and obviously strained between multiple places. "That seems a horrid design flaw. But one I'll happily respect and simply adjust worbs to instead prod the Madthing when I'm in the mood to curse a Divine."
"Following the short assessment, Warden concurs. It is likely that as Sín is not currently worshipped on this peninsula, curses using her have an enlarged effect on her... Mythos seems to be the best term." The cutie pie Warden adds.
"So... Where's Sín's Temple? I'm under the impression that Augusta got Dämmerung to unearth theirs, the one we'll be visiting soon, but... It could make a difference if we could find hers." Xafra asks.
"One could be on the moon. Which would make sense see that you all met a Witch from the place. But then... Wait." Lynette hesitates in her work, totally. Everything about her stopping for three heartbeats. "Oh. Cracked and Riven Empty Bones the.... Sekrhús' is the Monument to Her Sín. She's... This place is not just a horrible mulching Pit it's... it's a Temple to your mother. One of the oldest if not the most ancient in existence.”
"That's... equal parts beautiful and agonizingly tragic. Remind me to murder my sister Hive, if we ever come across her." Xafra fumes.
"Just... Be very careful saying that name to Sekrhús. Even in that way. Maybe especially in that way." Lynette murmurs, carefully returning to her work. "Augusta giving us the list of the Divine caused quite the stir when I imbibed the names and stored them in my personal Threads. She's... messy, about all of you. Only really stable in her feelings about you, Augusta, the unnamed second born and your brother Chalice.”
"Have... Oh. Right. Once you've finished, I think it would be... prudent to show you what she looks like. The appearance that's as close to True as I think she can manage." Xafra adds.
"Of course. Nearly done." She agrees, starting to fold and wind the iron about the Quill with fingers melting to pure miasma and heat weavings of shaping. "I'll be curious to see which mask she chose for the talks. Must have found quite the old and odd intake to mimic an uncanny resemblance to you and Augusta both."
Mistress Elevar whispers the Einwandfrei of Estate Spire shaping to bend the cradle about the needle in rhythm to her twin. Little Glyphs smaller than anyone can see wiggling to get etched into place across both the Iron and chitin.
"Adaline, strike this with your sealing work." Elevar asks just after each piece locks into place, but seems to shiver and creak with the strain of trying to come apart again as our Mistress' focus on keeping it bound.
Adaline reaches out and wraps her hand around it, her Gnadenhalsband forming a gentle shoulder along the join, however she holds it there in place, seemingly anxious about taking it.
"Wife." Elevar murmurs, leaning over to whisper quietly into Adaline's ear. A hand trailing up to lay atop the one that grips the knitting needle. "You long ago earned a symbol of your brilliance. Have pioneered more Arts and Weaves than we can count easily. Will endlessly stride farther still. This... Is a gift. From us. A tool to remind you how the worst choices can be reforged into sharp tools and put to good knittings.”
Adaline nods and takes the needle, deftly affixing it within the shroud of other Quills in her hair to hide its presence. "Thank you. I'll strive to make you proud of my actions.”