CW:

INA POV! Plural things and such and much!

Fuck US is Rahdian so cute and perfect!

Tall like Tasii and Zigdara, which we ADORE. The smaller spirit muses, then the larger adds. But… Careful. Like one of those cute big bugs that would always sneak around in the early mornings at the temple. So quiet and terrified of everything, despite there being only one bird that would even try to bother eating them.

For her, we think is probably because she was probably hurt by someone. Which… if not for that glimmer of such love that sparkles in her eye every time she talks about her shards we’d think that was their fault.

Still could be. The larger considers sadly. First Dreams are… hard. For both spirits. Like waking up with a throbbing skull and a stranger naked in your bed. It’s always too easy for the girl and the shard to hurt each other.

Fuck. Yeah that… yeah. The smaller’s agreement leads us to nod as they take another bite of this wonderful stew. But like… We’re pretty sure the spirits don’t all have the same memories. That some split off earlier wouldn’t know what came later.

Except by what they see through their Sun Spoken’s shared Dreams.

Fuck.

“But…” Rahdian murmurs after what’s been a long pause.

We’ve basically told her everything we can about Sun Spoken nonsense. Left out heavier details but shared all the things we wished Emarial had been open about. Trying not to scare her while also not wanting her to be blind to the dangers and threats meeting another like us could imply. Especially some of the older ones.

And… like… of course our past in the temple hasn’t been brought up. Alongside the shard’s hatred of all things monsters and parasites. That’s not a thing we think we can trust with other Sun Spoken.

What if they see us as just another monster? A… a parasite? Would the assurances of a fellow Weaver shard be enough to make them understand and accept us?

Rahdian is NOTHING but wonderful and sweet. We have no doubt she would understand. But… we also don’t want to risk these Fury and Melty Dreamers hurting her over it. Getting angry and… and doing something stupid and cruel!

“Mhm?” We perk up when Rahdian doesn’t continue. “You have another question?”

She nods. “How did you get your shard?”

We sigh and look down. Considering how much to share.

“We found a book, and in it was this pretty droplet of sap.” We say after only a little pause as spirits come to an agreement. “It… it hurt us, but then claimed us. Stumbled into our future lovers and decided to leave Lyttoral after that.”

She jerks up. “Wait. You’re from Lyttoral?”

We nod. “Mhm. Never left until that day. Every step is like… the farthest away from home we’ve ever been.”

“I…” She murmurs. “I’m from there too.”

Our eyes go wide. “Really?”

She nods.

And we can’t help but laugh. “Then what, if you don’t mind us asking, the FUCK are you doing out and up here in the bitter cold? We LONG to feel the sun and heat again.”

She smiles but… yeah there is pain there. “I ran away. Have been stumbling around just… trying to figure out what to do with my life.”

We sigh and nod, reaching across the table and laying a hand on hers. “We get that. A lot actually. Our… we’re not sure how we’re going to face our S… Our mother. Us being Sun Spoken will help but… Yeah. We prefer the Paths to our old life.”

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Rahdian nods. “I can’t go back.”

“Why’s that?” We ask.

She sighs and slumps. “It’s complicated. And… and if it’s not too rude, a topic I’d like to avoid.”

“Of course.” Our agreement comes easily. “We have similar things. Never feel obligated to share unless you’re ready and comfortable. But… know that we get it and… and are here if you need someone to open up to.”

That both seems to relax her and… and cause such a conflict in her expression.

The feeling of a kindred soul. The larger muses. Wanting so much to share and mingle but… scared from past attempts.

We’re not going to push her. The smaller gently demands. She… even without the Sun Spoken stuff we know too well how much past nonsense can hurt. How many months it’s taken us to heal and… and how many more we’re probably going to need still!

“We’d like to be someone you trust but… understand more than most how that has to be slowly earned.” The two spirits chime together through our lips.

“Thanks.” Rahdian says and wipes a bit at her eyes but… twists to squeeze our offered hand. “That… I’ve had a lot of people try and force me to trust them and… and it’s always ended so fucking badly!”

“Fuck…” We sigh. “I’m so sorry. But… feel free to stay here as long as you’d like. Even after we get our song boiling up.”

“Maybe…” She murmurs. “I might have someone I’d like to check in with, at least before she leaves the mountain.”

“Sure. Of course.”

And then we nibble at our food a bit after that. The Larger spirit ends up pulling back and just… letting the smaller front in a way she never has. Talk of small and easy things with this wonderful girl. Mostly books we both happened to read. Giggling a bit at just how many were fantasies about Sun Spoken just as a girl I last saw in horrid bindings enters with Jevita and Kque.

“Hi!” We can’t help but feel such a weight drain out of us. “Did… Sorry we’ve been wonderfully distracted. Did…”

“It’s all off.” Jevita sighs and comes over to sit at our side, totally without worry at our merging as she pulls us into a tired hug. “Not sure either of you could have helped much. Nice to… to see you again. The larger spirit I mean.”

We wrap her in our everything. “The Waking World is only worth visiting because of the lovers who await us.”

Jevita hugs us tighter as Kque steps forward with the girl. “I’m not sure if Yrelia or Tasii mentioned anything but… this is Thodep.”

“Hi…” Thodep gives a little wave. Looking about the suddenly filled space but… soon her eyes are back on us. “Is… I’m sorry did… are you different? You sound um…”

Kque moves to guide Thodep to the table. “We’ll explain over food.”

“Oh thank fuck.” Thodep sighs. “Yes. Please. Food sounds wonderful.”

We can’t help but grin at her vibrant delight. Seeing… seeing her happy and very much apparently living with the love and support of her headmate.

Now we just need to find out how to get that for these other two.

Jevita nuzzles close as the subtle musings and song of our soul considers us. Almost… almost like she senses our worry and love and considerations for her.

The first of our lovers to find us on that cold night and… and accept both spirits. Never seemed anything but loving enthralled by us. Even… even when we didn’t deserve it. Has spent months studying magics she can only converse about and… and helped us adjust our thoughts to adapt to our songs outside of our mergings.

“Where are Tasii and Yrelia?” Kque asks as she returns to the table and sets bowls to Thodep, Jevita, and herself.

“Just stepping out to check on our third guest.” Then we motion at Rahdian with a hand. “And… by the way, This is Rahdian. The girl we wished had been the first Sun Spoken we met.”

Jevita pulls away then. Tired in so many ways, but sparking back with a bit of energy as she waves. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”

Kque offers the same and even asks if she’d like more stew, which to my surprise she accepts easily.

“Same. Yeah. This… this has been really nice.” She huffs as she pulls up a spoonful of stew to blow on.

“Um…” Jevita murmurs as she pokes at her own stew. “Tasii mentioned something about a… a rock? That was like… talking?”

“Yeah what was that about?” Thodep chimes in. “My Maktaba perked up really hard and sort of… starting delving into the stacks after she left. Forced me to front, even.”

“Oh um…” Rahdian looks down to the little bundle of blanket she’s been keeping on her lap. And as everyone goes a bit quiet there intones a soft sort of… buzzing sound.

With very very gentle ‘helps’ punctuating it every few seconds.

“Is that…?” Thodep’s eyes go wide.

“A fully sentient creature made of pure Gemstone?” Jevita whispers as Thodep trails off. Stew forgotten, she rises and nearly scrambles to move around the table to see.

“They’ve kinda… passed out.” Rahdian pulls back the blanket a bit to expose the glimmering surface of the little cutie. “I’ve tried before but… I’m not really sure I could wake them.”

“You can’t.” We smirk as both Kque and Thodep move to get a look at the resting creature. “They’re waiting for us.”

A long pause, then everyone absorbs our words and turns to stare.

“Um… what?” Rahdian asks.

We shrug. “We’ve been working out the spell, and both spirits agreed it's the best and safest way to communicate well.”

“What way?” Kque moves to sit. Keeping some attention on the cutie but twisting her focus to me.

“When Tasii and Yrelia arrive, we’ll explain all the details and wait for you all to agree to let us attempt this.” We assure any worry she might be letting bubble up. “But… in short, we’re going to try and link our Dream to both Rahdian’s and this little cutie’s.”

That makes Rahdian jerk in surprise. “Wh– what? You can do that?”

“Why haven’t you…” Kque starts, but then sighs as the answer comes to her. “You weren’t Inspired to really try.”

Jevita nods. “Talked about it weeks ago. But we agreed that trying to share a Dream with someone who isn’t Sun Spoken was too risky.”

“But… Why include me!?!” Rahdian sputters. “I may be Sun spoken but I’m a mess! I’ve already introduced you to them and… and would probably just… just…”

Then her eyes go a bit wide as she sees our deeper goal.

We giggle. “We want your help, of course. But…”

Jevita is almost bouncing as my brilliant lover understands. “You want to meet other Weaver shards! Ask them questions and… and maybe… maybe share things! Memories and magics and… and…”

“And all the things.” We grin, then turn our gaze to Rahdian. “But… Only if our fellow Sun Spoken is comfortable with this.”

Rahdian looks down and goes quiet for such a long while. Enough time passes that we feel right in murmuring. “There are no expectations here, Rahdian. Just bringing this little cutie to us is wonderful. You can just… enjoy this manor, eat our food, and wait for the sun to rise. Continue your life as you want to live it with us or elsewhere. Just bearing shards like ours is such a responsibility. Don’t feel the need to add obligations if you don’t want them.”

She sighs and shakes her head. “No, I'll do it. It’s why I came here. I… If you think you can help them. I… I won’t rob them of this. Can’t. Not after they’ve done so much for me.”

We nod. “No commitments yet, okay? Our lovers may still tell us no. And we’ll find another way to do all this. Work on a song of translation or… or something.”

“Um… What?” Thodep interjects. “Aren’t you like… the High duenna alongside being a Sun Spoken? Why let them decide this?”

We smile, but… feel the guilt bubble. “Because… We’ve made many poor choices since our first merger. Lost a leg for our stupidity and… and almost more. Never again will we face the gathering cold alone and risk losing what is most dear to us.”