Day 255 - Thoughtful Zombie

[four_quarts]

Who: Ghaleon and Zulf
Open: closed
When: Night 255
Where: Zulf's room
What: insomnia
Format: action



[Three days.

Seventy two hours.

While not exact, that is how long Ghaleon has been unable to sleep. No matter what he's tried, nothing has helped his mind stop racing. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason behind it; his brain just seems to keep finding a new topic to dwell on each time he dispels the last.

It's rude at best to teleport into someone else's bedroom unannounced at any hour. At this point, Ghaleon is far too exhausted to care.]

...Zulf. I need your help.

Comments

[fuckthemancers]

[Ghaleon, please do not fuck up things with his Gods]

We are the Lorn Mother's final children, not immortal like her eldest but not losing our place in the physical realm so quickly like her first attempt at birthing life. Much like her, our skin is pale like the stars which started creation and our hair dark like the night sky in which they reside.

[There's a pause, and he gives a dry grin.]

Of course, the Caels would tell you that the Lorn Mother made them before the Ura out of the same earth that brought forth her eldest child Pyth. Both sides have always seemed to differ on that.

[four_quarts]

[By Althena, Zulf, he's not going to try and commit deicide or anything. He respects a near total non-interference policy, even if he can't really agree with outright worshiping any gods anymore.]

Mm. Those both sound much like tales I heard the humans of my world tell when I was young, although our goddess was named Althena and our place of origin was our eternal companion, the Blue Star. They were at least partially correct too: I had the pleasure of knowing Althena personally, and she did indeed lead the people of the Blue Star to Lunar in times long past.

However, unlike humans, my people did not always appear as I do - or rather, as I once did. [He pauses a moment in thought.] ...Well, I suppose most never looked quite close to human enough to blend in well, but I suppose that furthers my point. You see, we were once much more monstrous in appearance; claws, scales, even extra limbs were not unheard of. When I was small, I was told it was Althena who changed us, hoping that a more pleasant form might allow us to live alongside humans without causing them alarm, for she hoped we would teach them to use a gift we find as natural as breathing. She wished for us to teach them magic.

[Ghaleon smiles softly, looking very, very tired and somehow terribly ancient.]

...I was the last to grant that wish. What more fitting end to a hero's tale than for the monster to be slain with the help of the very niece and apprentice it had helped to nurture the potential of?

[And in spite of everything, he is truly proud of them for that.]

[fuckthemancers]

[He listens to it all carefully, but the finish just draws about a frown to Zulf's face.]

...What makes 'monsters'? I know that plenty of ugly pasts behind them before coming here- myself included- but... You don't seem like the person who could be easily called a 'monster'.

[four_quarts]

[Ghaleon yawns softly before replying.]

As you mean it, no. I may be able to act the part well when circumstances call for it, but I could not be a true monster to save my own life.

[He adds quietly to himself:] ...For all the good that did.

[fuckthemancers]

...Is... this what's been making it difficult for you to sleep?

[four_quarts]

This, and a thousand other thoughts, scattering and becoming a thousand more...

The smell of a town that disappeared long ago. A song my elder sister used to sing. Tomatoes. I am the last. How fast can a Pecker fly? What is the ground below like? Do plants have feelings? Will my body one day disappear? Where might we get more books? Should I make it snow soon?

[He sinks into the chair just a bit more, clearly having given up somewhat on complete coherence.]

...You see my problem.