video » (unseelie locked)

[halfdressed]

[ The room is pink. Pink, gold, and are those fluffy, clever bunnies-the-size-of-imps running around adjusting the statues? Might be. ]

Hey! Goddess of Love speaking! Pay attention. [ She's curvaceous, tall, and dressed in enough chiffon that you'd think physics would keep her covered up, and yet. ] Hi-iiii. My name is Aphrodite, you might know me by a bunch of other things.

Obviously this place is like Ares's wet dream with all the war biz going on, but that's not my jam. Love would be the name of my game. Problem is, I don't have anywhere for mortals to leave messages for me when I'm busy and I am so not answering calls for help on this locket indefinitely because, uh, I have a life, so here's the deal; build me a temple near the edge of Dorchadas and I'll give you a freebie. That babe you've had your eye on? I'll make them fall in love with you! Are you ugly as a toad? I'll give you a permanent make-over! This is a one-time thing because I'm feeling generous ... and clearly don't have any offerings coming in, ugh. Speaking of, if you want to leave cute shoes as a gift, I'm a size six.

So yeah! Get in touch.

Comments

[halfdressed]

A roof and walls are always a must, I think. You don't want to be worshipping me with your girlfriend or boyfriend and suddenly have it rain on you, y'know? Cold butts are a major mood-killer.

[ Biting her lip, she hums thoughtfully. ]

I can't heal without Athena's blessing, and she's ... kind of dead. If you did this for me I could still help rearrange those scars a little. Smooth them out? It's not a new eye, kid, but the scars aren't technically wounds and I'd just be playing geography with the flesh already on your face.

Is that something you'd want?

[thebreakingwave]

Oh! That sort of worship. Usually I end up leaving votives or birds.

[Sorry, 'Dite, that's probably the best you'll get from him.]

That's a very kind offer, but I don't really need anything in return. It's taken a while, but I've gotten used to this face and I'd like to keep it. I've even been told that some ladies like men with scars.

[He huffs out a laugh. Yes, he's been told that by several people, but doesn't believe it in the slightest.]

[halfdressed]

That's true! Before he died, Hephaestus was one of the most handsome gods I knew and he had a terrible burn right down his face along with a limp from an accident in the forges. He was amazing.

[ The kid gets a wink. ]

You've got some of that Weathered Hottie charm, yeah.

[thebreakingwave]

[Harry's fairly sure that a god can carry off the look a bit better than a poorly tamed wizard, but it would be rude to disagree.]

Other than the shrine, are you settling in well here?

[halfdressed]

Well ... [ Annnd a heavy shrug. ] I wish I could find out if any of my family are over in the Seelie castle. Whether they hate me or not, it'd feel more reassuring to know if they're even around. I guess I haven't figured out how to do that yet.

[thebreakingwave]

Ah.

[Harry doesn't know how to put this gently, so he'll just be blunt.]

The monarchs here don't take to kindly to that sort of thing and family or not doesn't matter if they or anyone else catches you with one of them. Our king will kill you, or worse, if you're caught.

[halfdressed]

The king of the gods here, right? They can't treat people like this, they dragged me here in a sack. I'm an Olympian god, these tree-hugging Celtic hippies should be grateful I'm even standing on this soggy scrap of land they call home.

[ GODSWAR, pantheon style!! ]

... Ugh. Sorry, I'm just pissed. I was finally on my way back home when those little rats grabbed me.

[thebreakingwave]

Reul is king of the Unseelie, here and everywhere.

[For a very, very large definition of everywhere. Harry had seen what the throne room really was and even now, over a year later, just the thought of it makes his head hurt. There's a whole lot of multiverse out there.]

And, I'm sorry to say, but they can. That doesn't mean it's right or I like it, but they've the power to do pretty much whatever they like. We're their shardbearers and they have the power to strip us of anything and everything we can do. I don't want to spook you, just warn you to be cautious when you meet them.

[halfdressed]

I'm not his Unseelie trash, his little slaves dragged me here. I wish Ares was around, he'd show him a real war for insulting us like this.

[ These are very thoughtful, narrowed eyes. ]

What if I want to get rid of the shard they stuck in me? I mean, consent for that would've been nice, but whatever.

[thebreakingwave]

If you lose your shard, you're likely dead, and it kills your world. Unless there's someone else from your world here, your exact version of your world, everyone you've ever known will be gone.

[Harry prickles at being called 'trash', but he'll hold his tongue for now. He knows what it's like to be newly pressganged.]

[halfdressed]

Ugh, for real? Why is everything so melodramatic around here!

[thebreakingwave]

Probably because everything - absolutely everything - is ending in the next twenty years?

[halfdressed]

Okay, this sounds like a End Of The Gods deal and I just got out of one of those. Lay it on me, speccles, tell me what the biz is.

[thebreakingwave]

You're not far off.

We're in the last days of reality. This place is the world at the heart of all worlds and if you go to the land's edge you can see the Void - a great, blank nothing. Individually, we can't stop it. The only thing with enough power is the great gem and that was shattered long ago. All shardbearers contain a piece of it in their chest.

The Seelie want to get all the shards, complete the gem and let the Void take us all. This world and all worlds.

We want to get the shards and cast the Void back.

There were one other courts and other ways, but they were lost literal ages ago.

[It's clear that Harry has some practice with this talk, but that he also genuinely believes what he says. He might never be beautiful, but he has something to him that can inspire.]

That's why I fight for the Unseelie, but not just that, but for the native people here. They've endured wars longer than anyone has kept record.

[halfdressed]

Huh. Trust these fairies to think they're the heart of reality, that's rich.

[ Aphrodite is clearly sceptical, even if she doesn't judge him for his beliefs. This is all rote legend to her, and legends have creatures behind them with wants. ]

Why do the Seelie want to let everything die? That's plainly insane, even if the gemstone thingy is their goal.

[thebreakingwave]

From what I understand of it, they believe that by letting everything die, it'll all start up again.

I can't swear that all of it is true, but everything I've come across seems to fit.

[ Harry has a brief moment of worry: the last time he'd thought he was done for, he'd offered up a brief prayer to any god listening that he wouldn't die a virgin. (Again.) She can't tell, can she? ]

[halfdressed]

How long have you been here, did you say?

[ Can't tell because she wasn't around to hear it, alas!! ]

[thebreakingwave]

A little over two years, now. Not that long, really.

[ Not in comparison to those that've been here for hundreds. ]