it's delicate

Everest

Opting not to continue the line of conversation that he and Koa had been tugging along, the aviator wordlessly dropped to his knees as they reached the shrine. Pulling out the bag of seeds that he'd brought, spilled, and then tried to pick up, he scattered them loosely around the rainbow stones. Glancing at the dragoon who, as an accepted, Ever assumed was much better at all of this than he was, cleared his throat a touch nervously before bowing his head.

"Hello Frey, it's Everest again. I've brought some seeds from my friend Mateo who is a botanist. He assures me that these wildflowers will grow nicely here, although I must admit I spilled some of them on the road." He'd have picked every single one of them up but for Koa, though Ever opts to leave that portion out, not wanting to implicate his friend in anything should this meeting go poorly.

"I was hoping you could tell me if I was infected with the Void, and if I am, what that means?" Glancing at Koa, the aviator lifts his eyebrows, unsure if there was anything more to do or say.

even if i had to lose you to know you,
i'd still be that temporary phase that you grow through

KOA

Koa lets Ever start the prayer, watching fondly as seeds are spilled. He has no offering to give, having not set out with the intention of visiting a shrine; very poor form, the Dragoon knows, but nothing to be done now. Instead he picks up where Everest left off, contributing: "We left some on the Rainbow Road as well, in hopes of bringing more color there. And I promise to plant something in your honor, as soon as I get home." No guarantee it'll grow, of course. Neither of Koa's thumbs have ever been remotely green.

His expression grows serious as Everest continues. Glancing at the aviator, Koa tries to offer a reassuring smile, to show he's proud that his friend is taking steps to figure out this blight. "Any insight you can provide would be appreciated, o Wild One." Though if he's being honest, he has his doubts about Frey being the one to ask. Sunjata had told him the dual herald didn't seem bothered by the Void - but maybe, he thinks, the nature aspect will care more than the sexual side?

Either way, it can't hurt to try. Any knowledge is good knowledge, the dragoon figures.

With each love I cut loose, I was never the same
Watching still living roots be consumed by the flame

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Frey

"There is no harm in allowing flowers to sprout where they will." Frey speaks through a smile as they appear, nature's aspect blooming upon the rainbow stones and pressing their fingers to the earth where Everest has left his offering. 

Instantly the seedlings burst forth, twisting and vibrant, and soon the shrine is bursting with a colour of the aviator's making. Inclining their head to Koa - they are not so spiteful as Ludo, but for the sake of the Dragoon's next shrine visit, he might wish to make good on his promise, whatever the colour of his thumbs - they consider the question posed.

"You are changed, of course, but what is life but not a series of changes?" They cock their head at Ever, examining all that he is, inside and out. "It can mean whatever you'd like it to mean. How do you feel, having evolved in this way?"

Everest

Unlike when he'd visited the shrine with Isla, thanks to Koa's presence their prayers were immediately answered. Having not been the presence of a god since he was a boy and had been rapidly aged, the aviator had to consciously focus on his breathing or risk passing out from lack of oxygen. "I suppose not." Ever replies with a small smile, glancing a touch nervously over his shoulder at Koa before straightening.

Blinking at the deity as he's seen, properly observed, the aviator grows silent as he considers, turning his own mental gaze on himself. "I feel...better." He admits, though it truly isn't much of an admission, having already said as much to Koa. "My mind feels more free, far less constrained. It's easier to be me now."

even if i had to lose you to know you,
i'd still be that temporary phase that you grow through

Frey

Frey continues to watch Everest - to watch him breathe, collect himself, think on his own about what has become of him since being, for lack of a better word, infected by the void. "Well," they say, sitting back and letting their fingers brush gently through the now blooming flowers, "the answer to your original question is yes, though you have likely already guessed that much."

They tilt their head. "But if you are changed for the better, what harm is there in that? Too much of anything can be detrimental to nature's way, but I see only a balance of what you are and all that you could be." For now, at least. Should that change, or should the young Attuned feel as though his new situation is detrimental, of course there are ways to remedy that.

But if not?

Live and let live.

Everest

The words sound right to Everest; what harm was there? Isla had done her testing, and for seasons now he'd apparently been infected with no ill consequences for anyone. Glancing over his shoulder at Koa, the aviator lifts his eyebrows. It isn't quite an expression of see? nothing to worry about, though there is something in Ever's gaze that seeks some sort of confirmation from the dragoon that this is answer enough for his worries.

Clearing his throat as subtly as he could, the aviator hazarded a quick glance up at Frey before smiling nervously and letting his eyes drop back toward the stones. "Thank you, for answering us, and for the answers you gave." Much as he'd have liked to try and ask the god for something more—something for Isla—instead Everest merely sits back on his heels and nods as if to signify to himself as much as to Koa or Frey that he'd gotten everything he'd come for.

~FIN

even if i had to lose you to know you,
i'd still be that temporary phase that you grow through