when you think of love

Everest

Not since he'd been a child and had inadvertently stumbled upon one of Frey's shrines had Everest even thought about the gods in a manner at all related to his daily life. He'd have contentedly kept it that way skipping those particular levelling reqs with MP, having never really imagined that there would be anything that could possibly necessitate his going, at least until he'd met Isla.

Now, even though he was slightly nervous about it, he walked along the Rainbow Road quite confidently with Isla's fingers interlaced between his own and with a pocket full of seeds that Mateo had assured him were hardy enough to grow almost anywhere. In talking it over they'd decided that calling upon the nature aspect of Frey was likely in their best interest. Where Ludo was too tricksy and Safrin was too unpredictable, of the remaining duality of Frey, the nature side seemed the most appropriate. "I've done a bit of reading about how this normally works, but I assume you'll let me know if I start to go off track?" It might have been years since Isla had last had to pray at an old god's shrine, but he doubted if that made her any less knowledgeable about it.

Clearing his throat, the aviator knelt down on the rainbow stones before placing the seeds in the cracks around them where they might take root and grow. "Nature Frey...we'd like to please speak with you."

I've done the math, checked the facts
And there's no changing that

ISLA

On the contrary - Isla has never prayed at an old god shrine; her first visit had been to The Voice, and the rest is Ascended history. It's true, though, that she does know how things like this are usually supposed to go, and so it's with her own offerings in hand - some cultivated snowmoss and a few poultices made from the local flora - that she approaches the shrine with Ever. "I'll do my best," she assures him, smooching a kiss against his curls before settling beside him.

Placing her offerings around the little altar, she clasps her hands and bows her head, trying to keep her mind clear in the way she would when calling on The Voice; granted, it's both easier and more difficult than it ever has been before. "It's about the void," she adds, as if that might add some layer of authenticity to their plea.

apres moi le deluge
after me comes the flood

RANDOM EVENT

Offerings remain on the shrine as the couple make their plea, the colors of the rainbow road reflecting a kaleidoscopic view against both of their faces in the heartbeats that pass before an answer.

It is not the answer they seek, unfortunately, but it is an intrigued spirit nonetheless as a rainbow hued serpent slithers up the shrine, its scales reflecting much of the same colors like the kaleidoscope had come to life in its surprisingly long body. It lifts its head, peering at Everest and Isla in turn with one eye white while the other is black, a cobra-esque hood fanning to reflect the exact opposite of its eyes.

It flicks its forked tongue at them curiously as the rest of its body coils around itself and the shrine.

Everest

With his eyes closed, Everest waited. He wasn't entirely sure what it was he should expect or even how long he should wait with his head bowed and his hands clasped, but it probably wouldn't surprise anyone to know that had the serpent not roused the aviator's awareness, he'd likely have remained on his knees for quite a while.

"Hm?" Sitting up, the aviator regards the serpent with an unworried blue stare, though he does show it the healthy deference it deserves by shifting himself backwards a few inches and reaching out for Isla that she might do the same. "I suppose if this was Frey, we'd know it?" He wonders, tilting his head subtly from side to side the way a dog might. Puzzling over what to do next, Everest run a hand through his curls before letting his fingers knead at the knot which had threatened to develop while his head had been bowed.

"I guess we...try again later?"

I've done the math, checked the facts
And there's no changing that

ISLA

Having been doing her best to meditate on the purpose of their visit, Isla similarly only stirs at the subconscious knowledge of movement in her periphery. Glancing up just as Ever gestures for her to move back, the Remedy of course does so, settling back beside him with a furrowed brow and a curious glance towards the beautiful serpent that has come to greet them. "Yes, I suppose we would," she agrees, smiling softly towards the spirit and gesturing to the shrine.

"You are welcome to the offerings," she tells it, before glancing back towards the aviator with a nod. "I suppose so, yes. We can't always expect an answer from the gods - at least we tried, though." Brushing off her skirts and rising to her feet, she offers a hand to Ever so he might do the same.

apres moi le deluge
after me comes the flood

Everest

"Mmm, yes." The aviator confirms with a quick dip of his head before turning his gaze towards Isla. She rises faster than he does, if only because it takes Everest a moment to allow everything to run through his mind; a quick mental checklist not nearly as elaborate as the ones he used to make, but a list just the same.

Were they in the right place?
Had they brought the right things?
Had they said the right words?

Deciding they were, they had, and they did, he nods to himself as he accepts the Remedy's hand and stands. "I'll come back another time." He promises. If finding out more about his infection was important to Isla, then it was important to him, and he'd see it done.

For now though...Lacing his fingers through hers, the aviator offers her a lopsided smile as he nods back toward the way they came. "Perhaps we can have something cold to drink before we go back to the clinic?" He suggests, before lifting her knuckles to his mouth and brushing kisses softly against them.

~FIN

I've done the math, checked the facts
And there's no changing that